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Who to talk to, when and why. This article explains the role of the conservation officer, architect, building surveyor, engineer, contractor and National Amenity Societies.
The SPAB is aware of the increased number of proposals to utilise church towers and spires for the accommodation of mobile telephone aerials. One or more aerials may be concealed in a church (for example, within a tower or flagpole) or attached to the masonry externally. While recognising the possible financial benefit to churches, the Society urges that those responsible for such projects consider the potential impact on the character and aesthetic quality of buildings of historical or architectural importance.
The SPAB technical panel offers the following practical guidance:
A listed building is a building, object or structure that has been judged to be of national importance by virtue of its special architectural or historic interest. Listing, sometimes also referred to as 'designation', is the act of identifying nationally important heritage sites and affording them special protection through the planning system. The purpose of listing is to introduce a higher degree of protection.
This page describes the current legislative and policy framework which protects the historic environment.
When the SPAB was established in 1877 there was no conservation legislation to speak of which led to some truly sad losses of buildings and monuments. After campaigns by the Society and various other conservation-minded individuals, the first Ancient Monuments Act was introduced which recognised the need for governmental administration on the protection of ancient monuments. This legislative move was attacked in Parliament as “an invasion of the rights of property… in order to gratify the antiquarian tastes of the few at the public expense” By 1930 there were still only 3000 designated monu...