Know Your Place

Bristol City Council has released a really useful website which is called Know Your Place. You can view large scale historic maps of your area or find out if your property is in a conservation area.

VAT increase for listed buildings

Until March 2012 the cost of alterations to listed buildings was charged at a zero percent VAT rate. This was a welcome relief for owners of listed buildings who frequently have to pay higher premiums for the restoration and alteration of their buildings. This however has changed George Osborne announced in his Budget that this would be increased to the standard rate of 20 per cent.

It means the cost of altering some of the UK’s most valued buildings and churches will soar, and it will almost certainly have a detrimental effect on the number of projects that are undertaken.

Mr Osborne’s announcement was attacked by heritage groups who warned that it would discourage improvements to listed buildings.

RIBA Conservation Group Chair Robert Franklin said:
'There is a real concern from the RIBA that the planned increase from zero to twenty percent VAT for alterations to listed buildings could have a debilitating economic impact on development in the historic environment. Whilst VAT may discourage some inappropriate proposals, I fear a 20% rate, so suddenly applied, will make it unaffordable for listed building owners to make necessary alterations to many of our cherished buildings, whether for correcting past mistakes or bringing up to date for new uses. The economics of such schemes may increase the number of buildings 'at-risk', through pressure to demolish and replace with new-build, particularly for housing which remains zero rated.
Due to the speed of the proposed VAT change we are particularly concerned that those schemes deemed viable based on the zero rate may suddenly become non-viable, and not go ahead.'
The RIBA will now work alongside our national stakeholders in order to make a full assessment of the impact of the proposed changes and will be responding to the government consultation in due course.
 

National Planning Policy Framework

The revised National Planning Policy Framework has been finally released. The key phrase of the document is that "presumption in favour of sustainable development" should be"seen as a golden thread running through both plan-making and decision-taking".
The new framework includes specific references to encouraging development on brownfield sites. It outlines "five guiding principles" of sustainable development, listed as: living within the planet's means; ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; achieving a sustainable economy; promoting good governance; and using sound science responsibly. Policies such as those protecting the Green Belt, sites of special scientific interest, national parks and other areas can not "be overridden by the presumption". The future will show what impact this document will have on the decision making bodies and the effect it has on the quality of the architectural design.

DHV Architects is featured in Good Homes

 

Planning permission for double storey extension with balcony

Planning consent has been granted for an elegant remodelling scheme for a 1950s detached family house in North Bristol. Gaining consent for the balcony was trickier than for the extension itself! Applications for balconies on terraced houses are rarely granted. This application however was for a detached house with no overlooking issues. Privacy and overlooking aspects are paramount considerations for any urban planning application.

Exhibition in the Architecture Centre

Dittrich Hudson Vasetti Architecture took part in an exhibition about Living in the 21st Century shown at the Bristol Architecture Centre. The exhibition will be touring throughout the South West.
http://www.architecturecentre.co.uk/exhibitions-21st-century-living