The Club are happy to report that we have been included in the periodic review of Historic England and their services. Obviously we are very happy to provide our feedback, but we are particularly proud to be included as one of the major stakeholders in the heritage sector. Our relationship with Historic England has always been very good, and includes their attendance at the Listed Property Show as well as giving lectures and writing pieces for Listed Heritage. We’ve always found them to be truly expert and very willing to work with us towards our shared goals. The Department of
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The Listed Property Owners’ Club Launches National Petition to Press Chancellor for 5% VAT Rate
The Listed Property Owners’ Club is mobilising the UK’s listed property owners to win VAT reform from the Chancellor in the November Budget. We have launched a national petition calling for VAT to be reduced to 5% on repairs and approved alterations to listed buildings to help owners protect such an important part of the nation’s heritage. This marks a positive stage of the Club’s Political Campaign for Owners and is another demonstration of how the Club is working hard to support owners. To make a significant impact we are seeking the support of the UK’s 1.5 million listed property
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Listed Property Owners Forum – Ludlow
Ludlow Mascall Centre, Ludlow, SY8 1RZ Saturday 28th April 2018 10am – 2pm Philip Dunne MP and The Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC) are proud to host the next Listed Property Owners’ Forum. This Forum, which aims to help current and future owners of listed buildings deal with the challenges of looking after the nation’s historic properties, is hosted by the MP for Ludlow Philip Dunne and in partnership with The Listed Property Owners’ Club; the UK’s only membership organisation for owners or prospective owners of listed buildings and regular campaigning force for changes to VAT and planning rules. Philip
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Is Heritage Good for Your Health?
Members of the LPOC team attended The Heritage Alliance’s Heritage Debate ‘Is Heritage Good for Your Health’, on the evening of 2nd October in London. This was an incredibly interesting event discussing how Heritage participation can improve mental health and well being, and how the historic environment can provide an attractive backdrop to activity. A wealth of speakers shared their knowledge, research and insights on this subject matter – from Social Subscribing providing cultural experiences to improve health, restoration of historic buildings to aid the community, to Op Nightingale which is an initiative to help rehabilitate injured soldiers by getting
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Why LPOC Campaigns For Owners
Owners will recall that prior to the 2012 budget, any pre-approved alteration to a listed building was free of VAT. The object of this concession was to protect the building from unsuitable change. Since 2012, and after the removal of this concession, the Club has monitored many thousands of applications for Listed Building Consent throughout the country and we have noticed a marked decrease in applications, particularly those involving internal (and out of sight!) alterations. Are we being cynical or are owners simply pressing ahead with unauthorised work which may be damaging to the building? When the concession was removed,
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Parliamentary Campaign Update
Craig Mackinlay MP, chairman of the APPG on Listed Properties, together with members of his team and other MPs met with a group of the Clubs members on the House of Commons Terrace in Westminster, just prior to the summer recess. The object of the meeting was to enable the MPs to hear first-hand the issues and frustration that owners face particularly concerning VAT and planning issues. It also helped us to network with owners and to understand the perceived role of LPOC and our campaigning. Speaking at the event Craig said “It has long been known how onerous it
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Big Ben’s silence gives fuel to LPOC’s Campaign for Owners
When Big Ben fell silent on Monday 21st August, ready for a £29m refurbishment, it was seen as a symbolic albeit somewhat controversial moment. This was due to the campaigning of traditionalists in the weeks prior who felt in the wake of Brexit that Big Ben, such a large and iconic part of Great Britain’s identity, should not be silenced for the proposed 4 years. But for residential listed building owners, it highlighted something altogether more controversial – the time and cost needed to restore a listed building. Clive Aslet, writing for The Times summed this up when he stated: “Parliament will
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Celebrating 70 Years of Listed Buildings
2017 marks 70 years since the start of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947 which offered protective status to special and historic buildings Now known as The National Heritage List for England, it is exciting to think that all of our members precious listed homes can be found on this vast database, each with a unique story to tell. Indeed when Historic England launched ‘the List’ many of our members took part in their Enrich the List campaign, adding interesting information and photographs for future generations to access information on their historic properties. Debbie Mays, Head of Listing at Historic
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Listed property owners to meet Members of Parliament at the House of Commons to discuss ownership challenges and voice concerns
The Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC), whose campaigning has successfully seen the creation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Listed Properties, is providing listed property owners who are members of the Club with the opportunity to meet MPs and discuss the challenges of ownership. Hosted by Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet and chair of the APPG, a special drinks reception will take place on the House of Commons Terrace on Wednesday 19th July. Why LPOC Campaigns for Owners Challenges listed property owners face go back to 2012 when government removed the VAT concession on authorised alterations to Listed
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LPOC uses election campaign to spread message on listed properties
The Prime Minister’s decision to call a sudden general election caught everyone by surprise and brought a temporary halt to our campaigning inside Parliament. However, The Listed Property Owners’ Club leapt at the opportunity to draw our campaign to the attention of party leaders and election candidates. In a two-pronged approach we enlisted Club members to write to local candidates in their constituencies urging them to support action that would help protect an important part of the nation’s heritage. Members asked candidates to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Listed Properties if they were elected on 8th June. The letter
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