THERE are some 375,000 listed buildings in England alone and to undertake works to such a building, or change its use, one must apply for both a listed building consent and planning permission.

Preservation of listed buildings is of great importance to our heritage and is worthwhile protecting as much as possible.

At times, however, it seems we go too far in trying to bring back buildings where decay has advanced so far that renovation and repair, even if funds can be found, will produce a property that is 90 per cent rebuild and 10 per cent the original.

I am particularly thinking of the Great Northern Warehouses in the city, which are of historical interest but would seem incapable of being satisfactorily rebuilt and are now a blight on our landscape.

Perhaps we should concentrate our efforts on properties that are still capable of restoration and have a useful life such as Sherwin House in Pilcher Gate, the Lace Market.

If one can improve the planning system it would allow listed buildings to be dealt with administratively in a much easier manner and at less expense.

Adrian Penfold undertook a review for the Government of certain consents required alongside planning permissions for buildings to be altered, brought up to a reasonable standard and their use changed where necessary.

He looked at environmental permits, highway orders and many others consents and included heritage consent.

It is, at times, difficult to formulate a sensible use for such property and also hard to find funding for the projects. Difficulties that impede a smooth passage to a planning consent should, if possible, be eliminated so the Government, through its Planning Inspectorate, has come up with some interesting ideas to speed up the process.

Late last year the Department for Business Innovation and Skills published its findings in an implementation of the Penfold Review document which sets out four main themes

To scrap unnecessary development consents and simplify others.

Reform the working practices of these public bodies granting or advising on development consents

Set time limits for deciding such applications

Making it easier to apply for such consents.

As far as listed buildings are concerned there are specific proposals to implement these four points.

If a building is listed it has, therefore, some special interest of a heritage nature. It is proposed that this special interest is defined so that work on the building can be carried out without the necessity of obtaining listed building consent.

One can see that if a building comprises two structures of different ages, one of which is of special interest, then work on the other part may have an effect on the listed part. We shall see how this evolves in time and what affect it has.

Conservation Area consent is required to demolish buildings in a conservation area, but where a project is for a new build on the site it is now proposed to remove this consent requirement and, if the property is unlisted, combine the consent with the application for the new build.

Ninety per cent of applications for listed building consent are approved so Government is proposing a lighter touch control and is suggesting that a system of prior approval for specific types of work to listed buildings be established. At the same time it is suggesting that the certification of applications could be contracted out to accredited agents. This might appeal to local authorities who find employment of special conservation officers a financial burden.

English Heritage will now have to define in what ways a building is of special interest and update their records so that developers are clear from the outset where they have to be careful to protect that special interest. English Heritage will also work on 20th century office buildings which are subject to regular applications for work by business.

There are so many agencies participating in non-planning consents that it takes a long consultation period to give an opinion. The Government is proposing a maximum of 13 weeks as a time scale

It is hoped that over time our planning applications will merge planning consents and other non-planning consents necessary to allow development to be completed quickly.

The aim should be to enable listed buildings to have a useful purposeful and effective life at a minimum of administrative delay.