Listed buildings VAT campaign

11:30am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Evesham Vale

THE Country Land and Business Association is stepping up its campaign against the Government’s decision to remove the VAT zero rating on alterations to listed buildings.

The association claims the decision will hit Britain’s heritage with an additional tax burden of £125 million each year, jeopardising projects such as converting redundant buildings into housing
and creating community buildings. It would also disrupt work on churches, historic houses and monuments.

The CLA has already met the minister responsible for VAT, briefed MPs and pressed for changes to the Finance Bill.

To help harness public opinion, the CLA has joined forces with other organisations including the Historic Houses Association, the Heritage Alliance and the Cut-the-Vat Coalition.

Chairman of the Heart of England HHA Caroline Magnus said: “Listed buildings are disproportionately expensive to maintain and this is virtually the only concession available to help alleviate the
increased costs of ownership, particularly as 20 per cent VAT is already levied on all repairs.

“Removing this concession is likely to discourage owners from embarking on projects which will give historic buildings a viable future.”

CLA director Midlands Caroline Bedell said: “This is clearly a revenue-raising measure that puts our heritage at risk and will alienate many owners, as the disadvantages of listing considerably
outweigh the few, if any, remaining benefits.”

Mrs Bedell said people could support the campaign by contacting their local MP, particularly if they knew of any local projects at risk, by signing the petition at epetitions,direct.

gov.uk/petitions/32056.

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