Welcome to Bath Preservation Trust
VAT ON LISTED BUILDINGS
Buried within the Budget was a shock decision by the Chancellor to introduce standard rate VAT to the cost of approved alterations to listed buildings. This means from 1 October 2012 approved alterations to listed buildings will be subject to VAT at 20 per cent, where before they were zero-rated.
The morning after the Budget, Heritage Alliance Chairman Loyd Grossman aired his thoughts on this in the Daily Telegraph:click here to read what he said.
We are is concerned that this drastic change could have a devastating impact on the future of listed buildings across the country, as it presses yet more costs on communities working to give them a new lease of life – such as through adding toilet facilities or disabled access. HMRC justifies this change because in its view “the majority of the work covered by the relief consists of extension work which is not necessary for heritage purposes” – yet we say the majority of the work is essential for heritage purposes, as without such alterations heritage buildings cannot have a future.
HMRC’s overarching reasoning for this change rests on its view that zero rating alterations “give[s] a perverse incentive for change as opposed to repair.” Of course, in our view the answer to that was to zero-rate repair – an issue that’s united the heritage lobby for years. The Trust has long argued for the reduction of VAT on repairs and maintenance as the sustainable option.
Although Bath Preservation Trust supports the campaign for zero rating of both, we are also proposing that a ‘face-saving’ change would be to set both at an equal and lower rate such as 5%.
What do you think? Please respond to HMRC’s consultation – open here until 4 May.
New National Planning Policy Planning Framework (NPPF)
Bath Preservation Trust acknowledges ‘a better NPPF’ which emphasises community engagement and the need for clear local policies.
Chief Executive of Bath Preservation Trust Caroline Kay commented in a press release on 27th March when the NPPF was published:
“At first sight, and prior to a more detailed scrutiny, the new NPPF is a significant improvement on the first flawed draft. It appears that the Government has taken on board the comments of a number of bodies like ourselves, the National Trust and English Heritage, and has made significant steps in the right direction. It does however place an onus on B&NES to deliver clear policies and advice to applicants in order to streamline the planning process.”
For the full text of the press release CLICK HERE
Gasholder on Western Riverside
Bath Preservation Trust was asked to comment recently on the case for or against retaining Bath’s last gasholder. A straw poll of our membership gave a 10:1 ratio of members in favour of its dismantling and removal. Our position is that while it is important to record and recognise Bath’s industrial heritage, it is more important for the future of the city to regenerate this area with housing and jobs. The gasholder, if formed into a solid structure, would be far too big for the river basin and there is currently no viable future use, nor is the non-listed gasholder particularly distinguished in architectural or historical terms.
The Whole Story Project – reuniting No.1 Royal Crescent with its original Georgian servants’ wing next door at No.1A.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE
LOW CARBON BATH WINS COVETED NATIONAL RTPI AWARD
Caroline Kay receiving the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Sustainable Communities Award, sponsored by Crown Estates. For our news release CLICK HERE
‘Warmer Bath”: a guide to improving the energy efficiency of traditional homes in the City of Bath’ is available to download HERE.
CLICK HERE FOR EVENTS, EXHIBITIONS AND ONLINE RESOURCES
The Trust was founded in 1934 as a direct response to the ‘Bath Bill’, a plan to drive new roads through the heart of the city to accommodate the motor car to the detriment of the historic fabric. Since the Trust’s foundation there have been many campaigns to prevent destruction in the City, most notably in the 1960s and 70s when the ‘sack of Bath’ became a national scandal. As well as this very visible work the Trust has also quietly acted to help restoration of many details across the City from the Circus Acorns to, most recently, the Royal Crescent railings, and has explained aspects of the historic city to thousands of locals and visitors through its museums and educational activities.
The Trust depends on membership income, donations, legacies, visitor admissions and support from over 150 volunteers to continue its work for Bath.
If you are interested in volunteering to help the Trust or one of its museums, please click here for current volunteer opportunities.
FREE AUDIO TOUR
Bath is a World Heritage Site and you might like to learn more about why the city has this special status by downloading a walking audio tour from the official destination website visitbath.co.uk. This tour features commentary from the Trust’s Collections Manager and resident architectural historian, Dr Amy Frost.
To download the tour, CLICK HERE