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The Built Heritage of Laois
A very informative and enjoyable seminar on Protected Sturctures & Architectural Conservation Areas was held by Laois County Council on Saturday 29th January, 2011 in Stradbally Courthouse. Jackie Donnelly, DoEHLG gave advice to owners of historic buildings Advice for Owners of Historic Buildings Ann Goodwin, Laois Partnership talked about funding for built heritage projects Anne Goodwin and Louise Harrington spoke about the Mechanics of an ACA the implications for property owners and agents The Mechanics of an ACA
What is a Protected Structure?
Laois Planning Authoirty is required to compile and maintain a Record of Protected Structures for its functional area. A Record of Protected Sturctures is a mechanism available for the statutory protection of the architectural heritage. The Planning Authority must include in the Record, every structure, which, in it's opinion is of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artisitc, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. The Record of Protected Structures forms part of our County Development Plan.
A Planning Authority may add a new record to or delete a structure from it's Record of Protected Structure (a) in accordance with a review of its Development Plan or (b) at any other time (S.54(1), 2000 -2007 Act)by following different prescirbed procedures. The making of an addition to or deletion from the Record is a function that is reserved to the Elected Members.
Architectural Inventory System (AIS).
Why Protect our Architectural Heritage?
Our architectural heritage is a unique and exeptional resource. Structures and places that have acquired character and specil interest over time have cultural significance in a changing world. All of their parts have been tested by our climate, and those that have survived the process of decay, and the interventions of their users, have acquired economic, envvironmental and aestectic value. If we enjoy the fruits of this inheritance, we have a duty to ensure that it is conserved, sympathetically reused, and passed onto our successors with its value intact.
What parts of a protected structure must be preserved?
The terms "structure" is defined by Section 2 of the 2000 Act to mean 'any building, structure, excavation or other thing constructed, or made on, in or under any land, or any part of a structure so defined, and where the context so admits, includes the land on, in, or under with the structure is situate' . A "Protected Structure" is defined as any structure or specified part of a sturcture, whic is included in the Record of Protected Structures.
How does a structure become a protected structure?
Before 1 January 2000, a structure was listed for preservation or protection in a development plan, that structure automatically became a protected structure on that date. Now, a local authority must follow certain procedures if it proposes to deem a structure to be a protected structure. This involves notifying the owners and occupiers of the structure, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and other bodies of the proposal. An owner or occupier is entitled to make comments on such a proposal to the Planning Authority. These comments are taken into account before the Authority's Elected Members decide whether or not the structure should become a 'Protected Structure'.
What obligations fall on owners and occupiers to ensure the preservation of protected structures?
Each owner and occupier must ensure that a protected structure or any element of a protected structure is not endangered through harm, decay or damage, whether over a short or long period, through neglect or through direct or indirect means.