Letter: Permission Is Not Required for Tunsgate Arch Repairs

Published on: 22 Feb, 2019
Updated on: 22 Feb, 2019

From Russell Morris

In response to: Look Out Below! at Tunsgate Arch

The GBC spokesperson’s statement about the repair of Tunsgate Arch is slightly misleading. It states: “As this is a listed building, we will need to obtain various consents, which may take some time.”

Like-for-like repairs to a listed building, undertaken to an appropriate conservation specification, do not need listed building consent. Consent is needed only for alteration affecting the special character, whether inside or out, or for demolition.

GBC will have to commission relevant professional advice, find an appropriate specialist contractor, and find the money. That will doubtless take a little time, but not because of any need for listed building consent.

It will be interesting to discover the cause of the damage. Maybe the action of frost on a fault in the stone or possibly the rusting of an iron cramp. Clearly, the extent of the repair will depend on that.