CONSERVATION CONSTERNATION

28-11-2007

We’ve got a great architectural heritage, but how much care do we take of it? Not enough argues Beefheart.

It’s not just a problem in Birmingham, the West Midlands, or England - it’s the whole of this unique isle. I am writing about the destruction of what can fairly be described as the most wonderful and diverse domestic architecture in the world no less.

Look around you and see so many beautiful houses from the 1860s to the 1930s being ripped to bits. I refer to doors, and windows, replaced by PVC one of the most un-environmentally friendly materials known to man, natural slate and clay tiles replaced by concrete.

It is not just an environmental argument; it is also an aesthetic argument. Many of these houses were built by craftsmen and often designed by architects of high merit, where doors, windows and facades complimented each other.

Rarely does a day go by without seeing a skip outside an old house loaded up with the contents of that house. It’s not just the interior, original driveways, gardens and walls are being ripped up to make space for the family cars (there is always more than one).

The only protection we appear to have is through so called Conservation Areas (CAs) and listed building legislation. But both of these procedures can and do fail miserably.

Take so called Conservation Areas: In Birmingham there are approximately 25 such places. Only a handful has so called Article 4 directives. These restricted permitted development directives are supposed to protect such features as doors windows and roofs. The Cadbury Bournville Estate is a prime example and not before time.

The vast majority of CAs do not have such protection. Take for example School Road CA in Hall Green. This road was lauded as the nations first 1930s CA. Now it’s an almost completely ruined road as far as its original character is concerned, there is perhaps only one or two houses out of about 50 that retains anything like their original character. Even where Articles 4’s are in place, one wonders how effective they are?

The same can be said for the more stringent listed building legislation, which contrary to popular belief are designed to protect the inside as well as the outside of a building there are some 1500 such buildings in Brum. Many are derelict, so many are un-monitored by the council, who knows the true state of affairs on these important buildings?

Do we neglect our wonderful old buildings?

Or should we accept change more readily?

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