Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert met constituents at a Parliamentary event last week (Monday 10 September) to hear about the campaign to support listed buildings.

Mr Herbert attended a reception held by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Listed Properties and The Listed Property Owners Club which is calling for VAT on listed building planning alterations to be reduced from 20 per cent to 5 per cent. Prior to the 2012 Budget, any pre-approved alteration to a listed building was free of VAT.

A listed building is one that is included on the National Heritage List as a property of “special architectural or historic interest”. They range from churches and grand houses to small terraced homes and country cottages.

There are 500,000 listed buildings across the country, including over 2,780 in Arundel & South Downs, one of the highest numbers in a parliamentary constituency. 98 per cent of listed properties are privately owned.

Listed building owners say that the costs of upkeep are higher than for other properties. Half of listed property owners are in the lowest socio-economic groups (C1, C2, D and E).

Addressing the reception Mr Herbert, who owns a listed property in Arundel, spoke about the importance of preserving the architectural heritage of West Sussex.

Nutbourne residents Robert and Jane Allison, who travelled to Westminster to attend the reception, said: “The event was well focused and will hopefully give momentum to tackling some of the issues listed property owners want addressed. It is so encouraging to have Nick’s support in helping make things happen."

Nick Herbert said: “I was pleased to meet my constituents to discuss what needs to be done to help preserve listed properties, and I will work with other members of the All Party Parliamentary Group to raise the issues with the Government.”

ENDS

Notes

1. Photograph: Nick Herbert with Robert and Jane Allison on the Terrace of the Houses of Parliament.

2. For more information about the Listed Property Owners Club and their campaign see https://www.lpoc.co.uk/campaign-for-owners.

MP meets listed property owners at Parliamentary event