8 Ashman's Hall, near Bccclcs, Suffolk. Grade II*. Photograph taken in April 1989. It is the eleventh hour for this building which has changed hands regularly over the past few years. show that whilst there is an overall percentage of 4.63% of listed buildings at risk in the district as a whole this varies from 0.51% in Kirkburton to 11.59% in Batley, Heckmondwike and Spenborough. Within volumes there is also a huge range. The Colne Valley has an overall figure of 5.96% but covers Slaithwaite-273 buildings 9.16% at risk and Golcar-217 buildings 2.76% at risk When the survey information has been computerised it will provide answers to such questions as: Where are the buildings at risk? Are they in conservation areas? In Kirklees the answer was a clear "no". About 75% of those in risk categories 1-3 were outside conservation areas. Are the more important buildings, grades I and II* also at risk? In Kirklees they were generally in better condition than the grade IIs. This seems also to be true in the Lower Lansdown area of Bath where results of a study area have been put on computer. A local authority should also be interested in its own local buildings and these too can be analysed once local authority ownership has been recorded. Use of the building type list and current use categories will allow the analysis to be broken down to show the condition profiles of different types of buildings. In Bath the profiles of buildings in domestic and commercial use seem to be strikingly different with commercial buildings evenly distributed between poor, fair and good condition whereas 50% of domestic buildings were grouped together as fair. As we begin to look at the figures we realise how much we have to learn about the condition of the historic building stock generally. The Kirklees data showed that the greatest number of buildings was in good condition with progressively fewer in fair, poor and very bad. This corresponds to the general profile of domestic buildings as categorised by the English House Condition Survey in 1986. In Bath, however, there are fewer buildings in good condition than in fair condition. Whilst relatively few of the buildings in the study area of Bath are categorised as at risk, 28%are in that vulnerable position of risk category 4, "buildings to be watched" on the English Heritage risk scale. The BAR surveys are part of a wider strategy of aiming advice and money where they are needed. It is obvious that even this preliminary information raises interesting questions for English Heritage KIRKLEES: COLNE VALLEY AREA PERCENTAGE OF BUILDINGS AT RISK JO 9 COLNE, VALLEY Slaithwaite Marsden Golcar Graph drawn in Lotus to illustrate variation in percentage of buildings at risk. SELECTED SUMMARY STATISTICS Printed on 31/01/90 Risk Category 1 0 0.0 lA 0 0.0 2 0 0.0 3 15 4.2 3A 0 0.0 4 96 26.8 4A 0 0.0 4A 0 0.0 5 187 52.2 5A 0 0.0 6 60 16.8 Total 358 100.0 Total Occupation and Condition Occupancy Condition V.BadPoor Fair GoodTotal Structure 0 0 0 0 0 Vacant 0 1 5 4 10 Partially Occupied 0 11 17 0 28 Occupied 3 74 183 60 320 Total 3 86 205 64 358 Percentage Occupancy and Condition Occupancy Condition V.BadPoor Fair GoodTotal Structure 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Vacant 0.0 0.3 1.4 1.1 2.8 Partially Occupied 0.0 3.1 4.7 0.0 7.8 Occupied 0.820.751.116.889.4 Total 0.8 24.0 57 .3 17 .9100.0 whose legally defined grant schemes relate to outstanding buildings (usually grades I or II*) and buildings in conservation areas. A decision has already been made to extend the new BAR Grant scheme to cover all those buildings in risk categories 1-3 provided that they fulfil the other criteria of being listed buildings which are either outstanding or in a conservation area. This will take effect from 1st April 1990. EH will be looking with interest at the general survey results as they become available. The results should also be of interest to all conservation officers and allow informed discussion of issues which have previously been discussed theoretically, such as where time and effort are best concentrated. If you are eager, as I hope, to get started but, as I fear, lack the resources to complete an immediate survey you will be interested in a new one-off grant scheme. DoE has allocated £200,000 to help EH to achieve a rapid sample survey which will provide an initial picture of the condition of the historic buildings stock and a general outline of the factors which contribute to neglect. EH is particularly keen to study the different building types. These results will be checked against the fuller results of the national survey as they become available. The money is to be used to give substantial grant aid to those authorities which fit the sample and fulfil the conditions. EH is currently working out the categories which need to be covered for a statistical sample. These will include geographical coverage of the different regions and relate to urban versus rural areas and economic factors. Each applicant authority will be categorised in relation to this framework and only two or three from each category can be funded. Any participating authority will have to provide information on an agreed number of complete "greenback" statutory list volumes on disc by 1st March 1991. The rate of grant will be at £500 per 100 rural buildings and £250 per 100 urban buildings plus £40 per 100 buildings entered on computer. These rates are calculated as over 70% of the estimated time and staff costs involved in supervising a survey by paid staff. The survey may be carried out by temporary staff but the authority will have to ensure the quality and consistency of information. The difference in grant rates takes account of the greater travel costs involved in surveying rural buildings. Each "greenback" statutory list volume will be given an overall status as either urban or rural. EH will approach first all those who have responded to its letter. Any other interested authorities should contact BAR Branch as soon as possible. VanessaBrand is Conservation Officer for Buildings at Risk with English Heritage. CONTEXT 25
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