Local List of Heritage Assets

Updated 29 December 2021

The Reading Perspective

Reading Borough Council started its Local List in 2013. There are 23 buildings on the list, though two of these were demolished in 2017 to make way for the Wren School.

The buildings on Reading’s list have usually been added because they are under threat of demolition.  Usually they have been added at the initiative of Reading Civic Society/the CAAC though the council have added some at its initiative.

This was the case in December 2021 when the Attwell’s Drinking Fountain, Thames Side Promenade and Kings Road Garden (formerly Huntley & Palmer Garden), Kings Road were added. 

The most recent additions (2022) are; The former Bugle PH, The Gasworks Social Club. Huntley and Palmer Social Club, Palmer Park Pavilion and entrance gates and 40 Christchurch Road.  

Attewell Drinking fountain

Attwells Drinking Fountain, Thames side. Addition to Local List Dec 2021

Huntley& Palmer Garden

Huntley & Palmer Garden Addition to Local List Dec 2021

To view the information about Locally Listed Heritage Assets on RBC’s website go to. Locally Listed Buildings

Anyone may propose that a building be added to the Local List. The link to the RBC form which has to be completed, in full, is HERE.  It is necessary to sign into RBC’s website as a customer. 

If you wish to propose a building for adding to the local list we suggest you contact Reading Civic Society first as we, and the CAAC, have a number of proposals at the draft stage. These may be seen  HERE .  We can also give advice drawing on our experience. readingcivicsociety@googlemail.com.

The council will not consider for addition to the Local List a building which is already in a Conservation area as the CA gives greater control than Local Listing.

To quote Historic England

“There may be many buildings and sites in a local planning authority’s area that make a positive contribution to its local character and sense of place because of their heritage value. Although such heritage assets may not be nationally designated or even located within the boundaries of a conservation area, they may be offered some level of protection by the local planning authority identifying them on a formally adopted list of local heritage assets.

Around half of all local planning authorities have produced lists of locally important buildings and sites (1), although not all of these have adopted the list as part of their development plan. In consequence the significance of any building or site on the list (in its own right and as a contributor to the local planning authority’s wider strategic planning objectives), can be better taken into account in planning applications affecting the building or site or its setting.

Whilst local listing provides no additional planning controls, the fact that a building or site is on a local list means that its conservation as a heritage asset is an objective of the NPPF(2) and a material consideration when determining the outcome of a planning application.

In deciding any relevant planning permission that affects a locally listed heritage asset or its setting, the NPPF requires amongst other things that local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of such heritage assets and of putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation. They are also obliged to consider the positive contribution that conserving such heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality (3).

The NPPF contains policies that apply to heritage assets regardless of whether or not they are locally listed. However, local listing provides a sound, consistent and accountable means of identifying local heritage assets to the benefit of good strategic planning for the area and to the benefit of owners and developers wishing to fully understand local development opportunities and constraints.

Local listing does not affect the requirements for planning permission. Some buildings can be demolished without planning permission and local listing does not affect that, although an article 4 direction issued by the local planning authority can reinstate the requirement for planning permission for demolition of a locally listed building. “