Report To Portfolio Holder: Planning
and Infrastructure
1 February 2010
Subject:
Historic Building Repair Grants (Buildings at Risk)
Status:
Routine Matter for Decision
Report Ref:
-
Ward(s):
Eastrop
Key Decision:
No
Key Decision Ref: Report Of:
Head of Neighbourhood Development
Contact:
Andrew Barber, Senior Conservation Officer
x.2235; andrew.barber@basingstoke.gov.uk
Appendices:
None
Papers relied on
to produce this
report

Grant application file (please see Andrew Barber to view this)
SUMMARY
1
This Report
1.1
The purpose of this report is to consider an application for grant aid from the
Historic Buildings Repair Grant scheme, which covers Buildings at Risk,
historic churches and historic community buildings.
1.2
The single grant application within this report is in accordance with the criteria
for eligibility.
1.3
This report accords with the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework in that it
utilises the existing budget for Historic Building Repair Grants (Buildings at
Risk) included in the Capital Programme for 2009-2010, and contributes to
Priority Action P2 by preserving and enhancing the Borough’s built heritage
(A10).
2
Recommendation
2.1
It is recommended that:

A grant of up to £10,000 is paid to the owners of St Michael’s Church,
Basingstoke, upon the satisfactory completion of the agreed repairs.
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PRIORITIES, IMPACTS AND RISKS
Contribution To Council Priorities
This report accords with the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework.
Council Plan Ref 2009-12:
P2; A10
3-Year Action Plan:
ND-B15
Other References:
Contribution To Community Strategy
Community Strategy 2006-16:
E1
Impacts
No
significant
impacts
Type
Impacts
for
BDBC
Some
impacts
Significant
impacts
 Para. 7
Financial
Personnel

Legal


Impacts
Equality and Diversity
on
Rural/Urban
Wellbeing
Crime and Disorder



Health
 Para.6
Environment and Climate Change

Economic

Involving Communication/Consultation
Others
Partners

Risk Assessment
Number of risks identified:
1
Number of risks considered HIGH or Medium:
0
Strategic:
Already identified on Corporate Risk Register?
Operational:
Already identified in Service Plans?
Yes
No

Yes

No
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Term
Definition
Building at Risk
A listed building at risk from decay or neglect, as
included on the Borough’s Buildings at Risk
Register
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DETAIL/MAIN CONSIDERATIONS
3
Background Information
3.1
The Historic Building Repairs Grants Scheme was reviewed in May 2007
through a report to the Sustainable Communities Overview Committee,
followed by a Portfolio Holder report.
3.2
The level of grant assistance offered can vary between 20% and 50%
depending on how highly the proposed works score against the agreed criteria
(including the condition and grade of the building, contribution to the setting of
a listed building or the character of a conservation area, public access etc.).
The maximum level of grant that can be offered is £10,000.
3.3
For 2009/10 the capital budget for Historic Building Repair Grants is £42,000.
4
The Current Situation
4.1
The following grant application has been received and is eligible for grant aid.
(A) Address: St Michael’s Church, Basingstoke
Application No: 223/5
Date Received: 15 October 2009
Listed Status: Grade I
Conservation Area: Yes
Ward: Eastrop
Parish: Basingstoke
Description
A large Grade I listed church of regional significance, dating from the 14th,
15th, 16th and 20th centuries. Built of stone with sections of flint. Flat roof
behind a crenelated parapet. Prominent tower, also built of stone and also
with crenelated parapet. Situated dominating Church Square in the northern
part of the town centre, and immediately adjacent to the modern shopping
centre. The primary building within the conservation area and an iconic
building to the town. The church, whilst a parish church is very much the
principal church in the town and north of Hampshire, being the seat of the
Bishop of Basingstoke. One of the finest churches in Hampshire.
Proposed works:

Stonework and flintwork repairs to the tower, north and south aisles, north
and south clerestories, porch and eastern gables.
Costs
The total estimated cost of the work is £26,253 (inc. non-reclaimable VAT).
Being a grade I listed building in a prominent location within the conservation
area and in public use it is recommended that a grant of £10,000 (the
maximum) be offered to assist with the cost of these works. The building is
already used extensively by the public as a church, and as such it is
considered that additional public access requirements as a condition of this
grant would be unnecessary in this case.
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The Church has received a number of grants from the borough council spread
over many years. The most recent of these was in May 2002, when £6,755
was offered as 10% of the cost of stonework repairs and to the tower.
Repairs to medieval stonework typically require constant attention, and this is
particularly true at St Michael’s Church. The current repairs are to different
areas of stonework than those repaired in 2002. Beyond the annual
maximum sum referred to in paragraph 3.2 there are no limitations in the grant
scheme to grant-aiding sites which have been the beneficiaries of grants from
previous years.
5
Consultation Already Undertaken
5.1
Hampshire County Council and English Heritage are consulted when involved
in these projects.
6
Environmental and Sustainability Considerations
6.1
Grant aid would contribute to environmental improvements within the Borough
by helping to protect the historic character of conservation areas and buildings
of historic interest. The grant aid promotes the continued use and repair of
historic structures and supports the reuse of historic materials and sustainable
techniques of repair.
7
Financial Implications
7.1
The grant recommended in this report would be the fifth grant made to the
application building by the borough council. These applications span more
than 30 years. The total sums given over this period are substantial, but have
enabled a long-term programme of repairs to be carried out to the most iconic
historic building in the town. The building suffers substantial problems with its
stonework which require a rolling programme of repairs on an ongoing basis.
This commitment of sums is therefore considered to be a good use of the
council’s grant budget.
7.2
The grant recommended in this report totals £10,000. Another grant offer
approved earlier this year amounting to £10,000 has now been re-phased to
be paid during 2010/11 due to the amended programme of the applicants.
This therefore frees up the required sums for this current grant application
where they had previously not been available. If approved, this can be met
from the 2009/10 Historic Building Repair Capital Grants scheme (Buildings at
Risk) as shown in the table below:
Year
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Proposed Budget
42.0
32
32.0
32.0
138.0
Grants previously awarded
31.4
10.0
0.0
0.0
41.4
Proposed in this report
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
Balance available for future
awards
0.6
22.0
32.0
32.0
86.6
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