I can assure you Steve I have a lot more experience than you of English Heritage and their laws/guidelines. I have been in the High Court twice for being in breach of these! Very briefly it took over 5 years to get permission to even live in the tower. During this time I broke a few of their 'laws'. I now give advice to potential converters of Ancient Monuments and my Tower is now considered the best example of a converted one. So to sum up I required permission to hammer a nail into the wall or remove one brick, BUT I can paint it any colour I like - yes very odd I know but I have it in writing.
Thank you for your reply. Your comments in black my response beneath.
I can assure you Steve I have a lot more experience than you of English Heritage and their laws/guidelines.
You have the power of telepathy as well? How do you know the full extent of my experiences with the UK planning and heritage system over the last thirty years?
I have been in the High Court twice for being in breach of these!
I have given evidence as a witness at the Lands Tribunal ( a division of the High Court) and in several other court cases as a witness. Most people regard being in court for being in breach of the law as a failure rather than something to add to their cv. What you are saying is that you lack the ability to work with the authorities which results in the expense of high court proceedings. I am 100% in favour and support you fighting the system but against you breaking the law.
Very briefly it took over 5 years to get permission to even live in the tower. During this time I broke a few of their 'laws'.
Not their laws, our law. In any event the law is that you get permission and generally it is down to your ability to persuade the authorities that what you want is within the spirit of the guidance. Why should the rest of us bother to obey the law when there are people like you who glorify the breaking of it. That there are obnoxious planning officers who go out of their way to be obstructive I accept. But they have 8 weeks to decide, you can then appeal so it only stretches to 5 years when you tolerate it or don’t have the skill to deal with them. If you are getting shitty treatment go to appeal and your decision is likely within months or a year.
I now give advice to potential converters of Ancient Monuments and my Tower is now considered the best example of a converted one.
Whether this is good or bad depends on the advice. From what you have written so far the courts are going to be busy.
So to sum up I required permission to hammer a nail into the wall or remove one brick,
Technically yes but English Heritage inspectors wouldn’t take you to court for a minor infringement. I know I have been there.
BUT I can paint it any colour I like - yes very odd I know but I have it in writing.
This is the sort of bollux that gets written on this web site and people go away thinking its not necessary to get permission. What you write is confusing drivel. You might have a letter that deals with a specific point – but it is only half the story. As a listed building it needs listed building consent if it changes the character. If you live in a listed building that is already painted you can repaint it the same colour or a shade that is similar without a listed building consent application. If you want to paint it a very different colour for example change from white to purple you need consent.
NOTE - I DO NOT INTEND TO PAINT IT PURPLE etc
Yeah I gathered that purple was an example.
- It was just an example of how strange the rulles and regulations are.
Not really you are confused. The law is mostly, only specific in respect of the hoops you have to jump through for example submitting a planning application , listed building consent, conservation area consent application or scheduled monument consent . You do this to be within the law. Beyond making an application there are no rock solid rules or regulations as you suggest; it is all guidance. The issues you raise relate to how guidance is interpreted not rules or regulations. The strangeness you refer to is the strength of the system; no situation is exactly identical to another. This results in neighbouring dwellings getting different decisions or very different situations getting the same treatment.
Painting falls under the umbrella of a listed building consent submission. It is impossible to have an approval that allows you to paint any colour. The reason is simple every application has to be treated on its merits the merit can only be determined by knowing the colour. In respect of painting any colour you want, you are only giving us part of the story. Provide us with the full context and it will be thrown into a new light.