\'Demolition charter\' angers English Heritage
Simon Thurley, the chief executive of English Heritage, has reacted angrily to a leaked Government letter that reveals proposals to change the law to allow listed buildings to be demolished for profit.
The plan has apparently been devised in order to make it possible to demolish the Grade II* listed Commonwealth Institute in London. Dr Thurley has agreed to meet with David Lammy MP, the Minister for Culture, to discuss this proposal and its wider implications for heritage protection.
Simon Thurley described the proposal to alter the law in order to make it possible to demolishing the Commonwealth Institute as "not only muddled and dangerous but completely unnecessary".
He said: "Historically priceless buildings occupying valuable sites everywhere would be put at risk from demolition if it could be shown that maximum profit could be achieved for any good cause.
"There is already a constructive and democratic way of resolving cases like this. Forcing through a Bill in the face of opposition would be an unacceptably rash destabilisation of the planning system."