If you have received this leaflet it is because your building has been nominated by your Parish Council, a local Heritage Group, interested individuals or identified by Wigan Council for inclusion. These nominations have been assessed by the Council’s Conservation Officers and a panel who have recommended which buildings should or should not be included on the draft Local List.
At this stage, it is important to note the following:
- Inclusion on the Local List does not make your building a ‘Listed Building’ - it is proposed as a local designation only.
- Nomination of a building does not mean it will definitely be included on the final Local List.
- You can have your say about whether your building deserves inclusion or not.
- No personal details will be contained on the Local List.
What is a Local List
There are a large number of buildings and structures in the Borough that are of local architectural or historic interest and importance. While these buildings are not currently considered to be of sufficient national interest to merit a formal statutory listing by English Heritage, they undoubtedly add to the richness of the local built environment.
In recognition of this interest, and in order to ensure that the character of these buildings is respected by development proposals affecting them, the Council has decided to produce a Local List of Buildings and Structures of Architectural or Historic Interest.
This Local List will include all of those buildings and structures within the Borough that are considered to be of local architectural or historic interest.
To be included on the Local List, buildings must satisfy certain criteria.
Criteria for Local Listing
The criteria are set out in the Wigan Unitary Development Plan. These broad criteria are adapted from the Government’s criteria for selection of buildings on the Statutory List, which are set out in paragraphs 6.10 to 6.12 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment. The Local List Panel will consider buildings based on these criteria, but adapted to reflect local rather than national priorities.
Age and rarity
- Buildings and structures less than 30 years old aren’t eligible for inclusion on the Local List
- If the building was built before 1840, does it survive in anything like its original condition?
- If it was built between 1840 and 1919 (Victorian/Edwardian), does it retain many of its original features? Is it of sufficient quality to distinguish it from other buildings of that period in Wigan?
- If it was built between 1919 and 1939, is it a good example of the style of the period, or is it an example of a particular building type which became more popular in the period?
- Is it individually designed by a local or locally important architect?
- If it was built between 1939 and 1945, is it a rare surviving example of a wartime structure?
- If it was built between 1946 and 1977, is it a building of exceptional quality and design?
Historic interest
- Is the building or structure associated with an important historic figure?
- Is it a fine or rare example of a building that illustrates social, economic or industrial history, or a good example of town planning?
- Does it illustrate an important part of Wigan’s cultural history?
- Is it an important part of Wigan’s industrial history - for example, is it related to the Wigan Pier area?
Architectural interest
- Was the building designed by an architect important to Wigan?
- Was it designed by an architect of national importance?
- Is it an example of a style of building that is unique to the local area?
- Is it a group of buildings that together are a good surviving example of an historic architectural style?
- Is it a good early example of a particular technological innovation in building type and technique?
Structures and street furniture
Street furniture or other structures (boundary stones, mile stones, post boxes, memorials, lamp posts, statues, street surfaces, walls and railings).
- Is it a rare surviving example of street furniture that contributes positively to the local area?
- Is it important in terms of local history?
What does inclusion on the Local List mean for you?
It is important to note that at this stage inclusion on the draft Local List does not change the existing planning controls that apply to a building already.
The Local List will reinforce efforts to preserve the character and appearance of the buildings that will be included on it. It will enable the architectural or historic interest of these building structures to be properly considered against development proposals submitted to the Council.
It will provide clarity for owners, the local community, developers and Planning Officers, so that they are aware of the interest of a building as early as possible.
Unless a building is statutorily listed or within a Conservation Area, there is no control, under current legislation, over its demolition.
The Local List will simply back up our existing planning policies and guidance, adding weight to the consideration already given to the preservation of these buildings’ architectural and historic interest by development proposals affecting them.
What say do you have about this?
We will consult the owner of every building nominated for inclusion on the List. This will give you the opportunity to let us know whether you think your building deserves inclusion on the Local List or not, which we will then consider against the nomination submitted to us, and a professional assessment of the buildings architectural or historic interest.
It is important to remember that we can only consider representations made by owners on whether the building is of local architectural or historic interest, and we cannot consider personal circumstances, or current or future development proposals.
Data Protection: The Borough Council confirms that in collecting and holding details gathered as a result of the Local List Project, it will comply in every respect with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Information on this project will be available from and updated regularly on the Council’s website, at the special webpage that has been set up for this project.
It is intended that the Council's Conservation and Design Officer’s recommendations will be presented to Wigan Council's Cabinet in **** and the first local list will be produced in ****. As owners you will be informed prior to the Cabinet meeting of the recommendation that has been made for your property.
