Certificate of immunity COI
Certificates of immunity (COI) guarantee that a building or buildings will not be listed and that a building preservation notice will not be served for the next five years. This gives reassurance to owners or developers that are proposing works to buildings that could be eligible for listing, that their proposals will not be hindered.
Following the introduction of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, certificates of immunity can be sought at any time (previously this was only permitted when the building was the subject of a planning application).
Applications are made to Historic England and copied by the applicant to the local planning authority. Historic England then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport who will decide whether to grant the certificate.
There is some risk in applying for a certificate of immunity, as, if a certificate is not granted, the building will normally then be listed. This means that an application should only be made if there is a genuine possibility of a development being seriously hampered by future listing.
As certificates of immunity prevent listing for 5 years, applications are considered in great detail, and this may reveal reasons to list the building, even if a recent application to have the building listed was rejected.
Applications can be withdrawn at any time during the application process by writing to Historic England.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Building preservation notice.
- Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Works.
- Certificates in the construction industry.
- Detailed planning permission.
- Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and listed buildings.
- Historic England.
- Listed building.
- Planning permission.
- Use of direct action in heritage enforcement cases in England.
[edit] External references
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC Virtual School 19 June: Heritage Reflections & Speculations from a Pandemic
How the current pandemic will shape historic urban areas and their surrounding communities across the globe is impossible to tell. Join us to reflect on the implications for our current approaches to caring for valued places, and even speculate on future strategies and responses.
How to Enjoy Heritage from Home, from the Heritage Fund
The Heritage Fund has put together a list of heritage-inspired activities to be done from home.
Listed Property Owners Club’s Spring Checklist for Buildings
Spring is a good time to stand back and consider any building repairs that are required over the next 12 months, notes the LPOC, and regular inspection and maintenance is the key to keeping homes in good repair, as per its accessible step-by-step guidance.
Firefighters tackle blaze at converted Grade II listed former mill
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said “rapid and effective firefighting” had saved three quarters of the mill – which is now apartments.
Thieves take advantage of lockdown to steal lead from church roof in Halsham
Police have appealed for witnesses after thieves stole lead from the roof of All Saints Church in Halsham near Hedon during the coronavirus lockdown.
IHBC's CPD Circular provides info on digital CPD opportunities
The regular newsletter showcases the IHBC’s own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) content as well as online opportunities from ‘IHBC Recognised CPD Providers’ and other conservation related training and events.
Frank Lloyd Wright houses offer virtual tours
To make sure the public still has access to twelve of those famous works, #WrightVirtualVisits has been launched, which offers virtual tours of 12 iconic houses.
CIC’s Coronavirus Digest review and survey
The Construction Industry Council’s (CIC’s) ‘CIC Coronavirus Digest – Issue 8’ surveys the latest government advice with updates from the construction industry.
COVID-19: Advice and Updates collated from the Heritage Sector
Organisations with conservation links have been collating resources on COVID-19 impacts, including Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), Historic Environment Forum, The Heritage Alliance (THA), and Historic England, on cleaning surfaces.
Councils considering ‘executive powers’ as measures to avoid planning gridlock
Councils are reported to be considering taking up rarely-used executive powers to keep the planning and development system moving during the coronavirus pandemic.
Historic England provides updated flood recovery advice
Historic England's 'After a Flood' provides timely advice on how to dry walls properly and avoid further damage to the building fabric.
Conservation of Timber Buildings: an example of evolving conservation techniques
Context Issue 162 offers a peek into an archive of timber conservation history through the records of the practice of FWB and Mary Charles Chartered Architects.
Call for VAT rates for Refurbishment to be Reduced
To meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we must recycle, reuse and responsibly adapt our existing historic buildings, according to this year’s Heritage Counts report, so Historic England and partners are calling for a reduction in VAT rates to incentivise this more sustainable option.