Fire Station listing denied

Secretary of State rules against building listing

(Date of issue: Tuesday, 26 August 2008)

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has ruled that the Fire Station and the Ex-Fire Services houses on Warwick Street are not of ‘sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit listing’.

The decision followed assessments by English Heritage’s Historic Buildings Adviser Ken Robinson. The reports, setting out the rulings, state:

The Fire Station is a particularly late example of a fire station constructed as part of a municipal building civic complex. The building is functional in style and lacks the decorative quality found in some earlier examples of fire stations. It has undergone alteration and change of use to some of its uses.

The Ex-Fire Station houses on Warwick Street are relatively modest in terms of architectural design and innovative use of materials. Most have lost original features such as doors, windows, fireplaces and kitchens. They are neither exceptional nor outstanding examples of C20 houses.

Applications to ‘list’ other buildings within the Rickergate area, including the Civic Centre, the Police Station, the Magistrates’ Court and Adrianos’ restaurant, were also ruled against earlier this year.

Listed buildings are buildings of special historic or architectural interest, which have been recorded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Buildings on the list are graded I, II* and II, Grade I being the most important. Listed Building Consent is required for virtually any planning proposals that result in change. Applications affecting Grades I and II* listed buildings and those involving demolition are required to be referred to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Internal and external works to listed buildings require listed building consent. Listed Building Consent is required for repair alterations and/or extensions that materially alter the appearance, structure or historic interest of a listed building. This is in addition to any requirement for planning permission for a proposal.

There are more than 1,500 listed buildings in the Carlisle City Council area.