Cat Smith Working for Lancaster and Fleetwood
Last August I urged the Planning Inspectorate to protect Lancaster City’s heritage and dismiss an appeal by the owner of the iconic Alexandra Hall building in the City Centre against a Listed Building Enforcement Notice from Lancaster City Council.
I’m delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has now dismissed the owner’s appeal – putting enforcement power back into local hands.
For too long now the iconic Alexandra Hall building in the City Centre has been abandoned by the owner, and left exposed to the elements to fall into disrepair and decay. As one of the first buildings greeting visitors entering our amazing city, it’s been frustrating to see this listed building with such potential fall to ruin.
Along with Labour Party councillors, having previously pushed Lancaster City Council to undertake a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), the City Council served a Listed Building Enforcement Notice which was challenged by the owner and I wrote to the Planning Inspectorate urging them to do the right thing, and reject this appeal.
In an announcement celebrating the dismissed appeal, Lancaster City Council said:
“Lancaster City Council has successfully defended an appeal against an enforcement notice at the former Alexandra Hotel site.The building, which is Grade II listed and was built in 1902, has deteriorated in recent years following the unauthorised removal of windows which has exposed the structure to the elements.The council served a Listed Building Enforcement Notice in Spring 2023, requiring all of the original windows to be reinstated and any ancillary repairs to be carried out. The owner subsequently appealed the notice.A planning inspector has now dismissed the appeal and has upheld the council’s enforcement notice in its entirety. In making this decision, the inspector concluded that the timber windows were “intrinsic features” of the building’s overall character.He dismissed the appellant’s claim that the removal of the windows comprised the minimum action necessary to preserve public safety. The building’s owners now must comply with the terms of the enforcement notice or face the prospect of prosecution.The notice gives three months for the work to be completed, and this begins from the date of the inspector’s decision (16 February 2024).Councillor Phillip Black, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “The Alexandra Hotel forms part of a historic gateway into the city of Lancaster. It is a building that is valued highly by its residents and one that Council officers will continue to strive to protect from inappropriate work.“The planning inspector’s appeal decision is a welcome development in this case. The decision vindicates the city council in pursuing enforcement action. We would now urge the owner to comply with the notice as prescribed by the planning inspector.””
This is a huge victory for Lancaster City’s heritage, and puts power back in local hands to protect the building.
Now the hard work begins on preserving our history and ensuring the building remains a proud part of Lancaster’s future, and so I, along with Emily Jones, Labour’s local candidate for the city’s Castle Ward, are renewing our calls for the City Council to complete a undertake a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), and have set out our thanks and requests to the City Council below:
