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Buildings at Risk

In 1991, the first Register of all listed buildings at risk in London was published. This was followed in 1998 by the launch of English Heritage's formal buildings at risk strategy and the publication of the first national Buildings at Risk Register.

This identified that 1,428 of England's most important Grade I and II* listed buildings and structural scheduled monuments were at risk of collapse, decay or loss and that repairs were urgently needed.

An excellent example of a 19th century factory retaining rare examples of pressed metal coffin fittings, and catalogues for furniture and shrouds. When abandoned in 2003, much of the structure and contents were contaminated. Birmingham Conservation Trust’s plans are for reuse as business units.

The Current Situation

We have now been collecting data on buildings at risk for more than a decade. The long-term trends, however, have been positive with a steady decline in total numbers at risk. The register has really helped focus the attention of the public, of investors and of other stakeholders on buildings at risk. It has informed the priorities of all parties involved and as such has been a major factor in allowing many buildings at risk to be taken off the register.

A significant number of buildings on the register have now been at risk for many years because they present particularly tough challenges. While the number of Grade I and II* buildings at risk fell by 17% between 1999 and 2007, there has been a significant slow-down in the annual rate of decrease since then.

After an alarming reversal in the trend in 2008 when more buildings were added to the register than removed, the situation has stablised and 2011 has seen an encouraging increase in the number of buildings removed. Structural scheduled monuments now form a larger proportion of buildings at risk than they did in 1998. These structures are not typically capable of beneficial use so there is less incentive to invest in them.

A rare, possibly unique, survival of an inland salt works. It is to be developed as a visitor attraction. Preparatory work is being undertaken to ensure the archaeology is either safeguarded for the future or fully recorded and used to interpret the site for visitors.

The challenge ahead

While figures for 2011 are encouraging with a 3.3% reduction in the number of buildings on the list, the current economic climate remains challenging. The list increasingly comprises long term buildings at risk and non-beneficial structures.

In 2010 we lost some public sector partners as a result of Government spending cuts and we have seen our own budgets significantly reduced alongside those of local authorities.

English Heritage is committed to working with the public, charitable and private sectors to deliver imaginative solutions to tackle these challenges. A key part of this will be the strategic prioritisation of projects and an on-going review of the way we work with developers and partners.