St Peters-Section 12 Appendices - Historic Scotland

CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT - VOLUME 1: ST PETER’S SEMINARY FEBRUARY 2008 319 Final Issue
Applaud Historic Scotland for funding report, but regret that Historic
Scotland chose not to participate as a ‘joint client stakeholder’.
Historic Scotland should now accept shared responsibility for a
Conservation Management Plan
The draft report is not the much needed Conservation Management Plan.
Such a plan, or a prescribed process for its production is now required.
Important additional matters will need to be addressed by the
Conservation Management Plan.
The Plan will need to :
Consider vulnerabilities and challenges generally and provide area specifi c
policies
Provide policies for management of specifi c threats
Examples of issues to be addressed include inaccessible roof drainage;
introduction of modern services; how new needs might be met without
damage to historic fabric and setting; how modern standards of thermal
comfort and energy conservation might be met; how disabled access
might be met.
A clear statement of fi ndings of fact is essential
Report should include policy recommendations of a conservation led
approach
Robust fi nding that the current planning application is not in accordance
with the statement of signifi cance.
Report should state that the current planning application should be
withdrawn/abandoned
Report should recommend immediate measures for security and
protection of the building.
No recommendation for a conservation led approach. Report makes clear
that full restoration of the asset remains practicable.
Any short term scheme/ action should be compatible with eventual full
restoration
Further investigations of potential possible new and sustainable use are
required and should be advocated.
The plan does not prescribe ‘next steps’ to be followed in short and
medium term.
Repairs and consolidation should be undertaken according to established
conservation practice. Public authorities have statutory powers to serve
repair notices and compulsorily purchase neglected properties.
The present condition of building is completely unacceptable and
represents a failure of those responsible to discharge their proper
obligations for it.
Separation of the ownership of the seminary and the estate should be
rejected out of hand.