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Initially a hospital for up to 200 people with psychiatric illness, by the mid-20th century it housed 1,500 patients. The institution was wound down as a healthcare facility from 1991, finally closing in 1995.
There was much damage caused to the structure and its contents in the years following the closure.
The site was compulsorily purchased by Denbighshire Council in 2018 and plans were announced late that year for its redevelopment as housing.
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With the exception of the last paragraph.
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Does this story of one of North Wales' most prestigious Grade II* Buildings sound familiar?
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You could be talking about Kinmel Hall - except she is Grade I Listed!
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The situation with The North Wales Hospital is almost a mirror image of 'The Crown of Nesfield's Career' including the absentee, overseas owners,a poor working relationship with those owners and all the while the only thing that is suffering is the building.
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In 2016 Historic England produced a publication on the steps that could be taken to 'Stop The Rot' of England's Listed Properties.
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As the document states in its Introduction: -
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'Historic buildings add significant value to the character of the built environment. Keeping historic buildings in good repair and, where possible, in use, is the key to their preservation. The vast majority remain in beneficial use and are well-maintained. Sometimes, however, they become redundant, vacant and neglected. Decay sets in and without timely action they become at risk of permanent loss, both of their own historic fabric and to the character of the neighbourhoods of which they are irreplaceable components.
The owners of listed buildings are under no legal obligation to maintain their property in a good state of repair; even though it is in their interests to do so.
When negotiation fails, local authorities have a range of statutory enforcement powers at their disposal including section 215 Notices, Urgent Works Notices, Repairs Notices and other statutory enforcement tools and powers under the various Housing, Planning and Building Acts, to secure the future of historic buildings.
At their lightest level they involve no more than the serving of formal warnings of action, but in the last resort they can lead to enforced repairs or compulsory purchase.
Deciding which of the available powers to employ and in what combination will always depend on individual circumstances and the professional judgment of the local planning authority. However, there is much that can usefully be learnt from the practical experience gained by other local authorities who have pursued enforcement actions.
Historic England is here to provide professional guidance, advice and support across the country. This includes legal, architectural, conservation, engineering, valuation and enforcement expertise. Much of this information is set out in this publication and more is available by contacting your local Heritage at Risk team. In some cases grant support may even be available to underwrite particular enforcement action.
Therefore the aim of this new and enhanced edition of Stopping the Rot is to help local authority officers to navigate their way through the different statutory powers at their disposal and to learn how to apply them to best practical effect. As well as providing step-by-step advice on the use of each of the main powers, the guidance includes a series of case studies of their use in different situations.'
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