Built Heritage
Our built heritage is part of the environment we live and work in. It is both everyday and ancient. The built heritage is a festival of colour, shapes and textures. It is manmade, taken form the earth and reshapen. It represents the vision and aspirations of those who went before us and it is ours to enjoy, to enhance and to hand on to future generations.
Some facts and figures for Cork
There are 2,000 structures listed on the Record of Protected Structures in the County Development Plan. These include bridges, mansions, shop fronts, post offices, gate lodges and buildings dating from the 1500s to the 1990s. A recent survey of thatched houses carried out by the County Council identified about 230 thatched houses, excluding those that have been covered by galvanised iron. There are 40 Architectural Conservation Areas identified and listed in the County Development Plan, 2003. The National Inventory for Architectural Heritage (NIAH) survey has not yet been fully completed for Cork (Central Cork remaining with North, East and West Cork having been completed recently), but has already uncovered more architectural gems.
Relevant legislationThe principal legislation that provides protection for our built heritage is the Planning and Development Act, 2000. This Act allows for the listing of important structures in County Development Plans in order to provide protection to these.
Here is a summary of the main points of the Act:
· Planning authorities are required to maintain a Record of Protected Structures, within the area covered by the plan.
· These structures must be of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
· Local authorities may request owner/occupiers to carry out works to a structure to prevent it from becoming or continuing to be endangered.
· The local authority may at its discretion assist in the carrying out of works, with advice, financial aid, materials, and equipment or staffing.
· Local authorities may acquire protected structures through agreement or compulsory purchase order (CPO), if they feel it necessary to do so, to ensure the protection of the structure.
The act also provides for the designation of Architectural Conservation Areas.
Other relevant legislation, conventions and agreements include: (Granada Convention), European Treaty Series no.121, 1985
For more information on Protected Structures click here.
Conservation Grant Scheme
The objective of this scheme is to assist the owner or occupier of a structure which is protected with the conservation of that structure. For more information click Conservation Grants Scheme.
For Advice on the Built Heritage Contact:
Conservation Officer, Cork Co. Council, Floor 3, County Hall, Cork - 021 4276891
Where do I find out if a building or structure is listed?
The Record of Protected Structures contained in the Cork County Development Plan. This is available to view in all branches of the County Library.
Downloadable Documents
Information on Protected Structures
