Buildings at risk

The buildings at risk register (BAR) has been created and is maintained by the Council. It provides information on buildings and structures throughout the city that are considered to be ‘at risk’ in accordance with guidance set by English Heritage.

The first BAR survey for the City of Plymouth was undertaken in 1992 and reviewed in 1998. The 2005 survey was carried out on a much larger scale than the previous surveys. All buildings/structures (walls, monuments, railings, etc) entered on the previous registers were reviewed and the survey area was extended to cover all conservation areas, listed buildings, registered parks and gardens and scheduled ancient monuments. The BAR also includes buildings of townscape merit that fall within the boundaries of the Area Action Plans.

The 2005 BAR contains details of 412 buildings or structures considered to be at risk. Of these buildings and structures, 124 are statutory listed (5 Grade I, 15 Grade II* and 104 Grade II listed). 20 scheduled ancient monuments are included and the remaining 266 entries are buildings/structures considered to be of townscape merit. They are included for their positive contribution locally to the built environment and/or their historic importance.

The 1998 BAR contained 273 entries and the 2005 review removed 181 buildings or structures from it. These included: Smeatons Tower (Grade I), No 1 The Esplanade on The Hoe (Grade II*), The Chapel Inn in Devonport (Grade II), and the Clipper Public House on Union Street.

Buildings and structures are entered on the Register in different categories of risk, on a scale from 1 to 4. The 2005 BAR includes:

• 14 buildings/structures at risk level 1 (extreme risk)
• 41 at risk level 2 (grave risk)
• 146 at risk level 3 (at risk)
• 201 at risk level 4 (vulnerable)

For further information on how the condition of the properties and structures are assessed and categorised, please go to the frequently asked questions page.

Some buildings removed from the 1998 list benefited from grant aid. For example, within the Stonehouse area, a significant number of buildings were removed from the register, some as a direct result of grant schemes, namely the Townscape Heritage Initiative and the Union Street commercial improvement area.

The register is compiled alphabetically by street. If you require a more detailed search of, for example, buildings at risk within a particular conservation area, please contact the Historic Environment Team. A small fee may be charged for this search.

For more general information on Buildings at Risk, please go to the English Heritage website.

The current register (compiled in 2005) is under review, and it is hoped that a revised version will be published in 2012. The new list will focus on listed buildings within their curtilage, scheduled ancient monuments, un-scheduled Palmerston Fortifications (for group value), and registered parks and gardens.

For further information or to put forward a building/structure for inclusion on the new register, please contact the Historic Environment Team.