There has been no activity at Vane Cottage since the planning application to demolish Vane Cottage was withdrawn in November.
The Society is concerned that the cottage will be deteriorating with all the recent cold and wet weather. We have written a letter to the Planning Enforcement Officer at CBC expressing our concern and seeking information on what action has been taken. The letter was copied to Heritage England. A copy of the letter is set out below.
“Vane Cottage, Park Road North, Houghton Regis
Following the withdrawal of the application to demolish Vane Cottage, Park Road North, Houghton Regis, a Grade two listed building, the Houghton Regis Heritage Society would like to know if there have been any moves to ensure the safety and security of the site, as it would appear the fencing along the front is extremely dilapidated with large sections missing, allowing easy access to the site.
Of more concern is the fact that the building has now been unoccupied for roughly three years, which in itself can be detrimental to the fabric of any building. Given its listed status, have council officers conducted any further checks or carried out any site visits to satisfy themselves that the building remains in a stable condition; is satisfactorily protected against the weather and the site itself sufficiently secure against vandalism, squatters or other calamities.”
There has been no new planning application submitted to date. We will keep you updated when we have any further information. Thank you for your continuing support.
Further Update on Vane Cottage
There is a hole in the roof of the cottage just below the flashing around the chimney. This makes it all the more urgent for action to be taken to preserve the fabric of the building. CBC and Heritage England will be sent a copy of the photograph.