Instructions for Planning Applications Involving Listed Heritage Buildings
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Administration Division, issued instructions dated 9 September 2010, with no order number stated in the supplied text, directing the Area Plans Unit to consider the High Court order dated 29 April 2010 when processing planning permission applications involving buildings in the Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee report. The instructions also record steps to protect listed buildings from demolition, destruction or alteration that would diminish their heritage value without permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee.
What the document does
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Administration Division, instructions dated 9 September 2010 tell the Area Plans Unit to consider the High Court order dated 29 April 2010 when processing planning permission applications relating to buildings in the Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee report. No order number is stated in the supplied text.
The High Court directions arose from proceedings involving INTACH, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Chennai Corporation and the Life Insurance Corporation of India. They included a specific direction to assess the value of the Bharath Insurance Building at Anna Salai and examine whether it could be retained.
Who may be affected
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority instructions may affect owners and planning permission applicants whose buildings appear in the Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee report. Private owners are specifically identified as persons who should receive notices.
A buyer or professional dealing with a listed property should be aware that a planning permission application may be examined with the High Court directions and heritage concerns in mind. The supplied text does not explain the legal meaning of each heritage grade.
Key provisions
The High Court directions recorded by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority include:
- The Heritage Conservation Committee was to assess the Bharath Insurance Building and examine the feasibility of retaining it.
- The Heritage Conservation Committee was to recommend that the Government take steps to notify buildings listed as heritage buildings.
- Notices were to be issued to concerned persons, especially private owners of buildings in the Justice E. Padmanabhan Committee report.
- Listed buildings were to face no threat of demolition, destruction or alteration diminishing their heritage value without permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee.
- The Master Plan Unit had already initiated action to issue notices to owners of private buildings in the report.
Buildings covered in the supplied extract
The attached extract lists North Chennai buildings by building number, location and grade. It includes Fort St George buildings such as the State Secretariat, St. Mary's Church, Fort Museum, Admiralty House, Parade Ground and Fort House.
The George Town entries include the General Post Office, Reserve Bank of India, Royapuram Railway Terminal, Madras High Court and Law Chambers Building, Madras Law College, Dare House, Anderson Church and several buildings along Rajaji Salai, NSC Bose Road and Prakasam Road. Grades shown include 1, 2a and 2b, but their criteria are not provided.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can I demolish or alter a building included in this heritage list?
The High Court directions recorded in the document seek to prevent demolition, destruction or alteration that diminishes a listed building's heritage value without permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee.
Does appearing in the committee report mean the building was already formally notified as a heritage building?
The supplied text says the Heritage Conservation Committee was directed to recommend that the Government take steps to notify the listed buildings. It does not confirm that formal notification had been completed.
Will a heritage listing affect a planning permission application?
Yes. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority directed the Area Plans Unit to take the High Court order into account when processing planning permission applications relating to buildings in the report.
What do heritage grades 1, 2a and 2b mean?
The attached list records these grades for individual buildings, but the supplied text does not explain their meaning or the restrictions attached to each grade.
