After the High Court agreed to hear the majority of the grounds of our Judicial Review Case in April, Runnymede Borough Council has agreed to a settlement, consented by the High Court last month, which requires them to reconsider enforcement action.

This is a major milestone in our fight against the loss of over 50% of the Stained Glass, 100% of the Historic Glass, and the use of non-traditional UPVC framing.

Because the settlement was consented by the High Court before the trial date, the court sitting was no longer required.

The High Court Order requires the Council to:

“reconsider the enforcement matter under Case Reference 22E00102 in respect of the Grade II listed former Christ Church Longcross, Longcross Road, Chertsey, Surrey pursuant to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of unlawful development/breaches of listed building control at Christ Church Longcross, Longcross Road, Chertsey, KT16 0DU.” 

and it is agreed that:

“The Defendant [the council] now agrees to treat its "Enforcement Report" as withdrawn and for enforcement action in respect of alleged alteration of fenestration, the alteration of the roof to include a rooflight and the use of non-traditional materials in the dormers and window frames to be reconsidered pursuant to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 within three months of this order."

Importantly:

The council has agreed that its planning committee will make a decision whether to take enforcement action, such decision to be informed and advised by an independent report by a heritage consultant or heritage officer otherwise than in the Council’s employment, it being agreed that a report by Place Services would be suitable for this purpose, and for the avoidance of doubt which report shall be placed in full before the planning committee.

A reminder of the listed building harms we have been fighting to have considered for enforcement:

• over 50% of the original Stained Glass has been lost,
• 100% of the remaining historic glass has been removed,
• none of the original stained glass is presented in its original state, 
• Stained Glass compositions have been moved and severed of their original context,
• Stained Glass compositions have lost continuity and coherence with the introduction of thick floor plates,
• the use of thick uPVC frames has necessitated the Stained Glass to be cropped to fit,
• despite no materials condition approving the use of uPVC, all window frames and dormer siding are of this non-traditional, unsympathetic material contrary to Historic England guidance,
• the use of contemporary uPVC window frames introduces extraneous window ledges not in keeping with the original historic fabric,
• an incongruous rooflight has been introduced, and
• historic Bath stone surrounds have been plastered over.

Next Steps

We now await the reconsideration of the Enforcement Report by the council. As this is not a planning application, there is no online reference for this case but we will update here as soon as it is published.

Many thanks for all your continued support.

Theresa Burton, Founder Friends of Christ Church Longcross, fochristchurchlongcross@gmail.com