The regulation for surroundings of listed buildings (classé or inscrit) and buildings backing listed buildings by La Demeure Historique
I. DEFINITION OF SURROUNDINGS (ABORDS) OF HISTORIC MONUMENTS (1)
Applying automatically when a building is listed, compliance applies to all surrounding buildings and spaces within 500 meters of that monument, visible from it or «visible along with it «(i.e. from a vantage point, the two buildings can be seen together, one from the other and vice-versa). - The scope of modified protection (PPM): Since the SRU law of December 13th 2000, the distance of 500 meters can be changed, including decreased, during the development or revision of the local zoning/urbanization plan (PLU) to take into account areas of interest for the protection and enhancement of the listed building. - The adapted scope of protection (PPP): When a new building comes under protection, the architecte des bâtiments de France (ABF) (2) may offer a new scope of protection adapted to the building’s environment. The request for protection and the proposed new perimeter will be studied concurrently. II. WHAT IS A BUILDING ‘BACKING’ A LISTED BUILDING ?
A building backing a listed building is «any building in contact with an immeuble classé au titre des monuments historiques at ground level or underground» and «any nonprotected/listed part of a building partially classé as a monument historique «(Article L621-30 of the Heritage Code). Initially regulated separately, work on the buildings backing a classé building has been aligned with work on buildings in the vicinity of a historical monument. III. VERIFICATION OF WORK
Any work proposed in the vicinity of a listed building and «likely to change it appearance» (new construction, demolition, clearing, etc...) requires prior notice from the ABF.
(1) the French notion of ’abord’ is very similar (but not completely) to the english concept of curtilage (2) The architect specialised in Heritage preservation, ABF, is a state official, head of the territorial architecture and heritage department (STAP), a territorial unit of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC).
39