Frustrated residents called on the council to do more to make the owner of a group of derelict listed buildings take action to save them before it is too late.
Milton Keynes Council officers told a meeting on Thursday that they are working with the current owner of the protected properties at The Green, in Woughton on the Green, who has responded to their requests.
And the development control committee met to discuss proposals for proposed conservation and repair, alterations and extensions to the Grade II Listed properties known as Cottage Farm and Woodbine Cottage, and a small barn known as the Butcher’s shop.
Resident Geoffrey Miller said it was a “compelling case for a compulsory purchase order”. He challenged the council to take action to conserve the properties.
The meeting heard that compulsory purchase was a possibility but only if the owner did not show willingness.
Others said there had been a history of “scant regard” and wanted “rigorous enforcement”, but they were told that the ownership had changed, and the new owner wanted to create an annexe for an elderly relative.
Ward councillor Terry Baines (Ind, Campbell Park & Old Woughton) said the buildings were one of the “jewels in the crown”.
Although he wanted the current proposals thrown out he called for work to start within one year, instead of the proposed three years “because they won’t last three years”.
The buildings were confirmed to be on the council’s Heritage at Risk register.
But Ms Karen Teideman-Barrett, the applicant’s agent, said they had worked with the council to come up with a plan for long term protection and “sympathetic repair”.
“If you turned this application down, how would it benefit this?” she asked the panel of five councillors.
Simon Peart, the council’s conservation officer, said the team of officers had taken this “very seriously”, making 30-40 visits to the site.
A previous owner had been served notices and the current owner had responded after being “threatened” with a draft notice, he said.
“The owner has undertaken works,” he said.
But he reported that one of the buildings, known as the Butcher’s Shop had been lost because it was being “held up mostly by ivy”.
“The proposal is to replace one of the buildings that is beyond saving,” he added.
Cllr Anthony Brown (Lab, Tattenhoe), chairing the panel, said he had “sympathy with the objectives of the application”, as well as the time and effort taken by the conservation team.
The committee voted by four to one to accept both a listed building and a planning application.
Cllr Keith McLean (Cons, Olney) voted against. He had wanted a condition to get the work started within one year.
The committee was told that alleged unauthorised uses of a rear yard, the personality of the landowner, and the disposal of building materials were not issues that could be considered by the development control panel.
