The original listing survey of Ulster was undertaken in the 1970s. This was far from comprehensive and a much needed resurvey is currently underway. The detail of this puts England to shame: each individual building is considered in great depth - original sources are studied, a comprehensive photographic record made and a report several pages long produced. Four survey teams have been at work so far for 2 1/2 years. The problem is that it will take them a further 15 years to complete the exercise and there are no powers to spot list buildings in Northern Ireland. As a result buildings, particularly in the west of the Province, are in grave danger of being damaged or demolished before the survey teams arrive. The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is reluctant to allow the teams to work out of sequence even when there is a threat to a particular area. As a matter or urgency, the Department must be given the powers to spot list buildings.

An alarming trend has emerged from the resurvey. Because of a widespread failure to enforce listed buildings legislation, many listed buildings have been blighted by unauthorised alteration, particularly uPVC window replacement. Sadly, many other buildings have actually been given consent for unsympathetic alterations. In the resurvey these buildings are being downgraded or even delisted as a result of a strict interpretation of listing criteria. The danger of this approach is that it could encourage unscrupulous owners to carry out unauthorised alteration in the expectation of delisting.

The failure to control alterations has had other damaging consequences. The Department of the Environment does not challenge delisting requests made on the grounds that alterations have so altered the character of the building that it no longer retains the qualities for which it was listed. In the past the courts have dismissed the Department's argument on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence of the appearance of the building when listed. Further delistings in such circumstances can only be prevented by accelerating the resurvey, prosecuting owners who alter listed buildings without consent (something that has never been done in the province) and ensuring that approval is only given to sympathetic repairs and alterations.