Commentary on Sections Part 4 — Conservation Areas Section 164 — Urgent works to preserve buildings in conservation areas
623.If the Welsh Ministers consider that the preservation of an unlisted building is important for maintaining the character or appearance of a conservation area they may make a direction to apply section 144 (from Part 3 of the Act) to that building (section 164 (1 and 2)). Section 144 enables local authorities and the Welsh Ministers to carry out urgent works to preserve listed buildings.
624.If the Welsh Ministers have made a direction to apply section 144 to an unlisted building in a conservation area, section 164(3) provides that the related provisions about making owners of buildings meet the cost of urgent preservation works will also apply. Those provisions (which include allowing owners to contest the recovery of costs) are stated in sections 145 (power to require owner to meet costs of preservation works) and 146 (further provision about recovery of costs of preservation works).