Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023

156 Exempt religious buildings

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations provide that a religious building used for religious purposes is an exempt religious building for the purposes of—

(a) sections 83 and 84 (temporary listing of building);

(b) section 88 (requirement for works affecting listed building to be authorised);

(c) section 118 (offence of intentionally damaging listed building);

(d) section 137 (compulsory acquisition of listed building for preservation);

(e) section 144 (urgent works for preservation of listed building).

(2) For the purposes of section 88 a building is to be treated as being used for religious purposes if it would be used for those purposes but for the works in question.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make provision in relation to religious buildings of a description specified in the regulations (whether by reference to a religious faith or denomination, a use made of the buildings, or any other circumstance) or in relation to a particular building;

(b) make provision in relation to all or part of a religious building;

(c) provide that a building is an exempt religious building only in relation to works of a description specified in the regulations (whether by reference to the extent of the works, the person by whom they are carried out, or any other circumstance);

(d) make different provision for buildings in different areas;

(e) make consequential amendments to any other provision of this Act.

(4) In this section references to a religious building—

(a) include any structure or artificial object that is fixed to a religious building or within its curtilage;

(b) do not include a building used, or available for use, by a minister of religion wholly or mainly as a residence from which to perform the duties of that office.