Listed Buildings
A ‘listed’ building is a building or structure deemed of architectural or historic interest. Thereafter it is protected in law.
All listed buildings are of National significance and have been identified because of their importance in terms of architectural design, building type, and form, and/or because of the techniques or craftsmanship used in their construction and decoration.
Some buildings have been included for reasons of historic interest. These include buildings which illustrate important aspects of the nation’s social, economic, cultural or military history or which have historical associations with people or events important to the country.
Sometimes, groups of buildings share an architectural or historic unity, including for example, terraces, model villages or farm layouts, etc. and some listings reflect these important associations.
Each building or structure is graded in terms of importance; either Grade I, II or II. Grade I and Grade II designations indicate that such buildings or structures are considered of an exceptional quality/importance in terms of their national significance.
In most cases if you wish to alter, extend or demolish a listed building, you will require ‘Listed Building Consent’ from the local planning authority.
Buildings vary greatly in the extent to which they can accommodate change without loss of special interest; some may be sensitive to even slight alteration, and others less so. There may also be more sensitive or appropriate ways of undertaking works which would be more likely to gain consent.
For the sake of clarity, the ‘listed building’ should be interpreted to include:
• The whole of the building itself (interior and exterior),
• Any object or structure fixed to the building, and
• Any objects or structures within the curtilage of the listed building which have existed since before July 1st 1948.
It is a criminal offence under Section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 [punishable by fine and ultimately by imprisonment] to execute or cause to be executed any works of demolition, alteration*, or extension of a listed building in any manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, without first obtaining Listed Building Consent**.
* n.b. Alteration includes decoration in many cases and also
minor works of partial demolition
n.b.
**
For which application forms are available from the local planning authority