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Listed buildings

How to apply for listed building consent, including what aspect of a building is protected and how to find out if a building is listed.

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About listed buildings

The places in which we live are populated by buildings and structures that are of considerable historic and architectural interest. These contribute positively to our lives, provide beauty and visual interest, and contribute considerable to our national story. Their preservation is therefore highly important, and it is for this reason that those buildings and structures that are identified to be of national importance are given extra protection.

This is done through their designation on the National Heritage List for England. Buildings and structures designated as such as called ‘listed buildings’. Listing covers a wide range of buildings and structures, from churches to country houses, worker’s cottages, industrial mills, telephone boxes and war memorials. These listed buildings are broken down into three categories:

  • Grade I - these are the listed buildings of the greatest significance, defined as having exceptional interest. Only around 2.5 per cent of listed buildings are designated at grade I.
  • Grade II* - these are of more than special interest. Roughly 6 per cent of listed buildings are listed at grade II*.
  • Grade II - this designation covers most listed buildings (roughly 91 per cent). It is important to remember that these are still buildings of national significance, for which there is a stringent selection criteria, and that they have considerable special historic and architectural interest.

What does listing protect?

Designation as a listed building gives the building or structure extra protection, particularly in relation to what changes can be made to it. This designation covers the entirety of the building both inside and out, and owners are required to apply for, and gain, Listed Building Consent before they commence any works.

More information on Listed Building Consent, and when it is required is available here.

Importantly, owners should also be aware that unauthorised works to a listed building are a criminal offence, and in some circumstances could lead to fines and/or prosecution. It is therefore important to understand whether consent is required before commencing any works, and so we recommend speaking to a qualified professional, or seeking pre-application advice from the council.

If you suspect unauthorised works are being carried out to a listed building, please contact our Planning Enforcement team. They, along with the conservation team, will investigate any potential breaches.

Curtilage Listing

In some circumstances the protections covering the listed building will also cover additional buildings or structures. These buildings and structures are ‘curtilage listed’, and Listed Building Consent would also be required to carry out works to them.

Assessing whether a building or structure is curtilage listed relies on whether they meet three tests, which have been set out within planning case law.

These are that:

  1. In their layout the listed building and the potential curtilage listed building or structure have a clear interrelationship. This layout can, however, cover a large area- for example extending to a lodge building located some distance away from a country house
  2. The listed building and the curtilage listed building were in the same ownership both historically and at the time of listing (or on the 1st January 1969 for listed buildings designated before this date)
  3. The building or structure served a use which was associated with, and ancillary to, the listed building.

Examples of curtilage listed buildings and structures might include a historic boundary wall associated with a listed building, a coach house or stables associated with a country house, or an outside toilet associated with a terraced house.

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