Listed buildings
Owning a listed building doesn't mean that you can't make any renovation and repairs to your property. Nick Groom has many years of experience of renovating and working with listed buildings and can advise you of the process and, if required, manage it on your behalf. However, you may wish to brief yourself on the laws governing listed buildings and Nick has provided some useful links and information to assist you.
On this page...
- Why are buildings listed?
- Listed building grades
- The listing process
- How do I find out if my property is listed?
- Listed building consent
- How does having a listed building affect your renovation project?
- Grants
All buildings built before 1700 in England and Wales and are in their original condition are 'listed' to protected them from being demolished or unsympathetically altered. Similarly most buildings built between 1700 and 1840 are also likely to be listed. After WW2 the criteria for listing buildings became more rigorous and some buildings, built post 1945, are also listed where they are deemed to be of exceptional interest. Usually a building has to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing. Owning a listed building doesn't mean that changes cannot be made but in some cases stringent preservation criteria is applied to these buildings. Local authorities use listed building consent to make decisions that balance the site's historic significance against issues such as function, condition or viability.
Listed buildings grades
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Grade I
Buildings are considered to be of exceptional interest. Only 2.5% of buildings are listed in this category.
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Grade II*
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Grade II
Buildings are particularly important and of more than special interest. 5.5% of buildings are Grade II* listed.
Buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them. 90% of listed buildings are in this category.
The listing criteria and process varies throughout the UK. In England, English Heritage is responsible for the system in England and Cadw is the authority on for listed buildings in Wales.
How do I find out if my property is listed?
You can search on The National Heritage List for England to find out if the property you own is listed. For information about conservation areas contact your local authority.
Listed building consent
If a building is listed, any building work will require 'listed building consent'. Formal consent can be obtained through your local planning authority. In some circumstances even minor renovation, such as painting or simple maintenance work, falls under the scope of the Planning Act 1990. Ignore this act at your peril and may result in a 12 month prison sentence, or a fine to an unlimited amount, or at worst, both. Regardless of any action taken against you, should you fail to comply you will still be expected to carry out appropriate works to the listed building, at your own expense, to remedy any unauthorised work to the property.
How does having a listed building affect your renovation project?
Listed Building Consent (LBC) is required to proceed with any building renovation project for a listed building. On submission of your plans the local planning authority will consult with the correct authority to establish that the renovation of a listed building proceeds correctly by using appropriate building materials and building techniques to preserve the building's structural and historic integrity.
Grants
Grade I and II* buildings may be eligible for grants for urgent major repairs. Visit the English Heritage website for further reading.
Contact Nick for more information about renovating a listed building. He can advise you of the process and if required manage it on your behalf.
