Listed buildings are protected by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 which is designed to ensure that buildings are properly protected from neglect, inappropriate alteration, extension or demolition.
A leaflet has been produced [PDF, 1.5MB] to explain listed buildings and the obligations of owning one.
All of a building is listed, including its interior and any object or structure fixed to the building or sited within its curtilage that is older than 1 July 1948.
We are responsible for ensuring that listed buildings are properly protected and for taking enforcement action when appropriate. Our Listed Buildings SPD [PDF, 2MB] provides guidance on general approaches, typical works and when Listed Building Consent might be needed.
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is the only official, up-to-date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England. View and search the list on the Historic England website.
How a building is listed
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport are responsible for the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.
Historic England is responsible for providing expert advice on which buildings meet the criteria for listing, and for administering the process. Read the listed building guidance on the Historic England website.
Apply for a building to be listed
Anyone can apply to Historic England for a building to be listed.
All buildings built before 1700 which are anything like their original condition are listed, as are most of those built between 1700 and 1840. The criteria become tighter with time, so that post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. A building has normally to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing.
Further information is available from:
Listed building grades
Listed buildings are graded to show their relative importance. This does not mean that a Grade I building is more worthy of preservation than a Grade II building. The 3 grades of listing are:
- Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest
- Grade II*: buildings of more than special interest
- Grade II: buildings of special interest
Buildings are listed so that their particular qualities can be legally protected. The listing of a building brings to its owner a degree of responsibility for part of the nation's heritage. It has been said that we hold these buildings in trust for those that come after us.
Listed building consent and unauthorised work to a listed building
Listed building consent is required for any work that affects the character of the building including alterations, extensions and demolition. It is a criminal offence to carry out unauthorised work to a listed building.
Any works to a listed building will need listed building consent for:
- demolition
- alteration or
- extension works, internal or external.
It applies to any work that affects the listed buildings special character.