Applications for Listed Building Consent
This guide is intended to help you submit a listed building
application.
To identify our national heritage, the Department of Culture, Media
and Sport 'list' buildings of 'historic and/or architectural
interest'. Once a building has been listed Grade I, II* or II, an
individual descriptive record is produced. A copy of this
list description is then held by the local planning authority, who
implement any statutory control.
When is consent needed?
Control over a Listed Building applies to all works, both
external and internal, that would affect the 'special
architectural/historic' character of the building. This applies
whether or not the particular feature concerned, is specifically
mentioned in the list description.
Consent is not normally required for repairs, unless the repairs
involve alterations which would affect the character or historic
interest of the listed building, and this would be a matter for
determination by the local planning authority. Proposed alterations
to fixtures of a listed building and buildings within the curtilage
of a listed building i.e. any object or structure which is fixed to
the building or is within the curtilage and forms part of the land
and has done so since before July 1948, are also treated as part of
the building for the purpose of listed building control.
Why is control important?
Once lost, listed buildings cannot be replaced and they can be
robbed of their special interest by unsuitable alteration as much
as by outright demolition. They represent a finite resource and an
irreplaceable asset and a very convincing case will need to be
provided in terms of major alteration and demolition.
It is therefore advisable, that early consultation occurs, between
the applicant and the council, to discuss the extent of the works
that may require consent and generally in relation to development
proposals which affect the historic environment. This should allow
scope for redefining and revision of proposals, before intentions
become firm and time-scales inflexible. National Amenity Societies
are also available to provide advice for individual owners. It
should be borne in mind that applicants may also need to establish
whether planning permission and/or building regulation approval as
well as listed building consent is necessary.
Applications for Listed Building Consent are subject to similar
procedures as for planning permission. However there is no planning
fee for an application for Listed Building Consent. On submitting
an application, the following practical criteria should also be
taken into account
- Applications should be supported by drawings, showing clearly
and accurately and to a metric scale, the existing building and the
proposed alterations . In most cases, plans, elevations and
sections at a scale of 1:100 will be sufficient. These should be
clearly labelled to show the extent of retention and/or removal of
the existing features and fabric of the building. Materials,
indicating type and colour to be used should also be indicated. A
location plan at a scale of 1:1250 is also necessary.
- Alterations to decorative features such as windows, doors and
railings usually require drawings at a scale such as 1:20.
- Certain works may be best described in a method statement,
specification or schedule of works. The existing building including
any features of interest, should be clearly recorded. Good quality
dated photographs of historic features, cross-referenced to
drawings are helpful. These should always be included with
proposals for major alterations or refurbishment
- Proposals for major refurbishment should be supported by a
report on the history and development of the building . This should
include anydocumentary evidence relating to the design,
construction and development of the building and any other relevant
information such as evidence of later alterations and repairs.
- Schemes for alterations to listed buildings should be prepared
by professionals with appropriate expertise. Applicants may be
asked to justify their proposals, especially where a change of use
or demolition is proposed.
- It may be necessary to provide clear and convincing evidence
about the viability of existing and proposed uses or about the
technical and economic restraints on the use of the
building.
