Listed Building Consent FAQ

If you are considering any works to a listed building, you need to obtain Listed Building Consent. This can range from building an extension to repointing the outside of the building or repairing internal plasterwork. Listed Building Consent is separate from Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval.

Listing covers the whole of the building, both inside and out. Many people think that listing only covers the facades, but this is not true. In certain circumstances features within the curtilage of the building such as outbuildings, walls, lamp standards or railings may also be protected. Curtilage normally means the boundary of the property.

Listed Building Consent must be obtained if you wish to demolish, alter or extend a listed building either inside or out. This also applies to any free-standing buildings, structures or objects (for instance statues, sundials, etc) within the curtilage. Here is a list of works that need Listed Building Consent, although please note that the list is not exhaustive:

• Demolition or alteration of a wall or structure forming part of that building or attached to it.
• Altering or replacing any of the doors or windows (including replacing timber windows with secondary glazed frames or plastic/uPVC windows)
• Removal of external features such as finials, chimney stacks or pots
• Painting, rendering or cleaning brick or stone walls.
• Fixing or removing bargeboards, window shutters, replacing cast iron gutters/down pipes with plastic.
• Building porches, conservatories or other extensions.
• Fixing signs or advertisements to buildings.
• Replacing natural materials (such as stone) with concrete, plastic etc.
• Demolition or alteration to internal walls.
• Removing interior features such as doors, fireplaces, staircases, panelling etc.
• Altering roofing materials, for instance replacing clay tiles with concrete.

To support a Listed Building Consent application it is usually necessary to supply detailed drawings showing the building as it exists now, and separate drawings detailing the proposed changes.

A condition may be imposed on the consent, requiring the building to be professionally recorded before works commence on site. We can assist in providing building recording specifications and a list of archaeological contractors capable of carrying out the work.

If you are planning to do any work to your building and are unsure if you need consent, it is always safer to ask first. Unauthorised work can lead to prosecution in the Magistrates Court, and/or the Crown Court. It can lead to an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison. To get advice please contact the Conservation Officers using the contact details at the foot of this page.

For information on how to apply for Listed Buildings Consent visit the Applying for Planning Permission page.