In addition to common buildings, there are other structures that can be listed, including telephone boxes, walls, milestones, and bridges. You can check to see if a building is listed and the listing’s grade using the Historic England Listings website.
If you own a listed building, or are a contractor carrying out work on a listed building extra care must be taken to avoid harming the integrity of the structure. As a result, both internal and external changes to the structure, as well as to some outbuildings, are strictly regulated and require the local council’s Listed Building Consent prior to commencement. You risk receiving a sizeable fine or even going to jail if work is carried out without the necessary consent.
Listed buildings must always be maintained to an acceptable standard, both structurally sound and wind and watertight. Section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 allows the council to issue a “repairs notice” to the owner of a listed property, specifying the necessary repairs if the building has been neglected by its owner. The council may legally acquire the building if the owner does not submit an application within a given time frame. S. 54 of the 1990 act permits municipalities to serve a “urgent works notice” to carry out work on a building and attempt to collect costs from the owner if the building is either uninhabited or only partially occupied.
Three grades are used to classify listed buildings. No matter what grade a building receives, the laws governing listed buildings remain the same. The grades are classified as follows:
Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest and may include castles, churches and large country houses. Just 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.
Grade II buildings are those of special interest which justify every effort being made to preserve them. 86% of listed buildings fall into this category.
Special Grade II* (two star) are important buildings of more than special interest status, having some additional merit, such as a distinctive interior but aren’t exceptional enough to be given Grade I status.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you require any type of planning service by emailing [email protected].