What Is Listed Building Consent Required For?

In England, it is a criminal offence to carry out renovation or construction works on a listed building without listed building consent. This can include demolition work, extensions and any material alterations that you want to have done.

Listed building consent is what planning authorities fall back on to make sure that any changes you want to make to a listed building you own are sympathetic to the original character of the site, helping to protect the original heritage of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

All types of works are covered under the rules, as are all parts of the building covered by the listing protection, including structures and objects fixed to it and to any structures or objects found in the area of land around and associated with the principle building (as long as the work in question would affect the character of the site).

It’s often thought that a listed building’s special interest only lies in the various features that can be found onsite, such as the plasterwork and the fireplaces. This, however, is a common misconception and, in fact, the special interest of a building is found in its architecture and history.

If there is a surrounding area of land included under the listed protection, it is generally advisable to get in touch with your local planning authority so you can make sure that you can carry out the work you have in mind without contravening the law.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need listed building consent if you plan to replace old materials on the building for new ones on a like-for-like basis, as long as the repairs won’t affect the overall character of the site. But, again, it’s advisable to check with your planning authority first.

For help with listed building restoration, get in touch with the Ovolo London team today.