Listed Buildings

There can be some confusion with regards to listed buildings – so I thought id write a short explanation to highlight the important bits which I hope you’ll find useful.

So, what is a listed building? A building is listed when it is deemed to be of important architectural or historical importance and therefore is worth protecting.

How many categories are there for listed buildings? 3. Grade I Grade II* and II with grade I buildings being the most significant. Over 90% of listed buildings are Grade II.

How do I know if my property is listed? Here is a link from Historic England’s website. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/ type in your post code or address to see if the proposed building is highlighted.

What does purchasing a listed building mean regarding future works, such as extensions or renovations? When a building is listed it simply means that there are extra measures in place to control what changes can be made both internally and externally. It is often the case that you will need to apply for consent before carrying out any works. The person you need to contact is often a conservation officer who works for your local authority.

I own a listed building in need of major renovation, where do I begin to start getting advice on how I can renovate it? The first person you should contact is a relevant experienced trade/craftsperson. For example, I have been tasked with writing several plaster reports to assess the current state of the plasterwork in listed buildings. My report which includes necessary and advisory information is relayed to a conservation officer who will liaise with the client to decide the best course of action. It is often the case that damaged plasterwork must be reinstated using the same materials as were originally used – although the method of course is down to the craftsperson.