Making changes to listed buildings

If a building is listed, this means that there are restrictions on what can be altered or extended, both internally and externally.

You may have to apply for listed building consent from the Council if you want to do one of the following:

• demolish a listed building
• alter or extend it in any way that affects its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest,

Commencing work without such consent will result in a criminal offence being committed under Section 9 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990, for which the penalties can be heavy.

Listed building status applies to the interior and exterior of the building, as well as to any objects or structures fixed to the building, whether original or later additions.

It also covers any objects or structures within the curtilage of the building which, although not fixed to it, form part of the land and have done so since before 1 July 1948, e.g. outbuildings, statues and boundary walls.

Consequently, applications for listed building consent may be required for a wide variety of works, including internal alterations, replacement windows and for the conversion of curtilage buildings.

Even fairly minor proposals such as re-decoration and re-pointing may require consent. It is therefore always advisable to submit a pre-application enquiry to find out whether an application is required and whether it is likely to be approved.

Whilst there is currently no charge for seeking advice in relation to works to a listed building, where those works also involve additions requiring a planning application, a fee would be charged if pre-application advice is sought. For further details on the range of pre-application advice services offered by the Council please visit our pre-application advice section.

For more information, please see Historic England's A Guide for Owners of Listed Buildings which answers some of the most commonly asked questions by those living in or caring for listed properties.