Listed Buildings - a Quick Guide

As the owner of a listed building, you will be completely aware of the issues surrounding any sort of change.

Here at RHL we too know the joys and frustrations that can be involved with developing a listed building and you will be pleased to learn that with our experience in these matters, we really can help.

So, let us begin with a few words about listed buildings, what they are and why they are such a wonderful part of our architectural and cultural heritage.

Listed Buildings, a few facts…

Listing celebrates and protects buildings of a significant architectural or historic nature, they do not have to be old buildings but all those constructed before 1700 and surviving in a recognisable original condition are automatically listed. Most buildings constructed between 1700 and 1840 are also listed and while anybody can apply for a ‘modern’ building to be listed, a general rule of thumb is that it should be more than 30 years old.

There are regulatory conditions set for each part of the United Kingdom, Historic England for example are currently prioritising post-modern buildings and post war public houses. The latter is a perfect example of the authority recognising dwindling numbers of such buildings and acting appropriately to preserve them for future generations. Obviously, not all will continue to operate as pubs but they will still retain the architectural features typical of this style of building.

There are three grades of listed buildings

Grade 1 – buildings of exceptional interest

Grade 11 – buildings of more than special but less than exceptional interest

Grade 111 – Buildings of special interest.

Listing does not mean that changes cannot be made, it simply identifies buildings where historical and architectural value should be very carefully considered before planning decisions are made.