National listing recognises a building's special architectural and historic interest and is the responsibility of Historic England.
About listed buildings
There are two types of listing - national listing and local listing. Please visit our locally listed page to check whether your building is locally listed.
Nationally listed buildings
Listed buildings are graded to show their importance nationally, and all grades are nationally important and are therefore, equally protected.
The three types of listing are:
- Grade I are of exceptional interest; only 2.5 per cent of listed buildings are Grade I
- Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 5.8 per cent of listed buildings are Grade II*
- Grade II buildings are of special interest; 91.7 per cent of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a homeowner
The listing includes the whole of the building, inside and out. This includes internal features, such as staircases, fireplaces or panelling that are also important and reflect the building's original use and designation.
It is important to note that 'listed building' includes the building itself, any object or structure fixed to it as well as any object or structure that has been within its boundaries since 1948.
Check if your home a listed building
You can find out if your home is listed by searching the Historic England website. Historic England is responsible for the listings and its website outlines why the building has been listed. Historic England also decides on which buildings are listed or delisted.
Planning controls for nationally listed buildings
The Planning Portal provides a useful set of guidelines, which outline when you will need planning permission in addition to the normal planning controls. You must include a heritage impact statement for an application that affects a listed building or a conservation area.
If you want to demolish, alter or extend a listed building, you will need to apply for listed building consent. You may not need consent for a small-scale replacement in like-for-like materials.
Please contact us for confirmation if you are not sure if you need consent.
It is a criminal offence to carry out work, which needs listed building consent without obtaining it beforehand.
Contact us