What is a Listed Building?
A Listed Building is a building of special Architectural or Historic Interest contained in the lists compiled by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. Lists are compiled for each Local Authority area in the Country.
The term ‘building’ may include a wide range of structures, including not just large buildings such as houses, castles and churches, but also historic bridges, telephone boxes and even milestones. Generally, these buildings will have survived without too much alteration and be good examples of a certain period or type of architecture. More information about how buildings are chosen to be listed can be found at Historic England.
There are three grades of listing; Grade I and Grade II* being buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest, Grade II representing the vast majority of Listed Buildings. The number of listed buildings in Rother is approximately 2,200; 40 of which are Grade I and 80 of which are Grade II*.
In each instance, the entire building is listed – the inside as well as the outside. Also listed is any object or structure fixed to the Listed Building, and any structure built before 1948 within the curtilage (grounds) of the Listed Building. This includes garages and outbuildings, garden walls and other boundary structures, gates and, in some cases, even brick paths and terraces and statuary.
Find Listed Buildings in Rother via our Online Mapping system.
Alterations and extensions
If you propose to carry out either internal or external alterations or extensions to a listed building which would affect its character, you will need to apply for Listed Building Consent. This procedure is similar to that for planning permission except that no fee is charged. The work proposed may also require planning permission and the law requires two separate applications to be submitted; one for planning permission and one for Listed Building Consent. Building Regulation Approval may also be necessary.
If you are not sure whether the works you wish to carry out to a listed building require consent, you are advised to contact the Local Planning Authority either with a pre-application enquiry, or by submitting a Certificate of Proposed Works to a Listed Building.
It is important to note that if works are undertaken to a listed building without any necessary consent, then whoever commissions them and the person who actually carried them out may be guilty of a criminal offence. In addition it may be necessary to put right the works which have been undertaken if consent is not forthcoming because the works are considered unsuitable.
More information is contained in our Listed Buildings Advice Note.
Advertisement of applications for Listed Building Consent
An application for Listed Building Consent is advertised in the local press and by posting a notice on the site. This is done by the Local Planning Authority. There will be a period of 21 days after this so that members of the public can comment if they wish.
Repairs Notices
All owners of listed buildings have a duty to look after them and to carry out repairs when needed. Failure to do this may result in a repairs notice being served. The Council also has powers to carry out emergency repairs to an empty or part-empty building and to recover the cost from the owner, or, as a last resort, to compulsorily acquire the property.
Useful contacts
There is a wide range of organisations who can advise on all aspects of owning and caring for listed buildings, many publish leaflets and guidance notes on specific issues, others offer practical courses and events.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings provide excellent technical advice on all aspects of maintaining historic buildings, publish a series of guidance notes for repair works and run home-owners’ courses and other events nationwide. Primarily concerned with buildings pre-dating 1714.
Historic England – Your Home is an excellent source of accessible, practical and informative advice concerning Listed Buildings, specifically aimed at home-owners
Historic England – Technical Advice is aimed at anyone working on heritage projects. It provides practical guidance on surveying, managing and caring for historic buildings and their settings.
Building Conservation publishes excellent articles on all aspects of historic building conservation; practical, legislative and theoretical plus information on courses and events nationwide
