Listed Buildings

A 'listed building' is a building, object or structure that has been judged to be of national architectural or historic interest.

Listed buildings are included on a register known as a 'statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest', drawn up by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Guidance on alterations to historic buildings

Listed Building Applications

(A Guide to the Information Required)

Listed Buildings consent is required for works which materially affect the character of buildings included on the Goverments statutory list of buildings having historic and/or architectural interest. Such consent is in addition to any other consents that may be required, such as Planning Permission and Building Regulation Approval.

The range of works for which Listed Building Consent will be required may include demolitions, in part or in total, extensions and alterations whether external or internal. This applies also to most freestanding buildings, structures or objects within the curtilage of the listed building. This list below exemplifies areas of work requiring listed buildings consent, but should not be regarded as comprehensive. You are advised to seek early advice from the Planning Department of the Council.

• Demolition or alteration of a wall, structure or object forming part of the listed building, or attached to it.
• Removal of external features such as pediments, cornices, chimney stacks and pots etc.
• Removal of or alterations to internal partitions and load bearing walls and finishes, ground and upper floor constructions and finishes (e.g.changing from suspended ground floors to solid).
• Removal of or alterations to internal features such as doors, architraves, skirtings, panelling, staircases, balustrades, fireplaces, ironmongery, mouldings etc.
• Alterations to the roof structure or replacement of the roofing materials e.g. replacing clay tiles with concrete tiles, changing from one type of thatch material to another, inserting rooflights or dormers etc.
• Replacement of windows and doors.
• Painting and other coatings, rendering, repointing or cleaning brick, stone, slate and tile etc. Surfaces where these materially affect the character of the building
• Adding or altering an extension, conservatory or porch.
• The attachment or insertion of signs, ventilator grills, meter boxes, burglar alrams, external lighting or other fixtures.

Information to accompany the application

Normally a minimum of 4 sets of forms and drawings will be required. Where the planning authority has to consult other organisations, as for instance, in the case of Grade I and II* listed buildings, additional copies may be required in order to help avoid the risk of delays. Please ask the 'Conservation Officer' about the actual numbers required.

1. Forms and Certificate - Copies of the appropriate forms together with a certificate indicating your interest in the building(s) and land are available from your local planning authority.
2. Location Plan - Normally on an Ordanance Survey base, showing the building in its broad context. The land in the ownership of the applicant to be shown edged in blue. Scale to be 1:1250 or 1:2500.
3. Block Plan - To a scale or not less than 1:500 showing the proposals in relation to site and immediate surroundings and showing trees, boundaries, site levels (proposed and existing), access, car parking etc
4. Other drawings - Normally plans elevations and sections will be at a scale of at least 1:100, but where a lot of detail has to be shown, such drawings should not be less than 1:50 scale.

The drawings should include the following:-

• Comprehensive details showing both the existing and proposed. Generally a survey of the existing building should be included. In those instances where the changes are few and uncomplicated, the existing and proposed work may be shown on the same drawing. Here the new work must be clearly distinguished by means of stippling, hatching, toning, colouring etc. Where demolition whether in part of or in total, is proposed, the existing elements to be demolished must be clearly shown. All proposed materials must be indicated a schedule being a suitable format for this.
• Features such as fireplaces, panelling, staircases etc must be clearly annotated on the submitted drawings, and again, any proposed alterations shown clearly.
• Proposed new doors, windows or similar elements must be shown in sufficient detail to show section profiles, mouldings etc. Normally, elevations at a scale of not less than 1:20, supported by key horizontal and vertical sections at a scale of 1:5, will suffice for this.
• Proposals to comply with the requirements of the Buildings Regulations and Fire Precautions need to be indicated clearly on the drawings submitted for listed building consent
• Proposed changes in floor levels must be shown clearly and annotated.
• Where the group value of the listed building is a key factor, the  proposals should be shown in their broader context. This might take the form of elevation drawings and perspective views and should indicate clearly the height of adjacent buildings relative to the ground levels.

Drawing standards

Proposed changes to listed buildings require great sensitivity and care in their design and implementation. Applicants are strongly urged to appoint a suitably qualified designer, such as an architect / surveryor, experienced in such work to undertake the scheme preparation and oversee the work during construction. Scales and drawing standards used should conform with British Standard 1192 or the equivalent european standard.

Further Information

Photographs (but not slides) of the existing building may be useful in supporting the applications these will be an addition to, rather than instead of comprehensive scale drawings. Where the proposals relate to an unlisted building within a Conservation Areas, and involve demolition in part or in total, Conservation Areas consent may be required. Please ask the Environment Team for guidance on this.

Applications prepared in accordance with the guidance offered above are likely to be processed through the Planning Auhtority more smoothly than those which are incomplete, unclear or ambigious. Clearly, this involves considerable commitment and effort. Officers of the Planning Authority are willing to offer early informal advice on the acceptability of the proposals in principle before the application has become committed to the preparation of the detailed scheme.

For a statutory register of Listed Buildings please contact English Heritage

Visit English Heritage's new website www.climatechangeand yourhome.org.uk. The website aims to help owners of traditionally constructed houses understand the potential impacts of climate change on their properties and how simple building maintenance can help to lessen the effects of increasingly extreme weather.  The site also provides detailed advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of traditionally constructed houses whilst preserving their special character.

Contact Environment at North Dorset District Council on (01258) 484212 or email environment@north-dorset.gov.uk for more information on this service