Listed buildings bear a lot of architectural significance and historic interest in the UK, and with a lot of these buildings spread throughout England.
If you’re looking to make changes to a listed building, you might be wondering what planning permission or listed building consent you need, or if you need both.
Do you need planning permission or Listed Building Consent for your listed building? You might have already started looking for architects specialising in listed buildings, but that process isn’t as simple as it sounds.
Here’s an overview of the things you need to know:
Did you know that there are over 400,000 listed buildings in the UK alone? That’s right, these are buildings that are considered to be of special architectural or historical interest and are protected by law.
From ancient monuments and castles to grand Victorian townhouses, listed buildings come in all shapes and sizes. You might have even walked past one without even noticing. The process of listing a building is a complex one, with a team of experts evaluating its cultural and historical significance.
Whether it’s a public building, a private residence or a church, listed status means that these buildings are considered to be a vital part of our national heritage, which is why it gets tricky if you want to make certain alterations to it or change the architecture to your liking.
When it comes to renovating or altering a historic building, two important terms that often come up are planning permission and listed building consent. While they may seem interchangeable, there are some key differences that you should be aware of.
Planning permission is the legal permission required for most types of development, whether it’s building a new structure or changing an existing one.
Listed building consent, on the other hand, is a specific type of planning permission that is required when making changes to a listed building. In short, if you’re planning to make any alterations to a historic building, make sure that you have both planning permission and listed building consent before you begin.
However, since planning permission also applies to the land’s use and the material buildings around it, you must have both Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent if you need to carry out work that affects both, as they complement each other.
The process of obtaining LBC can be complicated and time-consuming, and overly complex if you don’t know about it beforehand since there are legal laws that protect homeowners and architectural buildings that have historic value.
That’s why we recommend employing a professional consultant who specialises in Heritage to advise you on the appropriate submissions of your applications. Any works that are carried out without LBC are illegal and can result in enforcement action by the local authority, resulting in costly remedial action. You may also lose the property’s heritage credentials, which may impact future resale value.
On a side note, and just to make sure that you’re aligned, minor works such as replacing light fixtures and fittings and removing internal walls that do not affect the structural integrity of the building move under the LBC, which you may not need to engage a professional consultant. That said, you should always consult with a planning authority or conservation officer, as they can provide valuable advice before beginning any work and guide you through the submission process.
It is worth noting that unauthorised works, even to a building that is not listed, can result in significant penalties, and you run the risk of being asked to demolish the works. Therefore, you should always seek expert advice before making any significant changes to a building in protected areas.
When planning to make changes to a listed building, it’s essential to check if it is also in a Conservation Area or the National Park. By doing so, you will better understand the scope of work you can carry out and whether you need to obtain further permissions.
It’s always better to consult with local planning authorities and heritage consultants before commencing any work on a listed building. By doing so, you will ensure that your project complies with the law, and that your building’s heritage values are preserved.