Listed Buildings
What is a Listed Building?
A Statutorily
Listed Building is a building or structure which has been selected by the Secretary of State as being
of ‘special architectural
or historic interest’.
The listing system is administered currently by English
Heritage. More information
is available online from The Heritage Gateway including lists of the historic sites
and buildings in England. District Councils also hold copies of the statutory lists.
Not
all listings describe buildings, a range of structures such as post boxes, monuments, telephone boxes,
bridges, milestones, and walls are listed within Leicestershire.
Selection
English
Heritage assess proposals for listing against a set criteria before making the recommendation to the
Secretary of State.
The following
are the main criteria, which is used in deciding which buildings to include on the statutory list:
- Architectural interest e.g. buildings of importance because of their design, decoration and craftsmanship
- Historic Interest e.g. buildings with important social, economic, cultural or military history;
- Historic Association e.g. close historical association with nationally important people or events;
- Group value e.g. squares, terraces or model villages.
The English Heritage
published Principles of Selection for Designating Buildings are available to view
online or download and provide much more information on their approach to assessing buildings and structures.
Grading of Listed Buildings
Listed Buildings are given one of three grades depending to
their perceived national importance
- Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest. 1.5% of all listed buildings are designated Grade I
- Grade II* (with a star) buildings are particularly important and have special interest. 4.1% of all listed buildings are designated Grade II*
- Grade II buildings are of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them. 94.5% of all listed buildings are Grade II
In
the County
of Leicestershire (excluding the city of Leicester), there are currently up to 100 grade I, over 300
grade II*,
and in excess of 4000 grade II listed buildings.
Repairs and Alterations
Statutory Listing gives protection to the whole of historic
buildings and structures against unauthorised alteration or demolition. In certain circumstances, features
within the curtillage of a building may also be protected.
Repairs must normally
be carried out in keeping with the style
and age of the building
and no interior or exterior alterations that alter the special character of the building may be made
without consent.
Apart from most historic places of worship, which have a separate
system of control, Listed Building consent
must usually be obtained from the local planning authority. The Historic and Natural Environment Team
is available to give informal
advice prior to such applications and may assist the local planning authority with guidance once an
application has been made.
Discretionary Historic Buildings Grants
may
be provided by Leicestershire County Council towards eligible repair and reinstatement work on listed
buildings.
Grade I and Grade II* buildings may also benefit from financial help from English Heritage, particularly
if they are on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Page Last Updated: 17 June 2011
