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Understanding What A Listed Building
Is
' Listing'
is a short-hand term used to describe one of a number of legal
procedures which helps English Heritage to protect the architectural
heritage of England. It gets its name from the statutory lists of
buildings of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ that the
Secretary of State is required to compile. Once a building is listed,
consent must be obtained before any alterations are made that might
affect its special historic character. There is no charge for applying
for listed building consent, and it may be possible to obtain repair
grants from the local authority or English Heritage, and also
concessions on paying VAT for certain types of work.
As a general
guideline, all buildings built before 1700 are listed of they survive
in anything like their original condition. Most buildings built before
1840 are listed unless alterations have robbed them of all interest.
More demanding selection criteria are used for buildings built between
1840 and 1914, but many structures of this period with definite
quality are listed and due weight is given to technological innovation
or virtuosity and significance in economic and social history.
Rigorous criteria are applied to post-1914 buildings, and buildings
post-dating 1945 mist be of exceptional importance to be listed.
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