Listed Buildings Identification and Extent

How the listing system identifies and grades buildings of historical and architectural interest, as well as providing clarification on extent.

If a building is considered by the Secretary of State (for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) to be of special architectural or historic interest it will be included in a list of such buildings.

The designation regime is set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (ref. 1). The list is maintained by Historic England and is available online through the National Heritage List for England (ref.2). Applications for new entries and to remove or amend an existing entry are made to Historic England. It will investigate the merits of the application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State (for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) who will make the decision.

There are around 400,000 listed building entries in England. Listed buildings are classified into three grades:

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest. Just 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*.

Grade II buildings are of special interest warranting every effort to preserve them. Over 90% of all listed buildings are in this grade (ref. 3).

The special interest of a candidate building is assessed with the greatest care. Government has set out the criteria for selection in Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings (October 2013) (ref. 3).

The special interest may arise from the contribution the building makes to the architectural or historic interest of any group of buildings of which it forms part (group value). Many buildings are interesting architecturally or historically but in order to be listed a building must have special interest. The Secretary of State uses the following general criteria when deciding whether a building is of special interest (ref. 3).

Architectural interest

To be of special architectural interest a building must be of importance in its architectural design, decoration or craftsmanship; special interest may also apply to nationally important examples of particular building types and techniques (for example buildings displaying technological innovation or virtuosity) and significant plan forms.

Historic interest

To be of special historic interest a building must illustrate important aspects of the nation’s social, economic, cultural, or military history and/or have close historical associations with nationally important people. There should normally be some quality of interest in the physical fabric of the building itself to justify the statutory protection afforded by listing.

There is more detail on the relevance of age, rarity, aesthetic and other factors in Principles of Selection. Historic England has supplemented these general principles with selection guides (ref. 4) to offer further insight into designation decision-making.

The entry in the statutory list contains a description of each building to aid identification. This can be just a description of the building and its features, but more modern entries will set out a summary of the assessment of special interest in the building at the time of designation. However, descriptions are not a comprehensive or exclusive record of the special interest or significance of the building and the amount of information in the description varies considerably.

Any omission from the list description of a feature does not indicate that it is not of interest. Advice should be sought from the local planning authority if there is any doubt in a particular case.

As from 26 June 2013 some new list entries or list entries amended after that date may provide that a part or feature of the building is not of special architectural or historic interest (ref. 5).

Extent of protection

The list entry will identify the principal building or buildings that are listed. These will be identified by the formal list entry and not the narrative description, unless there is ambiguity in the list. The whole of any principal building is listed, including the interior.

Objects, structures and buildings affixed to a listed building or within its curtilage may also be protected by listing (see below).

These rules may mean that considerably more may be protected by the listing than is obvious from the list entry alone and there can often be considerable uncertainty as to what is covered.

This apparent unhelpfulness in the rules is mitigated somewhat by the fact that listed building consent is only required if works affect the special interest in the relevant structure. It may be unclear whether a structure is protected, but it may be clear it holds no special interest even if it is. Group value should obviously be considered in assessing the special interest of ancillary buildings.

Curtilage buildings

In general, any pre-1948 structure that formed part of the land and was in the curtilage of the principal listed building at the date of listing and is ancillary to the principal building is considered to be part of the listing. There is some legal uncertainty in relation to buildings listed pre-1969, and it may be that the key date in relation to such structures is 1 January 1969.

As from 26 June 2013 some new list entries or list entries amended after that date may expressly exclude such curtilage buildings from protection (ref. 5).

The courts have considered the precise extent of curtilage on many occasions. Determining the exact curtilage of any building is a complex question and much will depend upon the facts of the individual case. The key considerations are the physical layout of the buildings; the ownership past and present; and, the function of the buildings and spaces past and present (ref. 6).

For some sites the curtilage will be clear. A typical house and its garden will usually have its curtilage defined by its boundary.

Not every building will have a curtilage. A town centre building that has never had any outside space could have no curtilage. The curtilage of some buildings may be in separate ownership, such as a country house and stable block converted into residential dwellings. The stable block may still be considered to be within the curtilage of the country house for listing purposes.

It is important to establish what is listed as it is a criminal offence to fail to apply for listed building consent when it is required. Cases of doubt should be explored with the planning department of the local authority.

Historic England Advice Note 10 - Listed Buildings and Curtilage gives hypothetical examples to help when assessing the extent of the curtilage of a listed building. It is based on the current legislative provision in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (S. 1[5]) and consideration of listed buildings and curtilage in legal cases.

Objects and structures fixed to the building

In general, a structure attached to a building, such as adjoining buildings or walls, will also be covered by the listing if the structure was ancillary to the principal building at the date of listing.

An object fixed to the principal building, such as a shop awning or a chandelier will be protected by the listing if it is a 'fixture' according to the established principles of land law. The key considerations in determining this are:

The method and degree of annexation of the object to the building, the ease with which it can be removed and the damage caused to the structure or object by its removal; and,
The objective and purpose of the annexation to the building – whether this was for the improvement of the building or for the enjoyment of the object itself.

Plant and machinery, even if it forms part of the land, is excluded from the statutory definition of 'building'; and therefore cannot be listed in its own right. It can, however, be protected by listing if affixed to a listed building in a way that satisfies these tests.

Extensions or alterations to listed buildings made after listing form part of the listed building and are subject to the protection regime.

As from 26 June 2013 some new list entries or list entries amended after that date may expressly exclude certain attached structures or objects from protection (ref. 5).

Certificates of immunity

A certificate of immunity from listing is a legal guarantee that a building will not be listed for a five-year period from the date on which the certificate is issued.

An application for a certificate is made to Historic England and notice must be provided to the local planning authority. Anyone can apply, whether or not they own the building in question. As of 26 June 2013 an application for a certificate can be made at any time.

Historic England will carry out an assessment of the building and make a recommendation on whether it is worthy of listing. If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the building is not of special architectural or historic interest, the certificate is granted. In cases where the application is refused, the building may be listed.

Even if a certificate of immunity is granted, planning permission may still be needed for external works, changes of use or demolition.

It should be noted that a certificate of immunity does not prevent a local planning authority from designating the area in which the building is located as a conservation area.

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Removal from the List

The Secretary of State (for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) may decide to remove a building from the List if it is no longer considered to hold special architectural or historic interest.

This may happen following the building's destruction, for example, or perhaps on the discovery of new evidence that demonstrates the original listing decision can no longer be supported. An application for removal may be made to Historic England.