Listed Buildings & List Descriptions

Listed Buildings and List Descriptions

What is a listed building?

A listed building is one which appears on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, compiled by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on advice from English Heritage and others. Listing is a means of earmarking our most important buildings and giving them special protection.

A building is always listed as a whole, including the interior. Listing also includes any object or structure fixed to the building, and any object or structure within the curtilage of the building which, although not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since before 1st July 1948.

Listed buildings are graded to show their relative importance:

Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest
Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest
Grade II are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.
Protection applies equally to all grades. The great majority of listed buildings - over 92% - are Grade II.

Is this building listed?

South Bucks has nearly 750 listed buildings, and all the list descriptions appear on this web site. The lists are in alphabetical order, by parish, street, and building. This list is up to date as of 1st March 2004, but an update can be requested from the Council. If the building is near a border, it is worth checking the adjacent parish in case it is listed there. For neighbouring local authorities, see the links.

List Descriptions

National Grid Reference Number	Parish	Road name
Serial number of list entry		Address of building
Date when building was first listed (where no date is shown, the date 26th April 1985 applies)		Grade of building
Group value note (this indicates where a building has been listed for group value

List Descriptions




How can I apply for listed building consent?

The listed building consent application form are available to download from the Applications and Guidance Notes page.

Introduction to listed building consent

Here are some key points about listed building consent:-

The purpose of listed building controls is to protect a building’s architectural and historic interest. Proposals allowing a listed building to adapt to change and remain in use will nonetheless be considered
Listed building controls always cover the whole building, both exterior and interior
You need to apply for listed building consent if you are seeking to demolish or extend a listed building, or alter it in a way that could affect its architectural or historic interest
Applications for listed building consent are decided by local planning authorities, with a right of appeal against a decision
There are no hard and fast rules about what is and is not a permissible alteration to a listed building, since the architectural interest of each building is different
Before applying for listed building consent

Owners of listed buildings are strongly recommended to seek informal advice from SBDC’s Conservation and Design Officer before making an application for listed building consent. Pre-application advice very often involves a negotiation between the Conservation Officer and the owner of the building, in which a means is sought to protect the architectural or historic interest of the building while allowing it to adapt to new needs and tastes.

Building Repairs

If you need to carry out repairs at your listed building, you should consult the Conservation and Design Officer. Generally speaking, like-for-like repairs do not require listed building consent but other repairs may do so.

You are also recommended to secure the services of a specialist craftsman. You may find one in the Building Conservation Directory, compiled by Cathedral Communications Ltd. You can consult the directory at the Council's Planning Reception, or on line at www.buildingconservation.com

Buying a listed building

Buyers thinking of purchasing a listed building should seek advice about permissible alterations from the Conservation and Design Officer. This procedure is particularly advisable if the building concerned is in poor condition or in need of modernisation. The obtaining of informal conservation advice before a purchase can avoid the possibility of serious disappointment after completion.

Any estate agent selling a listed building is recommended to contact the Conservation and Design Officer to discuss the alterations likely to be feasible within the listed building legislation.

More about listing

Buildings are listed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of English Heritage and others. A detailed account of listing is available on English Heritage’s web site: www.english-heritage.org.uk .

This covers the following subjects:-

What does listing mean?
Getting a building considered
The listing programme
The control of development
Advice for owners of listed buildings
Sources of further information
Warning

Under The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, carrying out work to a listed building without consent, and failure to comply with a listed building consent, are offences which can lead to prosecution and/or enforcement action.