What is a Listed Building?
A building is listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest in a national context. Listed buildings have extra legal protection within the planning system and come in many styles and sizes, from terraced houses to country cottages and stately homes.
The Three Grades of Listing
Grade I: Buildings of exceptional interest. Only 2.5% of all listed buildings fall into this category. Grade II*: Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Around 5.5% of listed buildings. Grade II: Buildings of special interest — the vast majority, at 92%, of all listed buildings in England.
How Are Buildings Selected for Listing?
There are around 500,000 listed buildings in England. Broadly, the older a building is, the more likely it is to be listed. All buildings built before 1700 that survive in anything like their original condition are listed, as are most built between 1700 and 1840. More recent buildings may be listed if they are of very specific architectural interest, though buildings dating from 1945 onwards would need to be over 30 years old and carefully assessed.
When a building is listed, additional planning controls apply both internally and externally. You will need Listed Building Consent for any work involving alteration, extension, or demolition that affects the special architectural or historic interest of the building — alongside any normal planning regulations.
How Do I Apply for Listed Building Consent?
Contact your local planning authority to apply. Local authorities will normally decide within eight weeks. The National Heritage List for England is a useful starting point for checking the criteria used to list your property before approaching your local authority planning department.
What Happens If I Make Unauthorised Changes?
Carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building is a criminal offence and you can be prosecuted. A planning authority can issue an enforcement notice requiring all work carried out without consent to be reversed. You should always consult your local planning authority before any work begins. Unauthorised works will also be revealed by the legal search when selling the property, potentially causing significant complications.
Does Planning Permission Apply to Guttering on Listed Buildings?
Generally, planning permission does not apply to guttering on ordinary properties. However, listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas are treated differently. The repair of existing guttering — like-for-like, in the same material — is usually permitted without consent. Replacing guttering, even with a similar style, is likely to require consent from the local authority. Any change in material (for example, from cast iron to a different material) will almost certainly require consent.
If your building is listed or in a conservation area and you plan to replace or alter guttering, approach your local authority with a material and style that is similar to and in keeping with the original. This will make the process considerably more straightforward.
What Changes Are Covered by Listed Building Consent?
The external fabric of the building is always included. Affixed items — such as lighting fixtures that contribute to the character of the building — may also be covered. Internal fitted items such as older cupboards or bookcases may form part of the listing; bathrooms and kitchen units (being modern additions) generally do not, though your conservation officer should always be consulted.
Recent decorative finishes can generally be repainted or re-hung. However, removing paint or other finishes to reveal bare construction materials is likely to affect the building’s special interest and will need consent. ‘Stripping back to reveal the original’ often destroys much of the interest in the evolution of a listed building and is rarely a good idea.
Why Cast Iron for Listed Buildings?
Cast iron is widely recognised as the most authentic replacement for rainwater systems on period and listed buildings. Beyond its aesthetic appropriateness, it has significant environmental benefits: it is extremely long-lasting in use and one of the most readily recyclable building materials available. Tuscan Foundry has been producing cast iron products for building and conservation projects since 1893, and is involved in projects throughout the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, the United States, and Australia.
Cast iron rainwater products are available in an extensive range of sizes and profiles to suit all periods and building styles. For projects requiring something more specific, Tuscan Foundry can cast and supply bespoke gutters, cast iron radius gutters, bespoke downpipes, and hopper heads to meet exact requirements. Contact us on 0333 987 4452 or visit tuscanfoundry.com/bespoke.