Listed Building Consent Checklist

You will require listed building consent for any external or internal works to a listed building affecting its character. In an earlier article, I considered the issue of listed building consent more generally and the fundamental importance of adhering precisely to its terms.

Applying for listed building consent is in addition to the standard requirements for planning permission and building regulation consent. Overall, listed building consent is never granted lightly, and before applying, I strongly recommend an informal approach to the conservation officer in your local planning department. They will offer advice on what may or may not prove acceptable, possibly saving you considerable time and money moving forward.

Depending on the nature and extent of the work, you should also consider instructing a planning professional. The Royal Town Planning Institute maintains a directory of planning consultants.

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Listed building consent checklist

Although your planning application is submitted locally, there are national requirements to comply with.

However, there will also be local requirements, which should be available on the local authority’s website. Some of these documents require a suitably qualified person. Common examples of the types of documents required are:

• Design and access statement. A concise report explaining the design principles and concepts applied to particular aspects of the proposed development.
• Heritage statement. Required in all cases if the proposed works will affect a heritage asset or its setting.
• Protected species survey. Where the proposed works affect specific areas of a building, such as a roof space or cellar, it may be necessary to submit a protected species survey. Most often, this is to consider the possible presence of bats. A protected species survey may form part of a broader environmental impact or ecological assessment.
• Structural survey. This should accompany your application if the proposed works may impact the structural integrity of the building or if the proposed works are to address known structural problems in the listed building.
• Stone cleaning survey. Applications in respect of stone cleaning or paint removal must be accompanied by a pre-cleaning survey and full details of the proposed cleaning method.
• Scale elevations. When the proposed work includes installing small scale architectural features or details, scale elevations and sections will be required. Common examples are windows, doors, plasterwork, panelling, fireplaces and staircases.