Listed Buildings

The Council receives a large number of queries from owners or prospective owners of Listed Buildings regarding their responsibilities in respect of protected buildings and whether there are any particular requirements arising from the legislation affecting them. These may be addressed on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Wealden Design Guide

If you are considering submitting an application to extend or alter a listed building, you are advised to look at Chapter 12 of the Wealden Design Guide, a Supplementary Planning Document the purpose of which is to encourage a higher standard of design for development within the District. This chapter provides specific advice to help you through the process of submitting applications and to provide help in ensuring proposals are sympathetic to these special buildings.

What is a Listed Building?

They are buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are designated by English Heritage.

Why are they listed?

To identify those buildings of importance to the national heritage and to give them legal protection against demolition, or alterations which might adversely affect their character.

What does the grading refer to?

This relates to the quality and relative interest of the building

Grade I	This is the highest grading and relates to the top 4% of buildings of exceptional quality and interest, such as country houses and churches.
Grade II*	This category accommodates Grade II buildings with unusual features of interest such as a fine staircase.
Grade II	The vast majority of listed buildings fall into this class, ranging from a medieval house to a 1930s telephone kiosk.
There are approximately 2600 listed buildings within Wealden. To find out the Grading of any particular either look at the English Heritage online register, contact the National Monuments Record (01793 414 600) or look at Images of England

What type of work requires consent?

The majority of works to any Listed Building, including internal alterations, is likely to require Listed Building Consent. If you have any doubts as to whether or not an application may be necessary, please contact the Conservation and Design Officers for advice.

Local Listing

The District Council maintains a list of buildings and structures considered to be of 'local interest'. Such buildings and structures are not included in the national list of 'Buildings of Architectural or Historic Merit' (i.e. grade II, grade II* and grade I buildings) BUT are initially selected by representatives from the local community (with reference to a set of criteria) as making an important contribution to local character and distinctiveness.

'Locally Listed' buildings do not benefit from any additional statutory protection over and beyond that conveyed under the normal planning regulations. However - importantly - inclusion in the 'Local List' does highlight to planners and to local people the importance of these buildings and structures within the local environment.

Inclusion in the local list and the preservation of the features which make such buildings distinctive is therefore an important consideration in the assessment of planning applications and is a material consideration in Appeals.

Further information can be obtained from officers in the Conservation & Design Team at the District Council (tel. 01892 602538).