Listed Building Consent
Consent required before carrying out works to a listed building that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. It is a criminal offence to carry out unauthorised works to a listed building (Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Listed buildings are buildings of special architectural or historic interest with legal protection. The List that identifies which buildings qualify is compiled by the Secretary of State on Historic England's advice: the List is currently compiled under the terms of section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Once a building is listed, alterations, extensions and demolition affecting its special character generally require listed building consent from the local planning authority, separate from — and in addition to — any ordinary planning permission needed for the same works.
The consent regime is enforced criminally rather than simply through planning refusal. Carrying out works to a listed building without listed building consent is a criminal offence, reflecting Parliament's view that unauthorised alteration of protected heritage assets is a public wrong, not just a private planning breach.
In deciding an application, the local planning authority is required by statute to give special weight to preservation. Listing began in the 1940s under early town and country planning legislation and has since grown into a system covering hundreds of thousands of buildings, graded I, II* or II according to their significance.
Example
An owner wanting to replace the original sash windows of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse with modern double glazing would need listed building consent before starting work, even though the same change to an unlisted house would need no permission at all.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.