Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
View on legislation.gov.ukLast amended by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 in 2013. Streamlined the heritage consent regime — introduced certificates of lawfulness of proposed works and listed building consent orders, and abolished separate conservation area consent, merging it into planning control.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 is the principal statute protecting the historic built environment in England and Wales. It provides for the listing, by the Secretary of State, of buildings of special architectural or historic interest (graded I, II*, and II), and makes it an offence to demolish, alter, or extend a listed building in a way that affects its special interest without 'listed building consent' (s.7, s.9). It requires decision-makers, when considering applications, to have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building and its setting (s.16, s.66). The Act also provides for the designation of conservation areas — areas of special architectural or historic interest whose character it is desirable to preserve or enhance — and the controls that apply within them. It was significantly reformed by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, which streamlined the consent regime and merged conservation area consent into planning permission.
Key Points
- Listing of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, graded I, II*, and II
- Listed building consent required for demolition, alteration, or extension affecting special interest (s.7)
- Criminal offence to carry out unauthorised works to a listed building (s.9)
- Duty to have special regard to preserving a listed building and its setting (s.16, s.66)
- Designation of, and controls within, conservation areas
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2013 — Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
Streamlined the heritage consent regime — introduced certificates of lawfulness of proposed works and listed building consent orders, and abolished separate conservation area consent, merging it into planning control.