Listed Buildings

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and English Heritage are the main national bodies with the task of identifying historic buildings. Buildings are listed for either their architectural importance or historic interest. Recommendations are made to The Department for Culture, Media and Sport who make the final decisions on listing. Generally all buildings from before 1700 and good examples of those built between 1700 – 1840 are included. From 1840 onwards, only buildings of particular interest are eligible. Shrewsbury and Atcham has some 2,400 listed buildings.

• Listed buildings on interactive mapping

There are three grades of listing to show their relative importance:

• Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest
• Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest
• Grade II are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them

Owners of listed buildings will need to apply for consent if they propose to demolish the principal buildings or curtilage buildings or to carry out internal or external alterations which will affect the character of such buildings.

Examples of work which may need consent include changing windows and doors, painting brickwork, removing external surfaces, putting in dormer windows or rooflights, putting up aerials, satellite dishes and burglar alarms, changing roofing materials, moving or removing internal walls, making new doorways, and removing or altering fireplaces, panelling or staircases.

The best advice is to check with the Conservation Section before carrying out any work.  Read about Listed Buildings in our conservation section or see individual listed buildings on our online mapping system.

The majority of cases will be dealt with by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Important cases and those involving demolition are referred to English Heritage, other interest groups and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The Council aim to make a decision with approximately eight weeks from date of receipt, and if permission if refused, you have six months to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building is a criminal offence.

Further information on Listed Buildings can be found on the English Heritage website http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/.

You can also write to our Conservation Section or contact them by e-mail planningconservation@shrewsbury.gov.uk

To apply for planning permission on a listed building, we recommend that you make your application through the Planning Portal, this will guide you through the application process, and will help you to complete the appropriate documents.

Alternatively, you can go download the forms from our website or request them from us on 01743 281327 / 281326 / 281503 or email planningdevelopmentcontrol@shrewsbury.gov.uk or planningconservation@shrewsbury.gov.uk