A listed building is a building, object or structure of special historical or architectural interest at a national level.
Buildings are listed by English Heritage under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. In the Act any object or structure fixed to the building and any object or structure within the curtilage of the building which was there before 1 July 1948 is also treated as part of the listed building.
Lewisham has around 540 listed buildings, most of which are Grade II. 35 listed buildings in the borough are Grade II* and only two are Grade I. These are Boone’s Chapel in Lee High Road and St Paul’s church in Deptford. The grades reflect their importance in nationwide terms although they all enjoy the same level of protection.
Listed building consent is required to make alterations to any part of the building, both inside and outside and includes works to historic outbuildings and walls. This enables the Council to ensure that parts of the building that contribute to its special interest are preserved.
Important features vary according to each building, but can include plasterwork, timber doors and windows, fireplaces and even some later features that make up the building’s history.
If you are considering carrying out works to your listed building, please contact us to find out whether consent is required as unauthorised and unsuitable alterations to a listed building are a criminal offence.
Maintenance and repair, if carried out sympathetically and in appropriate materials however, will not require consent.