Guides · 5 min
Listed buildings
If the house is listed, you need a second consent, even for work that would otherwise be allowed.
Two permissions
Listed building consent is separate from planning permission. You can need one, the other, or both. It covers work that affects the character of the building, inside as well as outside. That includes many loft alterations, removing fireplaces, and changing windows.
Grades I and II* are the rarer, more tightly controlled buildings. Most houses are Grade II. The grade does not mean the inside is free to change.
The setting
You can also be affected by a listed building next door. An extension that harms the setting of a listed house can be refused even if your own house is not listed.
A curtilage building, such as an old garden wall or a coach house, can be treated as part of the listing. Do not assume the shed is ordinary.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.
Questions
Can I use permitted development on a listed house?
No. Listed buildings do not have those householder rights. You need consent.
What if only the front is old?
If the whole building is listed, the list usually covers the whole building, not just the pretty front.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.