There are certain rules and procedures that must be followed closely in construction when undertaking a particular project. After all, the Millgrove Construction team specialise in all aspects of building work from the initial concept to the final handover which means that we can deliver industrial design, refurbishments, civil engineering, and even restoration services. With this said, not all existing buildings are suitable for certain aspects of construction. Read on as we go over everything there is to know about listed buildings…
By definition, ‘listing’ a building is the term given to the process of adding it to a statutory list of buildings that have a special architectural and historical interest. This is sometimes known as The National Heritage List. The aim of listing certain buildings is to control the alteration, extension and demolition that takes place with regards to the property and any nearby land. In fact, this protection extends to both the interior and exterior which means that garden walls and outbuildings can also be listed too.
There are three different ways that a building can be listed in England and Wales. For example, Grade II buildings are those which have a special architectural and historical interest, such as old-fashioned designs and craftmanship. In fact, 92% of all listings are classified as Grade II properties. The next rank is known as a Grade II* which covers all buildings that are particularly important but deemed to be more of a special interest, and warrant every effort to ensure that they are preserved. According to statistics, just 5.5% of buildings are Grade II* listed. Finally, the highest listing is Grade I and these buildings are of exceptional interest, such as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. Interestingly, just 2.5% of buildings in England and Wales fall into the Grade I category.
When it comes to construction, it is important to tread lightly when dealing with a listed building. After all, there are certain rules in place in order to ensure that the property retains its original features. Luckily, the majority of buildings are categorised as Grade II which makes them much more amenable in terms of repairs and refurbishments. With this said, the owner of a listed property should always apply for listed building consent prior to completing any work on the site. After all, it is actually a criminal offence to carry out construction without submitting and having a consent application approved by the local planning authorities.
Although the rules for determining a listed building can differ between England and Wales and Scotland, the most significant reasoning is due to age. After all, the majority of buildings from the 1700’s that still retain their original condition are classified as being listed, and are therefore protected by the government. For all your civils contractor needs, get in contact with a member of the Millgrove construction team today.
