Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Statutory Listed Buildings

Buildings are chosen against a set of national criteria. Most buildings already listed have been selected in the course of a national survey. The impetus for this survey began with the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. The first systematic survey was carried out in 1966 and a comprehensive re-survey was undertaken in the mid 1980s. It was from this later survey that most buildings were added to the list. Sometimes, buildings which have been overlooked or deemed unsuitable for inclusion may be added to the list by submission to DCMS. Anyone can submit a building for inclusion in the list but the Conservation and Design Team would welcome the opportunity to comment on any proposed submissions and to add their support. Submission of a building may be preceded by the Borough Council serving a Building Preservation Notice, which effectively lists a building immediately, for a period of up to 6 months, whilst a decision is made by the DCMS.

Criteria

• Architectural interest: buildings that are important for their architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship or buildings which are significant examples of particular building types, construction techniques and plan forms.
• Historic interest: buildings that illustrate important aspects of social, economic, cultural or military history.
• Close historical associations with nationally important people or events.
• Group value, especially where buildings together comprise an important architectural or historic unity or a fine example of planning (e.g. squares, terraces, model villages).
• Age and rarity: The older a building is, and the fewer the surviving examples of its kind, the more likely it is to have historic importance.
• All buildings built before 1700, which survive in anything like their original condition, are listed.
• Most buildings dating from 1700 to 1840 are listed, though selection is necessary.
• Between 1840 and 1914 only buildings of definite quality and character are listed.
• Some selected buildings for the period after 1914 may be listed.
• Buildings less than 30 years old are normally only listed if they are of outstanding quality and under threat.
• Buildings less than ten years old are not listed.

The criteria are set out in 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment'.

• English Heritage