LISTED BUILDINGS
In Horsham District there are over 1,800 buildings that are protected from demolition or unsuitable alteration. These buildings are included in the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest and are called 'Listed Buildings'. The list is drawn up by the Departure for Culture, Media and Sport and further information can be found in the Historic Environment section of their website.
Demolition, Alterations and Additions
Any demolition, alteration or addition to the interior or exterior of a Listed Building, as well as any work which affects the setting of a protected building, requires an application for Listed Building Consent. It is a criminal offence to carry out any unauthorised work to a Listed Building and an application for Listed Building Consent must be lodged with Horsham District Council separately from an application for Planning Permission.
Guidance on Listed Building Control is included in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment, (PPG15), published by the Government. The information can be viewed in the Planning Policy Guidance Notes section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister web site.
Guidance notes containing details of the plans and documentation to be submitted with an application for Listed Building Consent are available from the Planning Administration Department by telephoning (01403) 215187. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the Planning Authority with enough information to enable them to assess the likely impact of the proposed work on the Listed Building and its setting.
Proposed alterations and additions to Grade I and II* Listed Buildings will receive most careful consideration and rarely be considered appropriate. For Grade II Listed Buildings, external additions which remain subordinate to the original building, are of modest proportion, carefully designed in character and unobtrusively situated on minor facades may be considered.
Interior alterations which are reversible, preserve definition of the original spatial arrangement and involve minimal disturbance of historically important fabric may also be considered in appropriate circumstances.
It is recommended that the services of a Conservation Architect be employed to provide competent, professional advice on alterations and additions to Listed Buildings. Information on Conservation Architects can be obtained from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Guidance on conservation principles can be found in 'Informed Conservation', published by English Heritage. Additional information on this and other conservation publications is available from the English Heritage web site.
Repairs
'Like for like' minor repairs which preserve the appearance and character of the building by using appropriate methods to ensure that no damage occurs to the historic fabric and use materials which replicate existing or historic elements do not require Listed Building Consent.
Guidance on appropriate methods of repair is contained in 'The Repair of Historic Buildings' published by English Heritage.
Please be advised that Horsham District Council does not provide grants for repairs to Listed Buildings.
A description of the new proposed Local Development Framework policy for Listed Buildings can be viewed here [ Listed Buildings ]