Listed buildings

A listed building is a building or structure recognised by central government as being of special architectural or historic interest and worthy of special protection.

All listed buildings are of national importance but they are divided into three categories, known as grades:

• Grade I: Buildings of exceptional interest
• Grade II*: Buildings of more than special interest
• Grade II: Buildings of special interest. These form the majority of listed buildings in the district.

There are almost 2000 entries on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) in the Dover district.

You can check on the National Heritage List for England for any other designated heritage assets, such as scheduled monuments.

• View the National Heritage List for England (opens in new tab)

What listing covers

Listed status covers the whole building, inside and out. This includes all elevations (front, rear and sides), cellars, rooms, attics, the roof and chimneys.

Protection also applies to any object or structure fixed to the listed building and to any structure built before 1 July 1948, known as curtilage listed. Curtilage is not defined by set boundaries. It can include outbuildings, garden walls and other boundary structures, gates and in some cases brick paths, terraces and statuary.

We can advise you whether or not your outbuilding or structure is likely to be considered curtilage listed.

Listed Building Consent

If you want to make any changes to a listed building, you must apply for Listed Building Consent. This is a free of charge application made to us. It is separate to planning permission.

Listed buildings do not have the same permitted development rights as unlisted buildings. This means that planning permission may be required for certain works which would otherwise be classed as permitted development.

It is a criminal offence to carry out works to a listed building without first obtaining consent, even if you did not know it was listed. Unauthorised works can lead to prosecution of the owner and the person carrying out the works. It is therefore important you seek relevant advice on the need for consent before carrying out any works.

If emergency works are required, you should contact us immediately. We will go through options with you and decide if Listed Building Consent is needed.

Apply for Listed Building Consent

Before starting your Listed Building Consent application, you may wish to seek pre-application advice.

• Get pre-application advice

You can apply for Listed Building Consent using the Planning Portal below or submit your application in paper form to the council offices in Whitfield.

For advice on the type of documents and information required for a Listed Building Consent application, please see our validation requirements document below.

An application for Listed Building Consent will require a Heritage Statement and we have prepared an advice note below on the information this needs to include.

Statement of Significance

For larger or more complicated schemes of works to a listed building or development within its setting, or where the listed building is particularly important, it may be more appropriate for a Statement of Significance to be submitted.

It is advisable to employ a heritage professional to carry out these assessments.

For further information on Statements of Significance follow the link below.

• Statements of Heritage Significance: Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets (opens in new tab)

Contact us

Email: conservation@dover.gov.uk

Phone: 01304 872486

Keep Me Posted

Sign up for email updates on council services.