Apply for consent to work on a listed building

The law states that buildings and other structures that pre-date July 1948 and are in the curtilage of a listed building might be curtilage listed and should be treated as part of the listed building.

This means that:

• they will be under the same protection as the listed building
• you may need to apply for listed building consent if you want to make changes to them

Although you may not need Listed Building Consent to alter a structure that is not classed as curtilage, or install a new structure, you may need planning permission.

Check if you need planning permission.

Historic walls and railings can form an important part of the setting of listed buildings and should be maintained using traditional methods and materials.

Generally, you should avoid adding features that may modernise the landscape such as close boarded fencing.

We recommend getting heritage advice to ensure that any changes are made with the right permissions.

Landscaping works can positively or negatively affect the setting of listed buildings.

For large areas of new hard landscaping, you should check if you need planning permission.

If you want to carry out hard landscaping directly next to walls of a listed building, you should check if you need listed building consent.

To prevent water damage and damp problems, we recommend:

• use of permeable surfaces
• installing french drains between the building and any area of hardstanding water

For advice about specific sites, use our paid heritage advice service.