What does listing mean?
Historic buildings are a constant reminder to all of the work and way of life of earlier generations.

The country's rich historic and architectural inheritance is identified and protected through a process of listing. Under the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings in Wales and Buildings in Conservation Areas in Wales) (Welsh Farms) Regulations 1990, the Secretary of State for Wales has a statutory duty to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

Listing ensures that the architectural and historic interest of the building is considered carefully before any alterations to the exterior or interior can be sanctioned. It aims to achieve proper care and maintenance and to ensure that such buildings continue to be used and enjoyed.

The lists comprise a wide variety of structures - from castles to railway viaducts. Buildings can be listed because of:

• age
• rarity
• architectural merit or method of construction

The older a building the more likely it is to be listed.

Who administers the system?
CADW:Welsh Historic Monuments is responsible for listing. Anyone can request the Government to list any building, but not all proposals are successful.

Grading
All properties considered for listing are judged according to a set of standards and graded to reflect their relative architectural and historic interest.

Grade I - buildings of exceptional interest

Grade II* - particularly important buildings of more than special interest

Grade II - of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them.

Buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are listed, as are most of those built between 1700 and 1840. Post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. Normally a building has to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing. Buildings less than 30 years old would normally only be listed if they were of outstanding quality and under threat. Buildings less than 10 years old are not listed.

Restrictions
If you wish to demolish a listed building or to alter or extend it in a way that affects its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, you must apply for listed building consent from your local planning authority.It is an offence to demolish, alter or extend a listed building without listed building consent.

Before starting any work - even painting - you should consult your local planning authority. Listed building consent is in addition to any planning permission needed. For most owners, however, applications for both can be considered. Listed buildings consent applications are free.

Planning permission alone is not sufficient to authorise demolition.

Certain of the developments relating to dwelling houses permitted by the Town and Country Planning General Development Order do not apply to listed buildings. Advice on such matters can be obtained from your local planning authority.

If you are granted listed building consent to demolish a building, either in part or wholly, the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments must be informed to make a record of it.

Grants
It is possible to get financial help for the repair of buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest.

CADW, on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council for Wales, awards grants to local authorities and to private owners.

Local authorities may also award grants for any building of architectural or historical interest and are not restricted to outstanding buildings or even to listed buildings.

Appeals
If an application for listed building consent is refused by a local planning authority, or granted subject to conditions, the applicant has a right of appeal to the Secretary of State.

The procedure of appeal is almost identical with the procedure for appealing against a refusal of planning permission.

Where to obtain further information

CADW
Crown Buildings, Cathays Park
Cardiff CF1 3NQ