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Listed buildings and scheduled monuments
Check if a building is protected and understand what permissions are needed before making changes.
What is a listed building?
A listed building is one that’s officially recognised for its:
- special architectural or historic value
- is linked to important people or events
- show how people lived or worked in the past
- is part of a significant town planning design
These buildings are protected by law and appear on the National Heritage List for England. There are around 1,500 listed buildings in Norwich.
What does listing cover?
Listing applies to the whole building, including:
- the exterior and interior
- fixtures and fittings
- extensions and attached buildings
- other buildings or structures within the property’s boundary (called the curtilage) if they were built before 1 July 1948
There are 3 grades for listed buildings
- Grade I – Buildings of exceptional interest
- Grade II* – Particularly important buildings
- Grade II – Buildings of special interest (most common)
How do I make changes to a listed building?
You must get listed building consent before making any changes that affect the building’s character. This includes:
- demolishing or extending the building
- changing internal walls or layouts
- replacing windows, doors, or roof materials
- altering fireplaces, staircases, or decorative features
- adding dormer windows or roof lights
Even small changes may need consent. Regular maintenance usually doesn’t but every listed building is different. Before starting any work, contact the Conservation and Design Team. The council offers a pre-application advice service to help guide you.
You might also need planning permission for bigger projects like extensions or changing how the building is used.
What Is a scheduled monument?
A scheduled monument is a protected archaeological site chosen by Historic England as being of national importance.
These can include things like:
- ancient burial mounds
- standing stones
- ruins of old churches or monasteries
- other archaeological remains
There are 24 scheduled monuments in Norwich.
These sites are legally protected, and consent is needed through Historic England for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
It’s a criminal offence to carry out work on a listed building or scheduled monument without consent.
Conservation team
