The Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990 provides
the legal framework within which
owners, agents, builders and the Local
Planning Authority (DNPA) must
operate. It is from this Act that the
definition of a listed building is found:
‘A building of special architectural or
historic interest the character or
appearance of which it is desirable
to preserve or enhance’.
Listed building control is intended to
manage change, ensure preservation
and where appropriate, enable
enhancement.
No alteration or extension may be
carried out to a listed building unless
listed building consent has been
granted by the DNPA.
This statutory protection extends to both
the interior and exterior of the building.
It is a criminal offence to carry out works
which cause damage or loss to a listed
building. Such actions can lead to
prosecution, substantial fines and
costly restoration works.
Works involving repair do not require
consent, providing they are a like for like
replacements in all respects. Wholesale
replacement of historic fabric, where
repair is normally possible, for example
replacing traditional wooden windows
with double glazed plastic windows,
is not permissible without consent.
Proposed development within the
curtilage of a listed building which
affects its setting will be a material
planning matter.
Please note: Old buildings can be
valuable habitats for wildlife, and
many species are protected by law.
It is therefore important to take
account of wildlife when undertaking
survey and building works in or near
historic buildings.
If you need to clarify the presence
of wildlife, more information can be
obtained by visiting www.dartmoornpa.gov.uk/pl-wildlifeinbuildings
or by contacting a DNPA ecologist
(contact details below).
Other information
A copy of a list description is available
from DNPA Development Control
administration for a small fee.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that
local, unlisted, historic buildings of
interest are also of importance since
they contribute significantly to the
sense of place and local distinctiveness
of Dartmoor. DNPA officers will be
pleased to offer advice on all aspects of
Dartmoor’s historic built environment.
Links
English Heritage:
www.english-heritage.org.uk
SPAB:
www.spab.org.uk
Dartmoor National Park Authority,
Parke, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot,
Devon, TQ13 9JQ
Tel: (01626) 832093 Fax: (01626) 834684
E-mail: hq@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Web site: www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
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Dartmoor National Park has a rich
cultural heritage with a diverse historic
built environment which enhances the
quality of our protected landscape
and contributes significantly to an
understanding of life past and
present on Dartmoor.
One particular resource, listed buildings,
highlights the quality of our historic built
environment. They are considered to be
sufficiently special to be given national
designation and legal protection. Many
are vernacular in nature, being rooted in
the use of local materials and building
traditions. They are scattered across
Dartmoor from remote locations to
our farmsteads, villages and towns.
These special listed historic buildings
and structures are finite in number and
often fragile, a tangible link to the past
at all levels of society, and a nationally
important cultural asset. Listing however
does not necessarily preclude change or
consideration of new uses where both
are in keeping and appropriate.
Owners of listed buildings often see
themselves as custodians for the future
and want to ensure that their property
is well maintained and its character
conserved.
Dartmoor National Park Authority
(DNPA) will always try to assist with the
informed conservation of listed buildings
through professional advice and where
appropriate, an offer of grant aid.
Listed buildings are the best examples
of our national built heritage and are
legally protected. They have been
included in a statutory list for their
special architectural and/or historic
interest. Some of them are outstanding
individual buildings and others form
part of building types or groups of
buildings. Castle Drogo and Devon
longhouses are two Dartmoor
examples which are nationally
important and rare.
Nationally, there are about 500,000
listed buildings and these are graded to
represent their relative importance:
●
Grade I buildings are those of
exceptional interest. (1.4% of total)
●
Grade II* are those of particular
importance. (4.1% of total)
●
Grade II are those of special interest,
warranting every effort to preserve
them. (94.5% of total)
There are about 2,750 listed buildings on
Dartmoor. Not all listed buildings are
actually buildings. Many structures like
bridges, telephone boxes, milestones,
walls etc are also included in the
statutory lists.
Whilst all listed buildings (and structures)
are designated in their own right there
is also protection embodied in the Act
for associated buildings. These are
buildings (or structures) which are
attached to, or fall within the curtilage
of the listed building.
It is important to prepare thoroughly
any proposal for alteration or
extension to a listed building prior
to submission. Our approach for good
building conservation practice is
generally to base informed solutions
and decisions on the historical context
of the building. This means collecting
information about the listed building
by, for example, the preparation of
measured drawings, interpretation
of historic fabric, documentary
research etc.
Combining historical context with good
design which is ‘conservation led’ will
produce design proposals which show
understanding of the special interest
of the building and respect for
its significance.
It is a good idea to enter into
pre-application discussions and a site
meeting with DNPA officers to help
clarify the impact of any change
likely to arise from proposals and a
subsequent application for listed
building consent.
Where listed buildings are at risk due to
their condition and lack of occupancy
we proactively encourage repair and use
compatible with the building. In some
cases DNPA is able to help with grant
aid, to assist with part of the cost of
historical research and interpretation.
This can then be used to inform
conservation and repair.
Design and Access Statements are
now required to be submitted
with applications for planning and
listed building consent relating
to listed buildings.