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Listed buildings

Buildings that have special architectural or historic interest may be listed. Listing a building gives it legal protection to be preserved. The older a building is, the more likely it is to be listed.

All buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are listed, as are most of those built between 1700 and 1840. The listing criteria became tighter with time so that, post-1945, buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. A building normally has to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing.

Categories of listed buildings

  • Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest and sometimes considered to be internationally important. Only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.
  • Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 5.5% of listed buildings are Grade II*.
  • Grade II buildings are nationally important and of special interest. 92% of all listed buildings are in this class, and it's the most likely grade of listing for a homeowner.

Listed building list

You can find out if a building or structure is listed on the Historic England website. You can also view the Barnsley listed buildings list for details of those in the borough.

Making changes to a listed building

Listing doesn't freeze a building in time. It simply means that listed building consent must be applied for in order to make any changes to the building which might affect its special interest. These changes could be internal - such as fireplaces or doors, or external - such as the colour of exterior paintwork or the replacement of windows.

Listed buildings can be altered, extended and sometimes even demolished within government planning guidance. We use listed building consent to make decisions that balance the site's historic significance against other issues such as its function, condition or viability.

More information

Visit the Historic England website to find out more about listed buildings. We also some local listed buildings which aren't on the national list, but have special local interest.