Mid-Suffolk is home to some of the most important and distinctive listed buildings in the Country. Our historic environment is a precious and finite resource, as well as a powerful reminder of the work and way of life of earlier generations. The beauty and unique character of many of our towns and villages are enhanced because of these listed buildings. Our district is also home to several Conservation Areas. We and our communities are rightly proud of our local heritage and wish to protect this.
The aim of the Conservation and Listed Buildings service is to provide assistance and guidance to owners of listed buildings to help them conserve and enhance our built heritage and to increase public awareness, appreciation and understanding of the historic environment.
Our Conservation and Listed Building Officers provide specialist, professional guidance to councillors, owners of listed buildings, agents, builders and anyone else involved in the development or care and repair of heritage assets. This normally involves pre-application negotiations, commenting on applications and agreeing details on schemes that have been approved.
We recommend you contact one of our professional team for specialist advice before starting any listed building project. Contact details can be found below.
A listed building is one which is deemed to have special architectural or historic interest. The vast majority of listed buildings are ancient buildings, but there are some modern listed buildings too, such as the famous Willis Building in Ipswich, which was listed in 1991.
Listed buildings are protected by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 which is designed to ensure that such buildings are properly protected from neglect, inappropriate alteration, extension or demolition.
All buildings built before 1700, and survive in anything like their original forms, are listed. Most buildings dating from 1700 to 1840 will qualify, unless they have been altered unsympathetically. After this date, only buildings that are of exceptional quality, or have been designed by an important architect, or represent an innovative form of construction, are listed.
The listing process is not restricted to buildings, but can include any structure of interest, such as bridges, walls, telephone kiosks and even gravestones.
Listed buildings are classified into three grades
• Grade l buildings are those of exceptional interest
• Grade ll* building are particularly important buildings of more than special interest
• Grade ll buildings are of special interest
The English Heritage website provides some useful guides and advice on looking after your listed building. Rather than repeat that information here, we would encourage you to visit their site and review the wealth of advice and information there.
Normally the answer to this will be yes. Listed Buildings are protected by law, and it is an offence to carry out work to a Listed Building without consent. It is possible to carry out like for like repair works without consent, however in order to be sure you should always contact one of our Conservation Officers.
For further information, visit Mid-Suffolk District Council Web Site.
Updated Jan. 2022
