Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council ceased to exist on April 1st 2009 when its services
and responsibilities transferred to
Cheshire East Council. This website is available for information only.
Register of Listed Buildings
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport maintains
the national lists of buildings of special architectural or
historic interest under the Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990, on advice from
English
Heritage.
Why list ?
The word 'listing' is a short-hand term used to describe one
of a number of legal procedures which help English Heritage to
protect the best of our architectural heritage.
Listing is not intended to fossilise a building. A building's
long-term interests are often best served by putting it to good
use, and if this cannot be the one it was designed for, a new use
may have to be found. Listing ensures that the architectural and
historic interest of the building is carefully considered before
any alterations, either outside or inside, are agreed.
Why are buildings chosen?
Listed buildings are chosen with great care. The main
criteria used are:
- architectural interest: all buildings which are
nationally important for the interest of their architectural
design, decoration and craftsmanship; also important examples of
particular building types and techniques, and significant plan
forms
- historic interest: this includes buildings which
illustrate important aspects of the nation's social, economic,
cultural or military history
- close historical association with nationally important
buildings or events
- group value, especially where buildings comprise an
important architectural or historic unity or are a fine example of
planning (such as squares, terraces and model villages)
The older and rarer 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 built between
1700 and 1840. After that date, the criteria become tighter with
time, because of the increased number of buildings erected and the
much larger numbers which have survived, so that post-1945
buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed.
Buildings less than 30 years old are only rarely listed, if they
are of outstanding quality and under threat.
Why are there three grades?
- Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest
- Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than
special interest
- Grade II are of special interest, warranting every effort to
preserve them
There are 370,000 or so list entries currently protected
by listing, and of those by far the majority - over 92% - are Grade
II. Grade I and II* buildings may be eligible for English Heritage
grants for urgent major repairs.
Work to a Listed Building
To undertake work to a listed building may require listed
building consent. This is an application to the Borough
Council who then consult with national amenity bodies and English
Heritage if necessary. The application is free
but may require the submission of detailed drawings.