How to find out if a building is listed and if you can make changes to a listed building.
Listed buildings have special architectural or historic interest and are of national importance. The Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) compiles the register of listed buildings on the advice of Historic England. The Council does not list buildings.
Buildings are graded to show their relative importance:
Listed building controls apply to all buildings equally, irrespective of their grade, and apply to the interior and exterior of the building in its entirety, together with any curtilage structures.
Use the summary of listed buildings in Brighton & Hove to check whether a building is listed. Full list descriptions are available by searching the National Heritage List for England, administered by Historic England.
Use our heritage assets map to find information about council owned assets such as:
The map shows public structures and features identified in Historic England’s Listing and our Local List of Heritage Assets where they are owned and maintained by the council. You can search for an address or area, and zoom in and out of the map using the plus and minus buttons.
You will need to get formal listed building consent from the council for any works that would affect a listed building's special character. These works can include demolition, alterations or extensions to the building including works to the building’s interior. It also includes changes to boundaries or other associated structures. It is a criminal offence to carry out such works without first obtaining this consent.
The following documents may be downloaded which give further advice on works to listed buildings:
Historic England have published an advice note on Making Changes to Heritage Assets, including listed buildings. Further information on listed buildings is also available from the Historic England website.
The council charges a fee for all pre-application advice. Find out how to apply for pre-application advice.
Before applying for pre-application advice, we suggest that you read the relevant guidance documents about how to make changes to a listed building. You can also check our advice on common projects.
The council charges a fee for providing specialist heritage advice relating to the buying or selling of a listed building or advice on the specific extent of a listing.
Find out about specialist advice for listed buildings and pay for advice.
The council has made a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement with the University of Sussex and Historic England for the 8 listed buildings on the Falmer campus.
This agreement was updated in April 2022. To get a copy, send an email to conservation@brighton-hove.gov.uk.