Listed Buildings

Building Criteria

Information about Listed Buildings and advice on how to make changes to Listed Buildings.

A 'Listed Building' is a building, object or structure that has been judged to be of national historical or architectural interest. They include country houses, buildings designed by prominent architects, churches, public as well as private buildings, cottages, and historic monuments, such as milestones and village pumps.

Statutory Listed Buildings

The statutory list is compiled by English Heritage, often acting on suggestions by local authorities and local people. An entry in the list comprises the address of the building, the grade of listing and a description of the building to assist identification.

Statutory Listed Buildings are classified in grades to show their relative importance. Listed Building control is applied in the same way to all grades.

• Grade I - Buildings of exceptional interest, representing about 2% of all listed buildings.
• Grade II* - Particularly important buildings of more than special interest representing about 4% of listed buildings.
• Grade II - Buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made to preserve them.

Locally Listed Buildings

Solihull Council has adopted a Local List of buildings of local historic or architectural interest. While it may not be appropriate for English Heritage to recognise these buildings nationally they have been recognised for their contribution to the local environment. The Council will seek to ensure that any development affecting a building contained on this list is carried out in a sensitive manner with respect to the character and appearance of the building in question.

Which buildings are listed?

The statutory list and the local list and the individual entries of each listing are available for inspection.

• Locally Listed Buildings (PDF 4mb)

For the description of any particular building please contact the Enforcement and Conservation Team.

How are buildings listed?

Buildings are chosen against a set of national criteria. Most buildings already listed have been selected in the course of a national survey. The impetus for this survey began with the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. The first systematic survey was carried out in 1966 and a comprehensive re-survey was undertaken in the mid 1980s. It was from this later survey that most buildings were added to the list.

Sometimes, buildings which have been overlooked or deemed unsuitable for inclusion may be added to the list by submission to English Heritage. Anyone can submit a building for inclusion in the list but the Council would welcome the opportunity to comment on any proposed submissions.

Submission of a building may be preceded by the Borough Council serving a Building Preservation Notice, which effectively lists a building immediately, for a period of up to 6 months, whilst a decision is made by English Heritage.

What criteria are used to select listed buildings?

• Architectural interest: buildings that are important for their architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship or buildings which are significant examples of particular building types, construction techniques and plan forms.
• Historic interest: buildings that illustrate important aspects of social, economic, cultural or military history.
• Close historical associations with nationally important people or events.
• Group value, especially where buildings together comprise an important architectural or historic unity or a fine example of planning (e.g. squares, terraces, model villages).
• Age and rarity: The older a building is, and the fewer the surviving examples of its kind, the more likely it is to have historic importance.
• All buildings built before 1700, which survive in anything like their original condition, are listed.
• Most buildings dating from 1700 to 1840 are listed, though selection is necessary.
• Between 1840 and 1914 only buildings of definite quality and character are listed.
• Some selected buildings for the period after 1914 may be listed.
• Buildings less than 30 years old are normally only listed if they are of outstanding quality and under threat.
• Buildings less than ten years old are not listed.

The criteria are set out in 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment'.

What is the extent of listing?

Buildings are listed in their entirety both inside and out, regardless of the grade. There is no such thing as just a listed façade or particular part of a building. In addition, any object of structure fixed to the building, or included within the curtilage of the building but not attached to it may be included in the listing. Enquiries about the extent of listing can be made to the Council.

Contact details

Planning Services are committed to providing an efficient and accurate service to members of the public via the Internet.  If you feel essential content is missing from our online service, please contact us using the link below or alternatively contact our office on: -

Telephone: 0121 704 6373.

Fax: 0121 704 6592

Email: developmentcontrol@solihull.gov.uk

You can also write to us at: -

Planning Services
PO Box11652
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 9YA

You can also use the Contact Development Control Form