OLD HOUSE NEW HOME: HOW TO DELIST A LISTED PROPERTY

Choosing to delist a listed building is a big step but hugely beneficial as Homebuilding’s Amy Willis explains, from first-hand experience

Applying to delist a listed building is an option for those with period properties that have lost their historical significance. Older homes are vulnerable to decay and when a listed building is beyond restoring, or it no longer retains enough of its original fabric to be worthwhile preserving, it can sometimes become a good candidate for delisting.

Historic England estimates that there are around half a million privately-owned listed buildings in the UK, which are compiled on Historic England’s listed buildings register. Surprisingly, Historic England is unable to put an exact figure on how many listed buildings are on the register. This is because one entry might include a number of individual buildings, for example a row of terraced houses.

That said, around 92% of buildings on the register are Grade II-listed and owned by private homeowners, with the other two types of listed building being Grade I and Grade II*. The sheer volume of privately owned listed properties means it is down to homeowners to notify Historic England if their property should be delisted.

In our guide on how to delist a listed building, I explain how I delisted my Grade II-listed home and if your home might also be a good candidate for removal from the register, too.

WHY APPLY TO DELIST? 

While Historic England’s listed buildings register seeks to protect historic material, it can also inadvertently protect any aspect of a listed building, including modern additions.

This can be frustrating during a renovation, especially in a building that is listed yet lacks much of its original fabric.