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Listed buildings

Listed buildings in Haringey

There are currently 471 statutory listed buildings in Haringey, further details of which can be found in the attached files section below, where the listed buildings have been separately arranged by address and by grade.

What is a listed building?

Historic buildings are an irreplaceable part of the nation's cultural heritage and tangible connections with our past. A statutory listed building can be a building, object or structure that has been judged by English Heritage (see external links section below) to be of national historical or architectural interest. It is included on a register called the Statutory List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest, drawn up by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and now administered and updated by English Heritage. Listing gives statutory protection to historic buildings and allows their special interest to be taken into account before any changes are made to them that would affect their character.

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What are the different grades of listing?

Listed buildings are placed in one of three grades, which give an indication of their relative importance – Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I and II* listed buildings are a small proportion (about 6% nationally) of all listed buildings. They are particularly important to the nation’s built heritage as buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest, their significance is beyond dispute. Grade II listed buildings include the majority of listed buildings representing a major element in the historic quality of Haringey.

Grading can be changed where re-evaluation takes place after damage or alteration, or as more evidence of a building’s history or architectural quality comes to light. However, the statutory controls on alterations apply equally to all listed buildings whatever the grade.


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What are the criteria for listing?

The following are the main criteria, which English Heritage and the DCMS use in deciding which buildings are of national 'special interest' to include on the statutory list:

  • architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship; also important examples of particular building types and techniques and significant plan forms
  • illustrations of important aspects of the nation’s social, economic, cultural or military history
  • close historical association with nationally important people or events
  • group value especially where buildings comprise an important architectural or historic group or a fine example of planning e.g. squares, terraces or model villages

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 and most buildings built between 1700 and 1840 are listed.

There is a greater selection of buildings erected after 1840 to identify the best examples of particular building types and only buildings of definite quality and character are listed. Post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. A building normally has to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing.


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How is a building listed?

Since 2nd November 2009, responsibility for compiling the List of buildings has been transferred from the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport to English Heritage, with the Secretary of State being responsible for the approval of the List. A building is added in one of three ways:

  • periodic re-survey of a borough or district
  • studies of particular building types e.g. post-war housing
  • spot listing of individual buildings under threat.

When an application has been received an initial assessment is made and if considered to be a potential candidate for listing the owner and the Council will be informed and asked for comments (unless the building is considered to be under immediate threat). Where English Heritage considers that an inspection is desirable the owner’s permission is sought.

When an assessment is complete a recommendation is forwarded by English Heritage to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to come to a decision, the owner, applicant and Council will be notified and sent a letter detailing the reasons for the decision. The whole process takes on average 5 months, though urgent cases can take much less time.

Anyone involved in a listing now has a timescale of 28 days to request a review of that decision by the Secretary of State. A review is restricted to a consideration of the architectural and historic interest of the building.

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How can I get a building listed or delisted?

Since April 2004 English Heritage will consider a request to review a listing provided the request is accompanied by evidence relating specifically to the architectural or historic interest of the building. The state of repair of a building is not a relevant consideration unless it detracts from the architectural or historic interest so much that the building is no longer special. Similarly, economic and social considerations cannot be taken into account.

A building can only be removed from the list if it no longer meets the statutory criteria and applications for de-listing will not generally be considered if the building is currently the subject of an application for listed building consent, or an appeal against refusal of consent, or if enforcement action by the Council is in hand. If you want a building to be listed, de-listed or a listing to be reconsidered, you must contact English Heritage for an application form:

Since 15th July 2010, applications to consider 'heritage assets' for designation should be made using the online application form which is available from the English Heritage website (see external links section below).

This online form is a precursor to the application form that will be available when the Unified Designation System (UDS) is launched in early 2011. Therefore, all the various application forms that were used are now obsolete, and will not be accepted as valid applications.

To access the online form, it will be necessary to create a Heritage Passport account (see external links section below).

This account will enable applicants to create and store applications that can be worked on and revisited when necessary. Documents and photographs can be uploaded and help text is embedded with further asset type-specific information available on our website. The online form is for all heritage asset types - listing, scheduling, landscapes, battlefields, wrecks - and all application types, including Certificate of Immunity and Building Preservation Notice applications.

The online form will not have a GIS mapping feature until the UDS is introduced next year, but in the meantime the form requires that a grid reference, or a link to a web-based mapping site, should be added as this is essential for the Heritage Protection teams to identify the location of the particular asset.

Once complete, the online application will be submitted directly to the relevant Heritage Protection Team. It will not be possible to print the application and send by post. If for some reason an applicant cannot use the online form (website out of order, no access to a computer) a hard copy is available on request.

If you have any queries, please contact Customer Services (on 0870 333 1181 or at customers@english-heritage.org.uk) or the Heritage Protection Coordinator for your area.

Anyone can apply for a building to be listed or de-listed.

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What information does listing include?

The statutory list includes a detailed description of each building. The list description may refer to some, but not all, important features of an historic building. Each listing covers the building itself and any object or structure fixed to it as well as any pre-1948 object or structure within the boundaries of the building.

Every part a building is listed, including the interior and any later alterations or additions. Even if a feature (internal or external) is not included on the description, it is still part of the listed building.

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What are the effects of listing?

You will need our consent to demolish a listed building and for any alteration or extension which would affect its character as a building of architectural or historic interest. The need for listed building consent is different from planning permission but the process is very similar.

It is a criminal offence to carry out works to a listed building without prior listed building consent - even if you did not know that the building was listed.

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Can I do work to a listed building?

Regular maintenance and ‘like for like’ repairs such as repainting or redecoration, repairs to woodwork involving piecing in new timber to match the existing, installing new bathroom or kitchen fittings do not normally need listed building consent. However, any repairs that include removal of historic material or changes to the building’s character such as internal alterations that include removal or historic doors, fireplaces or plasterwork or replacement of external doors or windows do require consent.

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Can I do emergency work to a listed building?

Emergency work can be carried out to a listed building without prior consent providing you can subsequently prove all of the following:

  • that the works were urgently necessary in the interest of safety or health or for the preservation of the building
  • that it was not practical to secure public safety or health or preserve the building by works of repair or temporary support or shelter
  • that the work carried out was limited to the minimum measures immediately necessary
  • that detailed notice in writing justifying the carrying out the work was given to the Council as soon as reasonably practical to do so.
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How do I apply for listed building consent?

You will need to fill in a Listed Building Application form which is available on the Forms and Fees page on our website.

The listed building consent process is very similar to the planning process and for most cases it will take eight weeks to process an application. Advice to owners or developers and their professional agents is an important part of the listed building application process and we are available to discuss your proposal before you submit your application.

If you are in any doubt whether or not planning permission or listed building consent is needed you should check with the Development Management Team before starting any work to a listed building. Also, the Design and Conservation Team can give advice on the appropriate methods of repair, restoration or alteration to historic buildings.

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What policies apply to listed buildings?

We seek to preserve listed buildings, their settings and any features of architectural or historic interest. We would not normally approve an application to demolish a listed building, allow alterations that would involve the loss of historic parts of the building, obscure the original plan form, layout or structural integrity, or otherwise diminish the historic value of listed buildings.

We also aim to keep listed buildings in their original use, or if this use no longer exists, in another use that causes least harm to the building. Many buildings can sustain some sensitive alterations or extensions to accommodate continuing or new uses. However, listed buildings vary greatly in the extent to which they can be changed without causing harm to their special architectural or historic interest.

Our policies relating to listed buildings are in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

Additional detailed guidance is included in the Government’s Planning Policy Statement 5 - Planning for the Historic Environment which is available from the external links section below.

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What can we do about neglected listed buildings?

Not all listed buildings are cared for by their owners. In certain cases of deliberate neglect or long term vacancy, a listed building is put on the register of Buildings at Risk. The register is drawn up by English Heritage and brings together information on all listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments known to be at risk from neglect, decay or redundancy.

We monitor buildings at risk and seek long term solutions for neglected, redundant or derelict listed buildings. Some of the buildings are the subject of refurbishment proposals and will be removed from the register when works are complete. For others, their future is uncertain or their refurbishment is associated with larger regeneration projects.

We have legal powers to serve an urgent works notice or repairs notice on a listed building owner, requiring repair works to be carried out to prevent further decay. The notice will specify the works, which we consider reasonably necessary for the preservation of the building.

An urgent works notice is restricted to emergency repairs only - for example works to keep a building wind and weather-proof and safe from collapse. A repairs notice is not restricted to urgent works and may include works to preserve architectural details but can not be used to restore lost features.

In extreme cases where building owners have not taken reasonable steps to preserve a listed building, we can do the work at the owner’s cost or compulsorily purchase a building at risk.

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How do I report a building at risk?

You can report any of the following by contacting the Design and Conservation Team who will inspect the building and advise you what action, if any, the Council intends to take:

  • an historic building which is either derelict or not being properly preserved
  • works of demolition or alteration of a listed building
  • works of demolition or alteration of a property within a conservation area
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Can I get a grant to repair my Building at Risk?

The Council has limited grant funds to assist in restoration and repair of Buildings at Risk. These grant funds are directed to listed buildings that have no viable use, e.g. fountains and statues. From time to time, townscape improvement grants to restore facades or install new shopfronts may also be available in particular areas of the borough. Other grants may be available from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund or the Heritage of London Trust.

You can contact the Design and Conservation Team for details of all conservation related grants that may be available for your property. Their contact details can be found on our Design and Conservation page.

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Local listed buildings

A local listed building is a building or structure of architectural or historic interest which does not qualify for inclusion in the statutory list, but which in the opinion of the Council makes a valuable contribution to the character of an area. The Register of Local Listed Buildings of Merit includes buildings originally included as Grade III in the Tottenham and Hornsey Provisional Lists, but which were not considered to be of national merit when the 12th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest for the London Borough of Haringey was issued on 10th May 1974 consolidating all previous Lists. It also includes buildings identified as being of local merit as part of conservation area designation and as reviewed in both the Haringey Borough District Plan and UDP. The 2006 UDP also included Designated Sites of Industrial Heritage Interest as part of the Local List.

Additional conservation considerations are given to the alteration of these buildings and the Council will seek to ensure that the special character of such buildings is protected and enhanced. Planning policy relating to local listed buildings is in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The current Register of Local Listed Buildings of Merit can be seen in the attached files section below.

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Attached Files

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Page Last Updated: 23 May 2013

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