What is a listed building?
A Listed Building is one that is recognised as being of national importance. Buildings with listed status are recorded on an official register called The List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Buildings listed on the register are legally protected from being demolished, extended or significantly altered without special permission from the local planning authority.
Listing doesn’t only apply to homes and commercial buildings. Other structures, including bridges, monuments, windmills or parks and gardens, may also be listed.
Listed buildings are counted among the notable heritage assets in the UK property market’s heritage sector.
The Three Types of Listed Buildings
There are three main classifications of listed buildings, namely Grade 1, Grade 2* and Grade 2.
Grade 1: Buildings of exceptional interest, of the highest significance
Grade 2*: Particularly important buildings of more than special interest
Grade 2: Buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them
Grade 2 listings are the most common listing type. The UK property specialists at Bidwells report that, as of Q4 2016, over 90% of entries on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest in England fell into this category. Grade 2* listings accounted for 6%, and those with Grade 1 status comprised just 2.5%.
Notable Examples of Grade 2 Listed Buildings
Alexandra Palace is an iconic London entertainment venue dating back to Victorian times. It was first opened in 1873 under the name “The People’s Palace”. The original building was destroyed by fire just 16 days after opening and a new 7-acre Palace was built in its place in 1875.
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is Britain's oldest manufacturing company, established in 1570. Some of the world’s most famous bells, including Big Ben and the Liberty Bell, were cast in the Whitechapel foundry.
BT Tower is a communications tower that held the title of the UK’s tallest building from its completion in 1964 up until 1980. It was also home to a famous Revolving Restaurant with skyline views. The historic skyscraper still functions as a telecoms tower today and even offered a highly exclusive “one-night hotel experience” on its 34th floor earlier this year.
Grade 2 Listed Buildings in the Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle market is an especially notable area for listed buildings. It is home to approximately 46,800 listed properties (12.5% of the national total).
According to Bidwells, “The heritage market of the Golden Triangle is remarkably diverse and of immense value, presenting owners and asset managers with multiple challenges and opportunities in the drive to sustain value and preserve the country’s historic fabric.”
Listed Building Restoration Specialists
Should you become the owner of a Grade 2 listed property, you may face challenges and restrictions when it comes to repairing and refurbishing the building. This is where the experts at Bidwells can assist you. Their specialist team has years of experience working on the historic buildings of Cambridge and Oxford’s colleges. They understand the need to strike a balance between conserving a property and restoring it to the proper standards, while meeting today’s building and environmental regulations.
Speak to Bidwells about your vision for your Grade 2 listed building today.
