Listed Building Consent

If your tourist accommodation is provide from a listed building you should contact the relevant authorities before making any alterations to the building.

Listed buildings have ‘special architectural or historic interest’. Buildings are graded according to original features or unaltered architectural styles. To protect the character and appearance of a listed building, planning permission is restricted. The Buildings Database contains records of buildings which have been judged to be of enough architectural or historic interest you can find details here.

Before anyone can alter a listed building, they must apply to the local council Planning Team for Listed Building Consent. This also applies for erecting signage. To make a decision about granting or refusing consent, the council consults the Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities.

Grading of listed buildings

Listed buildings in Northern Ireland are divided into four categories to give an indication of their relative importance. Gradings in Northern Ireland (unlike elsewhere in the UK) are not statutory.

Grade A
Special buildings of national importance include grand buildings and the fine, little altered examples of some important style or date.

Grade B+
Special buildings that might have merited A status but have minor detracting features such as impurities of design, or lower quality additions or alterations. This grade also applies to buildings that stand out from grade B1 buildings because of exceptional interiors or some other features.

Grade B1 and B2
Special buildings of more local importance or good examples of some period of style. Some degree of alteration or imperfection may be acceptable.

Historic Environment Division
The Department is responsible for supplying advice to owners on how best to look after their buildings and offer on-site advice.

Reasonable professional fees applicable to the historic building element of works may be eligible for assistance under the current Historic Environment Fund scheme.

Further information can be sought from Historic Environment Division 

Local Landscape Policy Area
Historic buildings in Northern Ireland may also have some protection as a result of their location in a Conservation Area, Area of Townscape or Village Character or inclusion as a building of local importance within a Local Landscape Policy Area.

This information appears on the current local area plan for your location. As conservation areas can be designated independently of the planning process, you should check with your council’s planning office.

To apply for Listed Building Consent contact your local Councils Planning Office 

Updated: 21/08/2020
This information is provided as a guide and is not designed to be definitive. Each business has its own requirements, depending on the type of accommodation.

For precise or detailed information, or on the legal implications for you in particular, you should consult your local council Planning Office