Listed buildings

Wirral contains over 1,900 buildings listed by Historic England. 

View the listed buildings on a map

The council works with owners and occupiers to ensure that these important buildings are properly maintained and conserved for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

How much of a building is covered by the listing?

The whole of the building is listed: its interior, and any features within its boundary and the boundary itself comes under the designation.

The listing text is merely indicative, and is intended to aid identification. 

If only a part of the building is protected the list entry will carry a clear note to this effect. 

Absence from the list description of any reference to a feature (whether external or internal) does not indicate that it is not of interest or that it can be removed or altered without consent. 

Interiors are rarely described but have the same protection as external features. 

Listing covers all buildings and structures within the curtilage of the building at the time it was listed, including all outbuildings; walls etc. 

Is consent needed for restoration works? 

If the works in anyway affect its character or special interest. A change of roof materials (for example, from clay to concrete tiles), the replacement of existing elements (for example, windows), the opening up of an older feature by the removal of an existing one (for example, a fireplace), even re-pointing all require consent. 

It is advisable to check with the Development Management Section before anything is done. 

Is consent required for repairs? 

Normally; a repair using identical traditional materials to the original specification, and one in which the majority of original fabric is utilised in the repair, does not require formal consent. However, consent is required for replacement of items where the majority of original fabric is beyond economic repair, even if these are to a traditional pattern. 

Can an owner be made to repair a listed building? 

An owner who fails to take reasonable steps to preserve it can be required to undertake specific repairs, which failing to undertake can result in eventual compulsory purchase by the local authority. 

If the building is unoccupied and suffering dilapidation, the council may serve a notice requiring emergency works to be carried out. Should the terms of the notice not be met, the council may itself carry these out and recover attendant costs from the owner. 

How do I obtain Listed Building Consent? 

The procedure is similar to that for planning permission except that no fee is payable. It can often be useful to get pre-application advice before submitting a formal application; this will avoid the cost of drawing up an application that would not ultimately be acceptable.

You can find out more about carrying out work on a listed building on our Listed Building Consent section.

Listed buildings curtilage

Buildings and structures within the curtilage of listed buildings may also be protected by listed building legislation. They are referred to as 'curtilage listed'.

These buildings and structures might include walls, outbuildings, backhouses and dairies.

The deciding criteria as to whether an item is classed as curtilage listed or not, is as follows:

1. The building or structure was erected before July 1948
2. The building or structure in the same ownership as the principal listed asset was included at the time of listing
3. The building or structure have an ancillary relationship with the principal listed building at the time of listing

Alterations or extension to curtilage listed buildings or structures will need planning permission and might also need listed building consent if the structure is attached to the listed building. 

Linking a curtilage building to a host building will require listed building consent and planning permission. 

The construction of new buildings, structures or enclosures within the curtilage of a listed building will need planning permission. 

Demolition of any structure within the curtilage of the listed building will require planning permission.

If you want advice before you submit an application, the council provides a pre-application service. 

If you have any other queries please contact our Heritage team at heritage@wirral.gov.uk.

For further information please visit Historic England 

About the data

The available data is indicative only for planning purposes, that it suggests that there is a listed building in the area identified. Further information and a specific determination should be sought from the council if required.

Data

Listed buildings (GeoJSON, 3.8MB)

Licensing

The data is provided under the Open Government Licence.