Service FAQ questions |

main content Locally Listed Buildings - P20

What is the Local list?

The national planning regulations permit Local Planning Authorities to create lists of buildings of local architectural or historic interest and to prepare planning policies for them.

Our local list was established in the October 1973 when we felt that its newly issued statutory list, which was prepared by central government, was inadequate and failed to cover all important buildings in the borough. We set about identifying buildings of local interest which we felt were worthy of protection and complied its own local list.

The earliest available copy of the local list dates from June 1975 with subsequent copies surviving from 1982, 1991, and 1998. The list is now held on computer database and is managed by the Heritage and Urban Design group of the Planning Division. Alterations to the local list are made with approval of the Development Control and Executive Committees and from 2002 the views of property owners have been sought during the designation process.

How are locally listed buildings chosen?

Locally listed buildings are chosen on the same criteria as statutory listed buildings but with a focus on their local rather than national importance. Age and rarity are a consideration along with:

• Architectural Interest
• Historic Interest
• Historical Association with a well known person or event in borough or national history
• Group value

Where is the local list held?

Paper copies of the local list are available for consultation from our Planning and Engineering Reception (contact details are available here) and in Local Studies, Bromley Central Library.

In its early days it was just a list of addresses. However, as information has become available on the building, list descriptions have been prepared. If a local list description exists a copy is available on request from the Planning Division and can be provided as a hard copy or an e-mail.

What does local listing mean?

The special interest of a locally listed building is a material consideration when the we consider planning applications. When considering proposals affecting locally listed buildings we will seek their sympathetic re-use and the retention of historic fabric both inside and out.

Do I need listed building consent for works?

No. Listed building consent is only required for works to statutory listed buildings. Locally listed buildings are subject to normal planning controls.

What about planning permission?

The planning regulations vary depending on building uses, the extent of previous extensions, the location of the building within a particular designation, and whether planning conditions have been used to remove permitted development rights. It is therefore impossible for us to provide a definitive list of what does and does not require planning permission. To ascertain whether planning permission is required it is advisable to write to our planning department providing details and dimensions of your proposal and seeking our informal view on whether a planning application is needed. It should be noted that most external alterations to flats and commercial premises (including replacement windows) require planning permission. Contact details are available here.

Can I repair or alter the locally listed building?

Some works may not require planning permission but should still be carefully considered. The removal of historic features or details can not only harm the special interest of the locally listed building but also adversely affect its value. Research has shown that buildings which retain their historic features in good order hold the value better than those which have been altered.

Can a building be removed from the list?

Our Development Control or Executive Committees can authorise the removal of buildings from the local list. Cases must prove that the building is not of special interest and therefore not worthy of inclusion on the list.