Listed buildings in our district
We have over 3,000 listed buildings in our district.
Historic England identifies and keeps a record of listed buildings, to protect them for their historic or architectural value.
You can:
- search all listed buildings on Historic England (Historic England includes a description of each listed building)
- use our interactive map to check if your property is a listed building
Our interactive map will also tell you if your property is in a conservation area.
If you want to carry out any work on a listed building, you will need to apply for listed building consent.
You can find general information about listed buildings on Historic England.
Find out more about a listing
The listed building designation covers the exterior and interior of the building. This includes additions to the original building, as well as any structure fixed to the building or within its curtilage.
In general, we consider a structure to be the part of the listing if:
- it is ancillary to the principal building
- it dates from before 1948
- it was in the curtilage of the principal listed building when it was listed
Any list entries added or amended from 2013 may expressly exclude such curtilage buildings from protection.
Listing or delisting a building
You need to contact Historic England if you want:
- create a new listing
- review an existing listing
For new listings, you will need to show new evidence relating specifically to the architectural or historic interest of the building.
Historic building grants
Historic buildings are a finite resource and are of huge importance. Many need extensive maintenance and repair, and some grants are available.
You may be able to get grant funding for work on a listed building from:
Buildings at risk
Essex County Council keeps a register of all buildings in the county that are at risk from neglect, decay or disuse. The register includes:
- listed buildings
- buildings in conservation areas
- ancient monuments
Essex County Council adds buildings to the register that are deliberately uncared for or left empty for a long time.
You can look at the register to find all of the buildings at risk in our district.
Heritage England also has its own register of Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II listed buildings at risk.
We monitor buildings at risk and try to find long-term solutions for their future.
If you refurbish a building at risk, Essex County Council will remove it from the register when you have finished the work.
Where a listed building is in disrepair, we have legal powers to serve a notice on the owner:
- an Urgent Works Notice is for emergency repairs only, for example, to keep a building wind and weather-proof or secure against vandalism
- a Repairs Notice can also include work to preserve architectural details but does not cover work to restore lost features
In extreme cases, we can:
- carry out the work at the owner's cost
- compulsorily purchase a building at risk
Reporting a building at risk
You can contact our Enforcement team if you are aware of a historic building which:
- is derelict
- not being properly preserved by the owner