How to get a building listed
Buildings are often added to the statutory list as a result of surveys or may be 'spot listed' individually as a result of a request. Anyone can ask for a building to be spot listed, but not all proposals are successful.
The general criteria for including a building in the statutory lists are as follows:
Buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are normally eligible, as are most buildings built between 1700 and 1840. For newer buildings, the selection requirements get progressively stricter.
When they consider whether to list a building, the Welsh Assembly is advised by Cadw's Inspectorate of Historic Buildings, who look at the following criteria:
- Architectural interest: buildings important for their architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship.
- Historic interest: buildings which illustrate important aspects of the nation's social, economic, cultural or military history.
- Close historical associations with people or events of importance to Wales.
- Group value: especially where the buildings make up an important architectural or historic unit or a fine example of planning (e.g. squares, terraces or model villages).
A proposal for listing should be supported by a location map, photographs (internal and external), a brief description of the building with building date (if known), owner details (if known) and any other historical or architectural information which makes the building special.
The inspectors will make an initial appraisal based on photographs and information supplied. If the building seems a good candidate a site inspection will follow which may be followed by a recommendation that the building be listed. All recommendations are then either confirmed or rejected by the Secretary of State.
Since most applications for spot listing are made because of a particular threat to the building it is important to make clear the nature of the threat and the timescale involved. If a building has been rejected for listing in the past few years, the case will only be reconsidered if new information is provided.