Policy information sourced from Runnymede Local Plan

EE4: Listed Buildings

The Council will support appropriate development which seeks to maintain, sustain and enhance the significance and special architectural and historic interest of Listed Buildings in the Borough.

Considerable weight will be given to the protection of a listed building and its setting. Development of a listed building, or development within the curtilage or within the vicinity of a listed building or structure, should preserve and/or enhance its setting and any features of special architectural or historical interest which it possesses. The historic fabric and any features of architectural or historic interest should be retained in situ and repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. Proposals should not adversely affect the listed building or its setting by virtue of design, scale, materials, or proximity or impact on views or other relevant aspects of the historic building fabric.

The change of use of part, or the whole, of a Listed Building will be supported provided that its setting, character and features of special architectural or historic interest would be preserved and/or enhanced, Consideration will be given to the long-term preservation that might be secured through a more viable use.

Development which would cause substantial harm to or loss of a listed building (including curtilage buildings), including total or partial demolition, will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances. The Council will consider the following matters when determining such applications:

  • The nature of the listed building prevents all reasonable use of the site, no viable use of the listed building can be found through appropriate marketing that will enable its conservation and it can be demonstrated that charitable or public funding/ownership is not available to enable its conservation;
  • Any harm or loss is outweighed by the benefits of bringing the site back into use.

In such cases, consideration will be given to the asset’s significance.

For more information please see the Local Plan