Leeds has a remarkable range of buildings and structures that are listed, that is, included in the national list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest and given special protection. There are now about 3,300 listed building (based on 2,300 list entries) and about half a million in the country as a whole. Anyone can ask for a building to be considered for listing. As a result, the list is still growing as further buildings are identified and researched by English Heritage who make recommendations to the Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
A Gazetteer (a geographical index or dictionary) of all the listed buildings in Leeds is available from the link on this page. Listed building descriptions and some photographs are accessible through the Heritage Gateway website www.heritagegateway.org.uk.
Most proposals for altering or demolishing listed buildings need listed building consent from us and in some cases we need permission from the Department of Communities and Local Government. We get about 500 such applications each year and, after negotiation, most of these are approved.
There is an increased awareness of our historic buildings and how to restore, alter and reuse them to meet modern needs. This means that fewer listed buildings are in danger of becoming disused.
Listed buildings which have been successfully restored are the conversion of the Leeds Institute to the City Museum and the north concourse of Leeds railway station. Examples of smaller conversions are 9 Somers Street (the last surviving cloth merchant's warehouse behind Park Square), the restoration of the entrance lodges at Harewood House and smart city centre flats at 9-10 Mill Hill.
Some listed building are on our Buildings at risk list. These buildings are potential problems if new users are not identified in time and we will press for action with a mixture of grants and threatened legal powers. Our former buildings at risk fund has helped the Commercial Street Mills in Morley to be converted into flats by a local housing association but grants are no longer available. Long-standing problem buildings including Mount St Mary's Church and Hunslet Mill have approved plans but no timetable for their restoration. Others such as Thorpe Hall do not yet have agreed rescue plans.
If you would like more information please see the Listed buildings FAQ, Buildings at risk summary 2007 and Buildings at risk strategy and register 2009 from the downloads on this page.