Conservation and listed buildings

The Borough’s rich legacy of historic buildings is protected through "conservation areas" and a system of "listing" by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The Council can make grants available towards the repair of listed buildings and for improvement schemes particularly in conservation areas, as a practical means of encouraging the preservation and enhancement of its historic buildings.

Conservation Areas
Conservation areas are areas of special character whose qualities the Council aims to protect and enhance. There are currently 42 conservation areas in the Borough, ranging from the whole town centre of Knutsford to small village groups such as Disley and Lower Peover, or industrial settlements like Styal and Bollington.

In conservation areas, consent is needed before demolitions can take place. The size of house extensions that can be built without permission is smaller than elsewhere, and six weeks notice of work to trees must be given. The Council expects full planning applications to be submitted, showing the entire impact of proposed development on the conservation area. In some conservation areas an Article 4 Direction is in force. This means that an application has to be made to the Local Planning Authority for relatively minor changes to the external appearance of the buildings.

Click here to download application forms.

You may also wish to link to the Planning Portal.

Listed Buildings
Listed buildings are those of particular merit, for reason of architectural quality or to illustrate social or economic history or association with well known characters or events, or because of their group value with other listed buildings. The Schedule of Listed Buildings is compiled and amended as appropriate by English Heritage and can be inspected in the Planning department. Reflecting the Borough’s wealth of historic buildings, 21 are of the highest grade (Grade I) signifying their importance as Buildings of Outstanding Interest.

The majority of the 1,858 listed buildings in the Borough are Grade II, being of special interest and worthy of preservation. Exceptionally, about 100 are distinguished further as Grade II*.

Pictures of some of the Borough’s listed buildings can be found on the Images of England website - search on Cheshire - Macclesfield.

You may also wish to visit the Planning Portal.

Details of Grade I and II* Listed Buildings considered to be "At Risk" by English Heritage can be accessed by linking to the English Heritage website , clicking on Search the BAR Register and then choosing Macclesfield from the District or London Borough dropdown menu.

Working with Listed Buildings
Before demolishing or altering any part of a Listed Building in any way that affects its character, Listed Building Consent is required from the Council, even if planning permission is not required.

This may include work to the inside of the building, anything fitted to it, outbuildings, walls or other site features. Application for Listed Building consent is made on special forms (dowloadable - see below). The fact that the building is listed may justify relaxing some of the Building Regulations. Having to ask for permission to make even small changes to a building does not mean that no changes are allowed. The Council wants to make sure that new work fits in with the old, whether it is a large extension or new windows.

A Listed Building Application is handled like a Planning Application, but there are differences in the way the application is considered and advertised. No fee is payable for an application for Listed Building consent.

Click here to download application forms.

Please email with any queries.