Applying to delist a listed building is an option for those with period properties that have lost their historical significance. Older homes are vulnerable to decay and when a listed building is beyond restoring, or it no longer retains enough of its original fabric to be worthwhile preserving, it can sometimes become a good candidate for delisting.
Historic England estimates that there are around half a million privately-owned listed buildings in the UK, which are compiled on Historic England’s listed buildings register. Surprisingly, Historic England is unable to put an exact figure on how many listed buildings are on the register. This is because one entry might include a number of individual buildings, for example a row of terraced houses.
That said, around 92% of buildings on the register are Grade II-listed and owned by private homeowners, with the other two types of listed building being Grade I and Grade II*. The sheer volume of privately owned listed properties means it is down to homeowners to notify Historic England if their
