Demolition control
Depending on the type of building, monument or structure, the council or Historic Environment Division in Department for Communities (DfC) is responsible for controlling demolition.
Where demolition is controlled, if you demolish a heritage asset without consent, the council or DfC can take enforcement action against you.
It is a criminal offence to demolish certain assets. If you're prosecuted and convicted, this could lead to a fine, imprisonment or both.
Council consent
Before you do any work on a building including demolition, ask the planning office in the local council if you need their consent.
Listed buildings
You cannot demolish, alter or extend a listed building without Listed Building Consent from the council. You need to apply for and receive consent before any demolition. To find out if a building is listed, check with the Historic Environment Division.
Sometimes, a terrace of buildings is listed, not an individual house or address on a street.
You can download a Listed Building Consent application form on Planning NI's website or ask the council's planning office for a form.
Buildings in conservation areas
You cannot demolish an unlisted building in a conservation area without Conservation Area Consent from the council. You need to apply for and receive consent before any demolition. To find out if a building is in a conservation area, ask the planning office in the local council.
You can download a Conservation Area consent application form on Planning NI's website or ask the council's planning office for a form.
Buildings in areas of townscape or village character
To demolish an unlisted building in an area of townscape or village character, you need planning permission from the council. To check if you need planning permission, ask the planning office in the local council. They can tell you if the building is in an area of townscape character or area of village character.
You can ask the local council's planning office for a form.
Works to scheduled historic monuments
It is an offence to do unauthorised works on a Scheduled Historic Monument. Before you do any works on or near a Scheduled Monument, you must apply for Scheduled Monument Consent from the Historic Environment Division.
You could be fined if you're convicted of doing works without consent.
For advice about Scheduled Monument Consent, contact Historic Environment Division:
- telephone: 028 9054 3145
- email: Historicenvironmentenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk
- write to:
Causeway Exchange
1-7 Bedford Street
Town Parks
Belfast
BT2 7EG
- general enquiries: 028 9082 3177/028 9082 3126
- listing enquiries: 028 9056 9281
- email: Historicenvironmentenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk
State Care Monuments
- general enquiries: 028 9082 3207
- email: scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk
Gates, walls, fences and other enclosures
You need Listed Building Consent from the council if you want to demolish any unfixed or fixed structure to a listed building if this was part of the land before 1 October 1973.
In a conservation area, area of townscape character or area of village character, you need planning permission from the council to demolish a gate, fence, wall or other enclosure:
- one metre or higher next to a road or public open space
- two metres or higher in any other case