Bluffer’s Guide to Listing

What is listing?
The city’s development plan includes lists of buildings which are to be preserved or protected. A building which is included in these lists is generally known as a listed building. Buildings are included in the lists if the planning authority considers that they are worthy of preservation or protection due to their architectural, artistic or historic merit.

What is the effect of listing?
There are certain alterations or additions to a building which do not normally require planning permission. When a building is listed, however, planning permission is required for the majority of significant changes, including demolition, extension or alterations. Permission would also be required for changes to windows, boundary walls and railings, including widening of gateways. The erection of television aerials or satellite dishes on listed buildings would need planning permission.

Can 1 examine the development plan?
Currently Dublin City has a development planwhich was adopted in 199 1. It is hoped to adopt a new city development plan early in 1999. The existing plan and the draft plan may be inspected in the Planning Department in the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Are there different categories of listed building?
Listed buildings are categorised into List 1 and List 2.

List 1 Includes the finest of the historic buildings in the city, such as Merrion Square, the Marino Casino and some of the city’s more important statues

List 2 includes those which have an important quality, often reflecting their location in a group of similar buildings, but which do not have the architectural character or historic status of buildings in List 1.

In addition, there is a list of buildings with interiors of special quality which are listed in detail. The majority of interiors which are listed are located in the Georgian heart of the city, though there are also some interiors in other premises such as the later 19th century banks and public buildings.

Does this mean that planning permission is needed to maintain a listed building?

Most routine maintenance would not need planning permission. For instance:
Anything which has been painted previously may be repainted without permission. Where the exterior of a building has never been painted before planning permission would be required.

Reslating a roof using similar materials would not need planning permission, but replacing natural slates with artificial slates or tiles would require permission.

Repairing, reputtying or repainting windows would not need permission, but replacing windows with a different type, such as UPVC or aluminum would require permission.

Repointing brickwork would not require permission provided the right style of pointing is used, using the appropriate mortar. Using the wrong style or the wrong mortar can cause serious damage to brickwork, as well as altering the original appearance of a building.

Repointing or replastering a chimney stack would not require permission if the right materials are used. However, planning permission would be required to remove the chimney pots, cap the chimney or demolish the chimney stack.

May the building be demolished?
The demolition of listed buildings always requires planning permission. Demolition of any unlisted building which is terraced or semi-detached or of any residential property (whether in use or not) also normally requires planning permission. Permission is always required for the demolition of any part of a listed building.

Are there grants available for listed buildings?
Dublin Corporation has a small amount of fundingavailable each year for conservation grants. In view of the large number of buildings which are listed it is not possible to make funding available to all applications for assistance and generally only a limited number of very specific projects receive help from these funds. Very few grants are allocated to buildings other than those which appear on List 1 in the development plan.

How do 1 find out more?
Further information on the listing of buildings fo preservation or protection may be obtained from the Corporation’s Planning Department. If you wish to have more information, please write to:

The Principal Officer,
Planning Department,
Dublin Corporation,
Wood Quay,
Dublin 8

Or telephone:
Eugene O’Callaghan 672 3476

Rob Goodbody 672 3070