Why we list buildings or places
Buildings and places are listed because they have a special heritage value of public importance. This can be of:
- historic interest
- architectural interest
- archaeological interest
- cultural interest
Listing a site protects its essential character and makes sure it can be enjoyed by future generations.
We set out the criteria used to decide if a site should be listed. Jersey Heritage is our principal advisor on which sites meet these criteria.
Criteria for listing buildings and places
Check if a building or place is listed
You can find out if a building or place is listed and discover why it’s special in our
listed building or place search or searching the historic buildings map.
Search the historic buildings map
Listing grades and what they mean
All listed buildings and places are important.
Each one is given a grade to show its level of special interest. This grade is for guidance only.
For Grade 4 listed buildings, protection usually applies to the outside only and changes inside don’t normally need planning approval.
For all other grades, planning approval is usually needed for changes to both the outside and inside of the building.
The grade doesn’t set specific restrictions on the work you can do. However, any changes should respect the building's special character and importance.
| Grade 1 | Exceptional public and heritage interest to Jersey and of more than island-wide importance. Outstanding examples of a particular lar historical period, architectural style, building type or archaeological site. |
|---|
| Grade 2 | Special public and heritage interest to Jersey. Important, high-quality examples of a particular historical period, architectural style, building type or archaeological site. These are either substantially unaltered, or their alterations contribute to the special interest. |
|---|
| Grade 3 | Special public and heritage interest to Jersey. Important, good-quality examples of a particular historical period, architectural style, building type, or archaeological site. However, their alterations reduce the special interest or have particular elements worthy of listing. |
|---|
| Grade 4 | Special public and heritage interest to Jersey. Good example of a particular historical period, architectural style or building type. But these are defined particularly for the exterior characteristics and contribution to townscape, landscape or group value.
|
|---|
Making changes to a listed property
If you’re making changes to a listed building or place, you need to submit a planning application with a heritage impact statement (HIS) before you start the work.
The purpose of a heritage impact statement is to:
- identify the significance of a listed building or place
- define the potential impact of the work proposed on the listed building or place
- describe how any potential negative impacts have been considered
You should write your statement before the design work is done to help ensure your works will not damage the special interest or character of the building or place.
Find more information on making changes to a listed building or place and
planning applications.
The listing process
We carry out the formal process of listing buildings or places.
Jersey Heritage is our principal advisor on the heritage value of sites. Their recommendations are independent, impartial and informed. They can engage with other heritage experts to provide advice.
As the owner, we’ll let you know if your property is to be added or removed from the list and explain why it is special or not. We’ll make every effort to do this directly where we can or we’ll serve a notice on-site. We’ll also serve notice on occupiers too, where they are different to owners.
Find more information about the listing process in Part 6 of the
Planning and Building (Jersey) Law on Jersey Law.
Notice of intent
The notice of intent tells you that we’re considering a building or site for listing. It sets out:
- why the building or place is considered special
- the nature of its special interest
- the extent of the interest shown on a plan
The notice usually includes an image of the main elevation or public view of the site too.
People consulted have 28 days to make written comments about the special interest of a building or place. If consulted you can tell us if you think:
- the site doesn’t have heritage value and why
- some details are wrong
Jersey Heritage will carefully consider the comments received. In some cases, they might be able to deal with them by making changes to the site’s assessment.
During the process we’ll let you know about:
- any proposed changes
- if we need more information
- if we need another site visit
Representations
Where we can’t resolve a representation by agreement it’ll be reviewed, together with the advice of Jersey Heritage, by the Chief Officer of Infrastructure and Environment. This is usually under delegated powers.
Our decision
The owner and occupier will be notified of our decision by receiving a notice of determination. Our decisions will be based on consideration of:
- the advice from Jersey Heritage
- any valid representations received
These factors will be assessed against the Minister’s listing criteria.
Your right to appeal
As the owner or occupier, if you’re not happy about our listing decision you can appeal to the Minister for Planning and Regulation.
Appeals are managed by the Judicial Greffe. The Greffier must receive any appeal no later than 28 days after being notified of the decision.
For more information or to make an appeal
contact the Judicial Greffe on courts.je or email
planningtribunal@courts.je.
Planning appeals on courts.je
A brief guide for planning and building appeals with the Judicial Greffe
Changing or removing a listed entry
If you believe your property no longer has heritage value you can ask us to review its listing.
This may be because:
- the building or place has changed significantly
- new information affects how we should consider its heritage value
To request a review, you must provide as much relevant information as possible, including:
- details of any changes to the building or place that may affect its heritage value
- new evidence or information that could change how we assess its special interest
We assess review requests using the Minister's criteria for listing buildings and places. We can only consider information that relates to these criteria.
We can’t consider requests based on other factors.
Criteria for listing buildings and places
We will ask Jersey Heritage to reassess the building or place against the Minister’s criteria. The review will consider:
- its heritage value
- the reasons for its original designation and grading
To request the review of an existing listed building or place email
islandplan@gov.je.
Other sites of special interest
We also designate other natural
Sites of Special Interest (SSIs).
These are protected as environmental assets and include places that have:
- botanical interest
- ecological interest
- geological interest
- scientific interest
- zoological interest
For more information
contact Land Resource Management.
gov.je