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Planning

The Historic Environment

In this section you will find the following information:
In this section
The Historic Environment
Due to significant resourcing issues the built heritage team will be unable to respond to anything non-urgent outside of the application process. Please bear with us, as responses to applications may also be delayed in the coming months.

Malvern Hills has 1,890 listed buildings, 21 conservation areas and 54 scheduled monuments.

There are 6 nationally registered parks and gardens.

Please use the links below to find the information you need:

Listed Buildings

A listed building is a structure of special architectural or historic interest (also referred to as significance) with both the interior and exterior protected. They have been identified as worthy of this protection by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport with the advice of Historic England who maintain the national list.

Search for a listed building

There are three grades for listing: Grade I (the highest) Grade II* and Grade II.

It is important to note that list descriptions provided by Historic England are for identification only and do not constitute listed features of a structure. The building and anything attached to it is considered to be listed.

Legislation for listed buildings can be found via the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

Curtilage

Some buildings are protected as curtilage buildings. These will not show up on the national list or My Local Area website searches as they are protected by the listing of the listed building. Whether a building is curtilage listed or not is determined by the Local Planning Authority and can be confirmed upon enquiry.

For further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Advice and Guidance

We offer advice for both Wychavon District Council and Malvern Hills District Council.

As part of our services we offer pre-application advice for anyone looking to carry out works to a listed building. This process is FREE for listed buildings. We strongly advise people get in touch and apply for pre-application advice BEFORE carrying out any work.

To submit a pre-application form

In the development type dropdown list please choose ‘Works to a listed building’

For additional information on pre-applications please read our guidance: Guidance on Pre-application Advice document

The Heritage Team can offer more general advice on listed buildings.

Both: Please contact us if you would like to discuss repairs and maintenance of historic structures, however, we do recommend seeking the advice of a professional contractor where necessary, such as a conservation accredited structural engineer, surveyor or architect.

Apply for Listed Building Consent

Advice on whether works require consent can be received either by general enquiry or, more directly, via Pre-application Advice.

Listed Building Consent Applications can be submitted online

Apply for Listed Building Consent

Listed Building Consent applications are FREE

Applicants will need to provide a Heritage Impact Assessment and Design and Access Statement. These usually require the involvement of a registered architect or charted building surveyor and will have costs attached.

These statements can be used for any parallel planning applications.

They should address the following:

  • Design principles and concepts
  • Scale, layout, and appearance of proposals
  • How the design has considered the significance of the building
  • What that significance is
  • How the significance is visible in the building
  • The significance of the building’s setting
  • An explanation of why the work is necessary and what alternatives were considered

Additional guidance can be found at Historic England Guidance on Statements of Heritage Significance

For further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please be aware the work you are proposing may also require a Planning Application. For guidance on and the submission of a Planning Application please read our advice and guidance:

Planning Advice and Guidance and Making a Planning Application

Guidance on submitting applications:

Frequently asked questions

Should I discuss my proposal with a Conservation Officer before submitting a Listed Building Consent Application?

  • We advise that contact is made with the Heritage team prior to any work being carried out and applications for Listed Building Consent being submitted.
  • This can be achieved most effectively via a Pre-application, however, you can also contact us via telephone Planning Support 01386 565565 and via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Any advice is given without prejudice to the determination of any subsequent application.

What does listed building mean?

What happens if I carry out work without consent?

  • Any works carried out without consent to a listed building or curtilage listed building is deemed a criminal offence where it detrimentally affects the character and significance of that building.
  • The criminal offence entails the potential for a fine or imprisonment.
  • Legal action can be taken against any person responsible for and carrying out unauthorised works. Therefore, the owner, professional agent and contractors can all be liable.
  • Enforcement action can be taken by the Council to ensure works are carried out to restore the building to its state prior to the carrying out of unauthorised works or to alleviate the impact of said works.

Are there other resources available?

Additional support and guidance can be found at the following sources:

Conservation Areas

Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 provides for Malvern Hills District Council to designate "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance" as Conservation Areas.

The effect of designation is to give the council powers to control the demolition of non-listed buildings, and the felling, lopping or topping of trees must be the subject of prior notification. There is no right of appeal against designation.

These regulations aim to protect the character of the area, but successful conservation is a positive mixture of preservation, conversion and sympathetic new development and so all local authorities must from time to time review their designated conservation areas, to make sure that their controls are still effective.

There are 21 Conservation Areas within the Malvern Hills district. 

The conservation section has embarked upon a programme of conservation area appraisals and management strategies including a review of the boundaries. 

Every local authority is obliged to undertake this work under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.   

Find out more about conservation area appraisals.

Useful resources

Please note that these website addresses are given for information purposes only, and do not imply any endorsement of the website supplier or the content of these external sites, and the council carries no responsibility for the accuracy of any information on the websites concerned.

Historic Parks and Gardens

Historic Parks and Gardens has been established as a designation since 1983, nationally listed by Historic England through the government and locally registered by Local Planning Authorities. The sites included cover anything from planned open spaces, such as town squares, to gardens and grounds.

Malvern Hills has 6 nationally registered parks and gardens:

  • Abberley Hall
  • Croome Court
  • Pirton Park
  • Madresfield Court
  • Kyre Park
  • Witley Court

A register has been compiled of the nationally registered sites by Historic England. Search the register on the Historic England website.

Locally Registered gardens can be received on request from the Heritage Team at the Council via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For further information please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Useful links: