Generally, the Council seeks to preserve listed buildings, their settings and any features of architectural or historic interest.  We would not normally approve an application to demolish a listed building, allow alterations that would involve the loss of historic parts of the building, obscure the original plan form, layout or structural integrity, or otherwise diminish the historic value of listed buildings.  The Council also aims to keep listed buildings in their original use, or if this use no longer exists, in another use that causes least harm to the building.  Many buildings can sustain some sensitive alterations or extensions to accommodate continuing or new uses.  But listed buildings vary greatly in the extent to which they can be changed without harm to their special architectural or historic interest.

The Council policies are set out in the Local Plan and detailed advice is also available in the government's Planning Policy Guidance Note PPG15.