Criteria for the listing and grading of heritage assets

Adopted April 2011 (MD-PE-2011-0063)

Introduction
There are six legal reasons for Listing. All Listings will meet one or more of these:
historical, architectural, archaeological, traditional, scientific or artistic
significance1.

The criteria below give a framework within which the Minister takes professional
guidance on making a decision on whether to list a building or place. The term
‘building’ is defined broadly in the Law and can include, walls, fosse, fontaines,
bridges, abreuvoirs, slipways etc.

Listings will cover five broad areas:

(A) Historic interest

(B) Age
(C) Architectural interest
(D) Archaeological interest
(E) Artistic interest

Principles for Listing Buildings and Listed Places

Listed Buildings or Listed Places are defined as buildings and places of ‘public
importance’. For a building or place to be Listed the following criteria will be
used to assess each case on its merits. There will be a logical assessment
made which will test whether the standard is met.

The issues taken into account for Listed Buildings will include:

 The age of the building or place.

 The history of the site and why is this of interest.
 The type of building and how unusual or common it is.
 An assessment of all aspects of the physical building leading to an
appreciation of its architectural interest.
 An assessment of all aspects of the place including appreciating its
archaeological interest.
 Important historical associations.
 An assessment of the landscape / setting of the building or place and its
impact on interest.
 An assessment of whether the building or place is representative of its
type, age, style and quality.
 The Building’s special character and its value within different building
types illustrating key phases of architectural or cultural history.

Authenticity and integrity will also be a factor. This can be defined as a building’s
closeness to the original built form and fabric. This will add value and be reflected
in the statement of significance. On a small Island where land is at a premium the

1
(Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, Article 51(2) (b)
extent to which buildings survive in their original form is limited. Incremental
change through many generations can be very positive. In making a judgement
as to the historic merit and character of buildings it is essential to assess whether
that change has been detrimental or is now part of its interest.

The basis for the Listing an archaeological place or site is that it is an intrinsically
outstanding site of self evident ‘public importance’2 or that it is one of best
preserved examples of its category defined as of archaeological interest. Listed
Places will require assessment of their state of preservation, nature, extent and
significance.

The issues taken into account for Listed Places (archaeology) will include:
 An assessment of the state of preservation
 The existence of archaeological evidence in the form of physical
evidence or documentary evidence.
 The evidence of archaeological activity, the number of artefacts
discovered and significant concentrations of artefacts and more
than one source of documentary evidence.
 The period the physical evidence dates to The significance of the
site will vary according to its age.
 The rarity of the archaeological activity. For example evidence of
industrial activity is much less common in Jersey than that for
agricultural activity.
 The level of disturbance which will help understand how much
significant archaeology in situ.

2
(Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, Article 51(2) (b)
Listing Criteria
The following detailed Listing Criteria will be applied in a careful assessment of
each case. This will ensure that a Listed Building or Place has gone through a
rigorous and robust process to ensure the level of protection offered is
appropriate. The ultimate aim is to conserve a carefully defined range of the
extensive heritage on the Island.

(A) Historic Interest - To be of special historic interest a building must illustrate

significant aspects of Jersey’s social, economic, cultural or military history and /
or have close historical associations with important people or events in the
Island’s history. Where the interest relates primarily to a person or event, the
fabric should also have some special interest in its own right. A singular
occurrence or minimal numbers of a building, structure or site will not in itself
justify listing.

1. Vernacular - examples of local vernacular buildings and places that

meet the some of the other criteria above will normally be Listed
because together they uniquely illustrate the importance of Island
traditions in type, material and form and use.

2. Setting - the context in which a structure sits can be a critical factor in

its evaluation. A structure, whose setting has changed adversely,
removing the original contextual character, has a weakened case for
inclusion.

3. Group Value - is important where a group of buildings together form

townscape, streetscape, sit in designed landscape or form a set piece
interaction, or a building in its landscape setting, comprise a formal or
informal ensemble whose collective quality is more than the sum of the
parts.

4. Cultural Interest - Buildings or structures that are important for

reasons of technological innovation, or as illustrating particular aspects
of social or economic history may be listed in their own right. In other
cases the setting of a structure can offer additional support to a listing
especially if the historic context is intact

5. Landscape, Gardens and Parks – much of Jersey’s cherished

countryside has been formed from the interactions of humans with the
land over the millennia. The Island has internationally significant
Neolithic archaeological remains, early medieval field patterns
demarcated by banques, fosses all later overlain with military transport
systems and communications. In addition there are conscious
designed landscapes forming parks and gardens which contribute to
the setting and historic importance of a Listed Building or Listed Place.
The defined importance of these features, when in concert with
historic, archaeological and ecological sites will contribute to a Listing.

6. Selectivity – When there are a group of geographically diverse

structures of buildings which qualify for Listing on the strength of
special architectural interest multiple examples may be Listed.
 However, a building may be listed primarily because it represents a
particular historical type in order to ensure that examples of such a
type are preserved. Listing in the later case is comparative and needs
to be selective, with only the most representative or significant
examples included.

(B) Age - the older a building is and the fewer of its type that survive the more
likely it is to present a special interest. Age is a major factor in the evaluation
process and period definitions are given to aid the assessment but are not
intended to be watersheds.

1. All buildings and structures erected before 1700 survive

predominantly in their original form are likely to be Listed.

2. Buildings and structures erected between 1700 to 1850

survive in their original form and which are of a definite
character either individually or as part of a group are likely to
be Listed.

3. As the survival rate increases after 1850 to 1945 greater

selectivity will be applied. These will test integrity, rarity and
relative age. Architectural quality, or the extent to which
particular buildings or types define or make a major
contribution to local character and identity, or represent the
tangible legacy of formative trends, trades or events,
become more significant and are likely to be Listed.

4. Those buildings erected after 1945 of exceptional quality or

importance may be Listed. Buildings less than 30 years old
will only very rarely be registered, if they are of outstanding
quality intact and of definite architectural quality and/ or and
under threat.

5. Well documented association with important people or

events, where the fabric is also of some quality can add
weight to the possible Listing. It is however essential that the
information is accurate and dependable.

It is important to recognise that most historic buildings are the product of

incremental change through many generations: the key is to assess
whether that change has been detrimental or is now part of its interest
In assessing a building the extent the original intrinsic interest of the
building has been compromised by damaging change will be important as
will be the quality and sensitivity to the historic context of later additions

(C) Architectural interest

1. Exterior: Where buildings are of special interest for their architectural

design or style, artistic decoration, craftsmanship, composition, or use of
materials and details, whether it be in the vernacular tradition, or as a
result of conscious design. Such architectural interest may be enhanced
 by the contribution of the building to a larger group, or to a townscape or
rural setting, or its role as a landmark.

2. Interior: The survival of substantially complete rooms from before 1700,

the major elements of historic interiors from before 1850, and interiors of
particular quality and interest of later date are likely to justify Listing.
Interior design and detailing can add to the case for listing. The survival of
for example skirting boards, plasterwork, dado rails, chimneypieces,
staircases, doors and architraves, wine cellars, shop and pub fittings and
similar elements may well contribute to the character of the whole and
support Listing. Furthermore the existence of works of art, sculpture,
carving etc which are integral and fixed elements of the design or
decoration of historic interiors.

3. Architectural and scientific interest of the structure: Where the

structure of the building contributes significantly to its special interest,
because of its distinctive character (for example, the traditional timber-
framed interior structure of some warehouses) or technological innovation
or virtuosity (for example, the early or experimental use of particular
materials or techniques, like cast iron roofs in the early 19 th century, or
reinforced concrete before the early 20th), whose interest may not
necessarily be expressed in high aesthetic quality.

4. Architectural or Cultural Value of the plan form: Where the internal

plan form contributes significantly to the special interest of the building, by
virtue of its distinctiveness, innovation, or ability to shed light on the
cultural traditions of Jersey. This may not be evident from the exterior but
often serves to explain the way in which buildings and groups were meant
to function and can be an important element in the overall interest of the
building, structure or site.

5. Technology – this must be of importance in design, decoration or crafts,

or must display particularly important examples of building types or
technique, technological innovation or virtuosity. The use of exceptionally
fine materials and / or decoration adds weight to a case for Listing.

6. Architectural innovation - the best examples of various styles of polite

architecture and design that meet the some of the other criteria above will
normally be included as they show how building and design here has been
influenced from elsewhere and has developed locally. Such buildings or
structures may include works by known and respected architects and
designers.

(D) Archaeological interest:

1 Archaeological Listed Places - Archaeological interest can be found either

in standing structures and / or below-ground remains. Listed Places are to
be defined as any building, historic landscape feature, structure,
archaeological / environmental deposit or work of any period, whether
above or below the surface of the land or sea, and any cave or excavation,
or the remains thereof; or any site comprising, or comprising the remains of,
 any vehicle, machinery, vessel, aircraft or other movable structure which is
judged to be of archaeological value.

Specifically, the considerations are:

I. Period - all types of Listed Places that characterise a category or
period will be considered

II. Rarity - there are some categories which are so scarce that all
surviving examples which still retain some archaeological potential
should be preserved. In general, however, a selection will be made
which reflects the typical as well as the rare. This process will take
account of all aspects of the distribution of a particular class of
archaeological site or building, both in Jersey and beyond.

III. Documentation - the significance of a site or building may be

enhanced by the existence of records of previous investigation or, in
the case of more recent sites or buildings, by the supporting evidence
of contemporary written records

IV. Group Value - the value of a single site or building (such as a field
system) may be greatly enhanced by its association with related
contemporary sites or buildings. In some cases, it will be preferable to
protect the complete group, including associated and adjacent land,
rather than to protect isolated sites or buildings within the group.

V. Survival/Condition - the survival of a site or building’s archaeological

potential both above-and below-ground is a particularly important
consideration and will be assessed in relation to its present condition
and surviving features.

VI. Fragility/Vulnerability - highly important archaeological evidence from

some field sites or buildings can be destroyed by a single ploughing or
unsympathetic treatment (The Threshold Effect).

VII. Diversity - some sites or buildings may be selected for designation

because they possess a combination of high quality features, others
because of a single important attribute.

VIII. Potential - there are cases where the nature of the evidence cannot
be specified precisely but it may still be possible to document reasons
anticipating its existence and importance.

IX. Sustainability - some sites or buildings will show greater potential for
long term sustainable management, including exploitation of their
educational value.

X. Group value - the value of a single site or building (such as a field

system) may be greatly enhanced by its association with related
contemporary sites or buildings (such as a settlement and cemetery or
 with sites or buildings of different periods). In some cases, it will be
preferable to protect the complete group, including associated and
adjacent land, rather than to protect isolated sites or buildings within
the group.

2 Standing Buildings/ Structures – Standing buildings/ structures will

have archaeological interest where the fabric of the building, and the land
beneath and around it, can be considered to contain unique and valuable
evidence about its development, and the culture which produced it, which
can be understood through systematic investigation. This will be an
important consideration for any building originating before about 1800, and
tends to increase with age. It can also be important for some more recent
industrial buildings, where the rate of change tends to be rapid, in
response to technological change, the evidence for which often remains
encapsulated in the fabric. Archaeological interest can be increased by
the building's association with a larger archaeological site.

This will be an important consideration for any building originating before

about 1800, and tends to increase with age. It can also be important for
some more recent industrial buildings, where the rate of change tends to
be rapid, in response to technological change, the evidence for which
often remains encapsulated in the fabric. Archaeological interest can be
increased by the building’s association with a larger archaeological site.

(E) Artistic Interest

1. Art - where a structure, site or building expresses art as its

primary role and make a contribution to the cultural values of the
Island will be a contributory factor in listing. This is more than
integral artistic or craft integral to architectural design, but art for
its own sake and expression.

2. Craft Skills –When elements of the building or place

demonstrate conscious use of skill and creative imagination
then this may contribute to Listing values. Examples may
include painted interior of churches, decorated stonework or
other craft manifestations.

3. Aesthetic merits – The appearance of a building or place, both

its intrinsic architectural merit and any group value will
contribute to Listing. For example, does it comprise an important
architectural or historic unity or is it a fine example of planning?
In some cases the special interest of a building will not be
expressed in obvious external visual quality. .

NB: The state of repair of a building or structure is not a relevant consideration

when deciding whether a building meets the test of special interest.
Grading criteria
Each Listed Building or Place will be allocated a non statutory Grade. For
example, Grade 1 will be allocated to those buildings or places with Island or
international significance and Grade 4 will be allocated to those buildings or
places with local townscape significance.

The purpose of allocating each building or place a non-statutory grade is to help

determine the significance of the heritage asset to the Island. It will also help to
inform the extent to which proposed changes to the site will be controlled and
help inform decisions about its future development.
Listed building or place non-statutory grading system

Listed building or Description

place (Grade)
Listed building or Buildings and places of exceptional public and
place (Grade 1) heritage interest to Jersey and of more than Island
wide importance, being outstanding examples of a
particular historical period, architectural style, building
type or archaeological site.

Listed building or Buildings or places of special public and heritage

place (Grade 2) interest to Jersey, being important, high quality
examples of a particular historical period, architectural
style, building type or archaeological site, that are
either substantially unaltered or whose alterations
contribute to the special interest.

Listed building or Buildings ore places of special public and heritage

place (Grade 3) interest to Jersey, being important, good quality
examples of a particular historical period, architectural
style, building type, or archaeological site; but with
alternations that reduce the special interest and/or
have particular elements worthy of Listing.

Listed building or
Buildings and places of special public and heritage
place (Grade 4)
interest to Jersey, being good example of a particular
historical period, architectural style or building type;
but defined particularly for the exterior characteristics
and contribution to townscape, landscape or group
value.

April 2011