Here is the answer to the question: What happens if unauthorised works are carried out on a listed building?
It is actually a criminal offence to execute (or cause to be executed) any works for which Listed Building Consent would normally be required, without having gained specific Consent in advance. Similarly, any conditions attached to a Listed Building Consent must be complied with, otherwise the works will be considered unauthorised. As a criminal offence, illegal works to a listed building could lead to prosecution, either in a magistrates court or at Crown Court – potentially resulting in a substantial fine, imprisonment, or both. Prosecution is, however, quite rare. Stroud District Council will usually try to negotiate a less extreme solution, which may involve taking Enforcement action. An Enforcement Notice may: a) Require the building to be brought back to its former state, or (if that is not reasonably practical or desirable), b) Require other works, specified in the notice, to alleviate the effects of the unauthorised works. Or, c) Require the building to be brought into the stat
