How to save C20 buildings

Do you believe your house or office should be listed? Are you concerned that an outstanding building in your area may be under threat? Use these practical guidelines to find out exactly what you can do to save a C20 building.

What C20 Society does

We deal with buildings constructed from 1914 onwards. Contact the Victorian Society about buildings dating from 1837 to 1913. We date a building from the year construction started.

We are interested in hearing about harmful proposals affecting listed and non-listed buildings in England, Wales and Scotland.

Find out about the building

The first thing to do is to find out as much as you can about the building:

• Is the building already listed? Check whether it is listed on the National Heritage List for England
• Who is the architect and when was it built? Try your local archive centre, Pevsner’s Buildings of England series at your local library or your local authority’s conservation officer if you can’t find this information elsewhere
• What form does the building have? Is it in a particular architectural style? Was it designed to perform a particular purpose? What materials is it built from, and did it have a special construction method?
• Is the building in a conservation area or is it a locally listed building? Your local council’s website will provide this information
• If you can’t find information locally, try the British Architectural Library.
• Take photographs of its current condition. Look for old photographs in local newspapers or the architectural press to show how the building has changed over time

Let us know about a threatened building

Please alert the C20 Society if you believe the building is under threat by emailing the following information to caseworker@c20society.org.uk:

• Name and location of building
• Link to listing entry if applicable
• Description of why you think the building may be under threat, including the planning or listed building consent application reference number if available
• Photographs of its current condition

Applying to get a building listed

Anyone can apply for a building to be listed using the online application form here.

Advice from C20

If you need advice on a building or would like the Society’s view on an application for listing, please email the following information to caseworker@c20society.org.uk:

• Name and location of building
• Architect and date of construction
• Description of why you think the building needs protection/listing
• Photographs

We are unable provide recommendations for contractors or suppliers as this conflicts with our charitable status. The Building Conservation Directory is a good place to look for heritage specialists across the country.

Our Casework Committee meet once a month to discuss listing and major planning cases, so please allow enough time for us to consider your query.

Getting local support

Local support for saving the building can help your case:

• Alert the local C20 Society group if there is one
• Send a letter to the local paper with a photo and an explanation of why the building matters to the local community
• Create an online petition to save the building
• Use social media to publicise the threat to the building