Condition of NI’s Listed buildings declines by almost 25% in twenty years

Date published: 6 May 2025

Publishing the research, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:  

“This research, commissioned by my Department, paints a very worrying picture of the state of our listed buildings.  This is a finite resource of just over 9,000 structures that is important, not just as a tangible representation of our history but because of the character it brings and the economic and social potential it holds for our region. Heritage is a key driver of tourism to Northern Ireland and a source of civic pride and identity. Once lost, it and the potential that it holds are gone forever.

“I have asked my Department to consider this within the Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme. The new Programme will deliver policies for arts, museums, public libraries and the historic environment. These are due to go to public consultation this year and my hope is that the Historic Environment Policy willprovide the step change that we need and help kickstart a proper appreciation of our built heritage - what we have and how it can be utilised creatively, for public benefit.”

The Survey on the Condition of Listed Buildings highlighted the following.

• The overall condition of the majority of listed buildings was rated as ‘Very good/Good’ or ‘Average’ (61.3%).
• This is a reduction compared to the equivalent category in a similar survey carried out in 2013/14 (76.9%) and represents a further reduction to the equivalent figure from the 2002-2005 survey (85.7%) (note there are differences in survey methodology between the 2002-2005 survey and subsequent surveys).
• It is evident that the overall condition of listed buildings is declining.
• In line with findings from the 2013/14 survey, buildings graded A and B+ were generally in better condition than those graded B1, B2 and B. Indeed, 40.9% of buildings graded A and B+ were rated ‘Very good/Good, compared to 22.5% of buildings graded B1, B2 and B.
• A higher proportion of church-owned buildings were rated ‘Very good/Good’ (39.1%) compared to private buildings (21.7%) and public buildings (23.1%).
• There were small but statistically significant differences between the proportion of listed buildings that were rated ‘Very good/Good’ in Urban (25.9%), and Provincial (27.1%) settlements compared to Rural (22.7%). Urban settlements include the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and Derry Urban Area. Provincial settlements include large, medium and small towns. Rural settlements include villages, hamlets and the open countryside.
• There were largely no statistically significant differences in the condition of surveyed buildings according to their current and future risk level by: overheating and humidity, storm damage and rainfall (days of rainfall exceeding 50mm per year). The notable exception was the walling condition of buildings: some statistically significant differences were identified according to their current storm damage risk level and current and future rainfall risk level. However, small sample sizes in higher risk levels may be at least partly driving these results.
• The majority of buildings were ‘Fully occupied’ (61.6%), in line with the 2013/14 survey (69.9%). The proportion of ‘Vacant’ buildings, however, was higher in the 2023/24 survey (33.3%) compared to the 2013/14 survey (22.3%).

Data was also collated on individual elements and on degree of risk and on vacancy. The results show that a third of listed buildings are currently vacant. The proportion of ‘Vacant’ buildings was higher by 11% in the 2023/24 survey (33.3%) compared to the 2014/15 baseline survey (22.3%).

The full report can be viewed at Survey on the Condition of Listed Buildings | Department for Communities.