Elements Comprising Special Interest

In judging the effect of any alteration or extension the Department will assess the elements that make up the special interest of the building in question. They may comprise not only the obvious visual features such as a decorative facade or, internally, staircases or decorated plaster ceilings, but also the spatial layout of the building, the archaeological or technological interest of the surviving structure and the use of materials. These elements are often as important in Northern Ireland's simple vernacular buildings as in its grander architectural set pieces. All proposals for alteration should also be based on a proper understanding of the structure of the listed building, because it is vitally important that new work does not weaken the structural integrity of the building.