The Department for Communities has published research on the condition of listed buildings.

This delivers on a ministerial commitment in response to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Taskforce report. A statistically reliable sample of 1,504 buildings was surveyed over an 11 month period.

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%).
• However, this is a 15.6% reduction compared to the equivalent proportion in a similar survey carried out in 2014/15 (76.9%),
• It represents a further 8.8% reduction to the equivalent figure of a 2004/05 survey (85.7%). Though this is not an exact statistical comparison.
• So that is a 15.6% worsening in ten years and appears to be a 24.4% worsening in 20. Condition is, therefore, getting worse and this appears to be speeding up.
• In line with findings from the 2014/15 baseline survey, buildings graded A and B+ were generally in better condition than those graded B1, B2 and B.
• A higher proportion of church-owned buildings were rated ‘Very good/Good’ (39.1%, CI = 28.6%-49.5%) compared to private buildings (21.7%, CI = 16.4%-27.0%) and public buildings (23.1%, CI = 11.8%-34.5%).
• There were small but statistically significant differences between the proportion of listed buildings that were rated ‘Very good/Good’ in Urban (Belfast and L’derry 25.9%), and Provincial (cities and towns 27.1%) settlements compared to Rural (villages and countryside 22.7%).
• The data was also compared to climate change indicators developed by the National Trust. There was no current significant impact on condition due to location in an area at risk of future humidity or overheating, at risk of storm damage, or at risk of heavy rainfall.

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