The UK is home to around 400,000 listed buildings and many of these buildings are privately owned. However, owning a listed building doesn’t mean that you can automatically do what you wish to it. While a listing identifies and celebrates the building’s special historical and architectural interest, it also falls under the planning system. However, you can still extend and alter a listed building and, if necessary, even demolish it if government planning guidance approves it. Your local authority will use listed building consent to enable a balance between the structure’s historic significance against specific issues such as its condition, viability or function.

Listed Building Restoration Window Painting

While there may be certain restrictions on what adaptations you can make to a listed building, what changes can you make without the need to seek planning permission?

What is a listed building?

Listed buildings are structures of national importance in terms of historic or architectural interest. These buildings feature on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The list is compiled by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports under the provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and covers various structures, including cathedrals, castles, village pumps, milestones and private dwellings.

Listed buildings come under three grades:

  • Grade I: Buildings considered of national importance and outstanding architectural or historic interest
  • Grade II*: Buildings that have some special merit, such as an exceptional interior
  • Grade II: Buildings of particular interest

The whole building is listed, including the inside, outside, and any attached structure or object and land surrounding it. Listed is also any structure on surrounding land that pre-dates 1st July 1948, such as boundary walls, gates, railings and sometimes even garden features.

Alterations to a listed building without permission

Most listed buildings in the UK fall into the Grade II listing classification, which is less strict than a Grade I listing. As a rule, you can maintain your listed property using traditional methods and like-for-like materials without needing prior consent. This could include replacing appliances in the kitchen or repairing a sash window. However, you still need to tread carefully. Those Victorian bathroom fittings you have, for example, could be included in the listing. While you can refresh the paintwork, make sure you don’t remove any historic layers underneath. The same goes for the garden. That dilapidated old lean-to or wonky garden wall may be part of the building’s listing, and you will need special building consent to repair, alter or remove it.

When will you need formal or written consent?

If you are thinking of making changes to your Grade II or Grade I listed property, it’s a good idea to understand when you will need to obtain building consent.

Repairs

If you plan to make repairs that will affect the property’s character, you’ll likely need to obtain written consent before beginning the work. However, you may be able to avoid this if you are using like-for-like materials. Speak to your local authority for advice to be on the safe side.

Internal alterations

The listed building status covers the whole property. Plan to make any changes to the building layout, remove walls, install double glazing, expose brickwork or timber, or rebuild or remove internal features such as fireplaces or panelling? You must have written consent first.

Renovations and extensions

While it’s understandable that you may want to add your unique style to your home, you will need to get planning permission from all the relevant authorities before you begin any Grade II listed building renovation. Each element of the renovation and extension project will need to have written consent before work can start.

Windows

Any alterations you make to windows, including replacing or removing historical glass panes, changing the timber or window detailing, can significantly transform the building’s character. Therefore, all these changes are subject to listed building regulations. Even replacing a broken window could considerably alter the way your property looks. Before you begin making any alterations to the windows, get written consent first.

Unauthorised works on a listed building

Failure to obtain written building consent before making any alterations to your listed building is a criminal offence, and you could face severe penalties. Making alterations will mean you are liable to receive a listed building enforcement notice. This notice enables authorities to either lessen or reverse the alternations carried out. You will have to pay the bill for these works, and you may also face a hefty fine and even a prison sentence.

If you are in any doubt about which listed building alterations can and cannot be carried out, make sure you get professional advice and consult your local authority before doing anything. Historic England has a free Listed Property Owners Guide at historicengland.org.uk, where you can find more information.



You may also like

The importance of conserving Britain’s architectural heritage


The UK is home to some of the world’s best architecture, and we don’t just mean modern buildings. There are many stunning examples of architecture from centuries gone by. Everywhere you’ll find the hallmarks of our ancestors efforts to satisfy their needs, sustain life and express themselves. With more than one in five buildings in… Read More

Why should we preserve historic listed buildings?


The welcome news that London’s Grade II listed Battersea Power Station has been removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register is another reminder of the importance of preserving historic buildings. Built in 1929, the Power Station was decommissioned in 1983 and, after years of neglect, added to the Register in 1991. But after extensive… Read More


SCE
Façade Skins

Today’s façades reflect commercial intent, push design boundaries, change environments and showcase engineering capabilities. Are modern day façades merely used as a tool to showcase design progression and engineering egos? Are we considering the façade skin and the role it plays in influencing the urban landscapes of our future? With so much emphasis placed on… Read More

SCE
Future façades

As the global economy tries to recover from its last dip, huge investments are being made in the construction industry, both in established and emerging markets. It’s anticipated that the volume of construction output will grow by more than 70% to achieve an annual worth of $15 trillion worldwide by 2025 (Source: Global Construction Perspectives… Read More

Get in touch

Call

01234 589807

or email
info@buildingtransformation.co.uk

Clients

Testimonials

Building Transformation’s unquestionable honesty and enthusiasm for ensuring the client receives the correct whole-life solution (rather than a quick fix) resulted in us being able to ensure the building was not only returned to its former glory, but will stay that way for years to come. I would recommend them to anyone.

Kenny Gash - Carillion Amey

The work provided by Building Transformation was excellent. Their product and building exteriors knowledge is detailed, comprehensive and practically applied to the client’s needs. They offer a professional, detailed, high-quality and customer- focused service which meets the short, medium and long-term needs of the client, and provides practical, cost-realistic advice.

Kerry Quinn - Echo Arena

Customer service is paramount to Building Transformation and they invested vast amounts of time in providing me with a programme to facilitate what was a very complex and time-specific programme of work for the site. The quality and level of support provided by Building Transformation is priceless to any client/contractor.

Marc Blow MCIOB MBIFM - Carillion Amey

The approach and advice on setting up the works at the Wolverhampton Civic Centre were first-class. Building Transformation’s attention to detail was excellent and the RAMS were followed meticulously to every detail. We were delighted with the works and service, and would not hesitate to use them again, nor hesitate to recommend them to any organisation.

Kevin Egginton - Wolverhampton Council

A 200,000 sq. ft., four-storey leisure venue in the heart of Nottingham city centre surrounded by major traffic routes needed work to be done overnight to deal with the traffic issues, while the site remained open throughout. The project took around three weeks to complete and went exceptionally well; the Building Transformation staff were flexible and able to work round dynamic operational issues. The clean was of a high standard and has made a significant different to the image of the building. A very difficult job done well.

Suzanne Green - Land Securities

May & Co have worked with Building Transformation on a number of projects which have included external building cleaning and refurbishment. They provided a great service, supported by the high level of documentation from the initial quotation to books and industry-related guidance, all relevant to our project.

Anton Theobald - May & Co

I am very satisfied in the manner the job was conducted. Also the level of cleaning provided and attention to detail is much appreciated.

Waqas Bin Tahir - Ibis Southampton

I am using Building Transformation’s work to help justify façade restoration works around our business. They have produced excellent presentations on what can be achieved and is a brilliant piece of informed marketing that is helping slowly win people over in our business to take façade cleaning and restoration more seriously.

Needless to say Building Transformation is a name that is now becoming known and respected.

Simon Attwood - Broadgate Estates Ltd.

Building Transformation gave great communication throughout our projects.
It will be my pleasure to recommend Building Transformation.

Sarah Cameron - My Hotels Group

Just signed off the job with Richard. Myself, the bosses and the tenant all are very pleased with the work. It definitely looks rejuvenated just a case of painting the concrete window surrounds in the new year to finish it off. Have found your company and staff very professional and helpful which has facilitated a project with minimal inconvenience and disruption to our in situ tenants.

Mark Hollinshead - Headruddy Property Development

I had a walk around today with Dave and am impressed with the work so far. Dave and the team have done a great job.

I’d certainly love to work with you in the future so perhaps before the job is completed we could look at what opportunities there are for the future.

Marie Green - Novotel Sheffield

At this stage, from my point of view your team has been extremely professional, informing us of what was happening at all times and most importantly no disruption whatsoever to our guests and business.

Ludovic Verzi - Novotel Leeds

We are very satisfied in the manner the job was conducted. The operatives on site were very professional and communicated to us at all times.

Maria Pinana Mateu - Science Museum

The team at Building Transformation understood our challenge of finding a facade cleaning solution that would initially restore the glazing to its original state, protecting our building for years to come. Through intelligent and thorough testing right through to the full restoration of Block D, we have been very satisfied with the project management and delivery of the cleaning programme.

Colin Pilkington - Renaker Build Limited

Thank you for all the work that you carried out in cleaning the outside of our school. We are delighted with the results. You have managed to completely remove heavy staining from many areas around the building.

We found you extremely easy to work with: your quote was reasonable, you carried out the work quickly and you were very flexible in terms of timings.

Tamsin Griffith - Courtney Road Primary School, Bristol

have worked with Building Transformation on several projects within the hospitality industry and have found
them to provide high levels of professionalism and workmanship.

Stephanie LE COUTEUR - ARTELIA UK

e will definitely be working with you again! Your engineers were very polite and accommodating every time they visited site and have done a first class job. I will be recommending Building Transformation to everyone!

Mark Healy - One Facility

INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US..?

Speak to one of our team today call..

01234 589807