Conservation and Historic Buildings

The nature of Historic Buildings and the associated legislation that exists to protect them needs to be fully understood

Scope has extensive experience of working with Listed properties and our team have a great deal of knowledge when it comes to navigating the complex process of obtaining Listed Buildings Consent. It is always advisable to speak to us at an early stage when considering work to a listed building to prevent costly design alterations.

The nature of Historic Buildings and the associated legislation that exists to protect them needs to be fully understood. Failure to understand what you are dealing with can lead to poor and often costly decisions.

Before undertaking any work on a Listed building, you will need to seek consent from the Local Authority, as making changes to a Listed property without the appropriate consent is a criminal offence.

Applications

The application process for obtaining Listed Building Consent can be lengthy, complex and depending on the work proposed, can require submitting detailed specifications and drawings.

Seeking advice from a Chartered Building Surveyor that has previous experience of handing Listed Building Consent applications can be very useful, particularly for more complex works, as you can be certain that the submitted drawings are accurate and that all the relevant information is included in the application. Chartered Surveyors that have worked with Listed buildings before will also be able to advise on the type of work that is likely to be allowed, including the type of materials to use, reducing the likelihood of your application being rejected and the requirement for appeal or revision and re-submission.

Applications for consent for works to Listed building should be submitted to the Local Planning Authority at the Council, whose Conservation Officer will consider the special features of the property alongside the proposed works. The normal timescale for receiving a decision is around 8 weeks, however, where significant changes are proposed and the council deem it necessary to seek advice from English Heritage, the process can take longer.