A third of our clients arrive believing a listed house cannot be changed. It can, and usually is. What it needs is permission, and a reason.
What needs consent
Anything that affects the character of the building, inside or out: moving a wall, replacing a window, taking out a fireplace, and often running new pipes through old plaster.
What does not
Repairs in the same material, decoration, and anything that simply stands in a room, such as a freestanding kitchen dresser. That is one reason we make so much furniture that touches nothing.
How long it takes
Eight weeks if the application is complete, and three months if it is not. Ours include a survey of what is original, drawings of what will change and a page on why.
Why the answer is usually yes
A conservation officer wants the house lived in and looked after. Show that you know what is valuable and that the new work can be taken out again without harm, and you will find them on your side.
