Expert Advice Sarah Beeny On Listed Buildings

Date Published:

20/05/2007

Oh, the joys of doing up listed buildings. I've done a few myself and they really are a double-edged sword. On the one hand they are by definition rare, and usually have a premium attached. On the other hand listed buildings come loaded with red tape and scrutiny from the local council can be quite a bind.

A major problem is there are very few clear rules governing what you can and can't do when renovating a listed building, so very often it's down to the interpretation of the individual listings officer.

This can leave you in quite a quandary as there are two distinct schools of thought. Let's say you want to build an extension onto the side of your property. Do you try and make it in keeping with the original, or go for something completely different? The options are both adored and abhorred in equal measures. Some officers think trying to copy the original is always unachievable and a terribly naff thing to do. Others think 'in keeping' is the only way forward and modern additions to listed buildings are a travesty. As a consequence it can be very hard to know what to expect.

The rule of thumb is not to dig in over any particular issue unless it is of vital importance and keep an early and ongoing dialogue going with the local council. As ever if you can work with the listings officer, rather than against him, the end result will be that much better.

Lastly I'd just like to clear up a common mistake. Many people think a Grade II listed building has restrictions attached to the exterior of the building only, while a Grade I listing applies to both the outside and inside. This is wrong. Both listings apply to all areas of a property including the grounds - a Grade I listing is just considered more important. Glad that's cleared up.

Back to top