Partner Article

Why you may need Heritage Engineers

If you are looking to purchase an old or listed property for renovation it is advisable to take advice about what can and can’t be done before you purchase it.

Planning permission applies to all buildings when there are renovations or alterations to be made but older buildings may need additional forms of permission. For example for homes in conservation areas or listed buildings you will require consent before any alterations, extensions or renovations are carried out. This might also apply to buildings on your land therefore it is important to contact your local planning authority to ensure that you comply with the correct legislation for your area and type of property.

The main reasons for this is so that the local authority can protect particular building features such as doors or windows (Article 4 Directions).

There are 3 grades of buildings in England and Wales: Grade I Grade II* and Grade II. 92% of all listed buildings fall into Grade II, in England and Wales and this is the most likely grade of listing for a home owner. If you are in Scotland the listing process is controlled by the Scottish Executive and properties are graded A, B or C and in Northern Ireland the Environment and Heritage service classes it’s buildings into Grades A, B+, B1 and B2. To find out if your home is listed you can search The relevant organisation for your area.

It is probably worth applying for all the planning permissions at the same time to enable the local planning authority to consider the whole project and implications which could save you time. Once the authority is in agreement with all relevant parties you will be given Listed Building Consent (LBC) and you can proceed.

As this is such a specialist area it is well worth employing the services of professional Heritage Engineers from the outset. They will be able to advice you on the best way to sympathetically renovate or extend your older property, as well as advising on the materials to be used, and help with finding suitable contractors and materials etc. Heritage Engineers will have the experience and knowledge of the original building methods that were used and should be able to identify any potential pitfalls that might occur, as well as having up to date knowledge about planning permissions in your area. Experienced heritage engineers, will be able to work with your architect, structural engineers and surveyors, and may even be able to recommend ones with specific heritage expertise.

Depending on the type of renovation you are carrying out and the limitations provided by the planning authority you might have to consult Conservators whose job it is to ensure the repair and preservation of materials and objects, such as stained glass are maintained. It is also well worth spending time finding the right builder, someone who has completed similar work to yours and can work with the materials, for instance there might be a lot of cleaning of brickwork or stonework, so looking for references and taking a look at work they have carried out will be a good investment of your time.

Work to older buildings can often escalate due to unforeseen things that only become apparent as work commences and the building unfolds, things such as unsuitable foundations, exposing things beneath floors or behind walls, uncovering asbestos or lead paint. This is where working with heritage engineers from the outset might be very helpful.

Alan Wood & Partners are highly regarded and experienced in all aspects of heritage work and have heritage engineers in house with top level expertise, and have contributed significantly to the successful conservation, protection and adaptation of structures and landscapes of varying size and importance.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alanwood .