Grade II Listed - Advice

[Marmora Man]

Mrs & Mrs Marmoraman are moving westward - leaving the joys of London and East Dulwich for a more relaxed life in Cornwall. We will miss this place - and, before I go, I'll detail what it is we'll miss in some detail (with thanks to so many people) but for now I'm seeking advice.

Still looking for the right place in Cornwall but we have spotted a Grade II Listed building "in need of some decorative repair" - aka "falling down".

Falling upon the wisdom of this forum I wonder - can anyone tell me if I would be allowed to add an extra room (conservatory / summer room etc) on to to such a listed building?

[womanofdulwich]

i think each local authority is different i would speak to a local architect there.au revoir

[Alan Medic]

Hope you are making the right decision. I had friends who made that move and ended up in Queensland. Boy did they have a beautiful place near Penzance though. But they were them and you are you. Lovely part of the world.

[ClareC]

Friends of mine have a grade 2 listed place in Hampshire, they were allowed to extend but this was subject to everything being in keeping etc ie specific windows etc (basically the build cost more).

Worth speaking with the LA - in my experience they are very helpful in this situation.

[stacey-lyn]

Yes, check with the local authority's planning department but also look at the other grade 2 listed properties around yours and see if they've had any such work done. If you find one that has, then things are looking up for you. Speak to the owners and take it from there. Good luck.

[Huggers]

Hi Marmora Man, our extended family owns a Grade 2 listed house in Bognor Regis and you have to be very very careful of everything you do.

We replaced our rotted wooden sash windows with custom made wooden sash windows- four bays, which was extortionate- only to find the council on our doorstep because we had used strengthened glass. I mean strengthened, not double glazed or anything.

We had to remove two of the completed windows and do them again and then apply for planning permission to get the strengthened glass accepted on the upper storey (to prevent anyone falling through them!) We eventually got it. It added about four grand to the works on the house.

We were in total ignorance of the grade 2 status after 30 years of ownership as the Grade 2 status was somehow forgotten/not known about/unaknowledged during the purchase in the eightees.

The roof had to be repaired according to strict guidelines- it has a lead roof which most builders now replace with silicone or something for longetivity and to prevent theft. But we had to have lead.

Also it had a valley roof which meant the original gutter runs through the roof space itself. A recent rainstorm flooded it, brought down a ceiling and was not covered by insurance as it is 'escape of water from a gutter.' It's a historic gutter, we can't change it.

At least you have foreknowledge. But remember you may have to seek permission for everything you do, from painting the outside to repairing a gutter.

The Listed Property Owners Club is a very useful source of information, with lists of suppliers of specialist things, advice on planning etc.

Re extensions it is not just a question of the council's approval! It's English Heritage or whoever!

hope that helps!

[EPB]

When you have the privilege of owning a listed building you are, first and foremost, the custodian of a piece of our history and, however sympathetic the local authority may be, their main concern has to be the well-being of the building.

The best source of advice that I've come across is Period Property.co.uk. It's a rich source of information, and has a very lively forum where you'll meet people who are (or have been) working on a huge variety of old buildings, together with some real experts - even a few Conservation Officers!

[Annette Curtain]

Do watch this film first, it'll stand you in good stead.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzODEzODE2OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjQ3ODcyMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR8,0,214,317_.jpg

[Marmora Man]

Annette Curtain Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Do watch this film first, it'll stand you in good

> stead.

>

> http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzODEzODE2

> OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjQ3ODcyMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR8,0,2

> 14,317_.jpg

Nothing came up - but I suspect you may have been referring to The Money Pit??