If your property is Grade I, II* or II listed, virtually any alteration — internal or external — requires Listed Building Consent (LBC) in addition to any planning permission. This includes changes that might seem minor: replacing windows, removing internal walls, altering fireplaces, or even changing the colour of external paintwork.
Carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building is a criminal offence under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Prosecution can result in unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. More commonly, the local authority will serve an enforcement notice requiring you to reverse the work at your own expense.
The LBC application process is broadly similar to a planning application, but with additional requirements. You will typically need a Heritage Statement explaining the significance of the building and how your proposals will affect that significance. For more substantial works, a structural survey, archaeological assessment or bat survey may also be required.
Conservation officers are your most important consultants throughout this process. We always recommend pre-application discussions — most local authorities offer these formally, and the informal advice can be invaluable. A good conservation officer will tell you what they are likely to support before you invest in full design drawings.
At Hartwell & Stone, our heritage team is led by Eleanor Graves, who holds an MSc in Building Conservation from the University of Bath and spent eight years with Donald Insall Associates. We work with traditional lime mortars, hand-forged ironmongery, conservation-grade timber and historically appropriate glazing. Our approach is always to repair rather than replace, and to introduce modern comforts without compromising historic character.
Recent projects include the restoration of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Chelmsford — which won the LABC Building Excellence Award for Best Residential Renovation in 2024 — and the conversion of an 1870s Congregational chapel in Rayleigh.