Listed Building Architect

The Practice has specialist experience working on interventions, extensions, modifications and repairs to Listed Buildings and Historic properties.

As Architects working across London and the SouthEast we encounter historic assets on a daily basis. Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian properties make up the majority of buildings within Central London Boroughs. Some are recognised by local Planning Departments as having positive qualities and protected them using a various means:

• Conservation area status
• Locally Listed Building
• Listed Building

Conservation Areas help to preserve and showcase some truly beautiful Architectural solutions by controlling what can be undertaken in terms of alterations, material changes and extensions. Some Conservation Areas are more stringent than others. Local Authorities publish Conservation Area guidance documents on their websites providing historic data and information to allow residents to know how to proceed if considering any alterations, repairs or extensions.

Locally Listed Buildings are those which add value to a streetscene or character of an Area by the fact they are an irreplaceable historic asset. These will likely have quality materials and design or arrangements which help to raise the Architectural quality within the locality.

Listed Buildings have stood the test of time, being of special Architectural and/or Historic Interest. A well-known example of a Listed Building is St. Pauls Cathedral by Sir Christopher Wren. A possibly lesser known example is the ‘Brutalist’ Barbican Centre by Chamberlin Powell & Bon. To some the Barbican Centre is not attractive Architecture however it is recognised as being ‘arguably the greatest piece of urban architecture of post-war Britain’ by Historic England.

All Listed Buildings must be preserved for future generations and therefore any changes, maintenance alterations or extensions must be formally approved by submitting a Planning and a Listed Building Application to the relevant Planning Department. Listed buildings have extra legal protection within the planning system.

When an Historic Asset is Listed, a description will be given to detail the unique character and reasons. Whilst this Listing description may reference specific areas of a property, it must be remembered that the Whole Asset is protected including all elements from ridge to floor, external wall to floor beam. Any changes must have formal approval from  Planning and Conservation Officers prior to works being undertaken. It is likely that some form of ‘harm’ will have occurred over the lifespan of the Building. It is critical to record and evidence any known changes once discovered so that a better understanding of the historical form and integrity of the asset can be updated.