Grade II Listed House

Entertainer

I am going to take a different view to the rest of you. We had a situation where we had a conservatory that we wanted to put up at the back of a Grade 2 listed house. All that was there was a 1960's built lean to- a brick wall, frames, no windows and a corrugated plastic roof open at both ends. The "Conservation" Officer got involved thanks to the builder that someone had foolishly recommended to us and he made us put everything back "like for like" even though it had no architectural or historical merit whatsoever. It was the easy option- like for like means they don't have to use their brains and make a judgement about anything.

So we ended up with a conservatory that cost thousands with big windows that can't be opened and that gets up to 107 F in the summer in there.:mad: Basically unusable. Just to show how ridiculous it was, down the road, there is a thatched property which had a brand new UPVC conservatory put on it at around the same. If I did it again I would never have had any dealings with the Conservation Officer, I would have removed what was there and started from scratch- they would never have known and the end result would have been better all round.

Needless to say we went ahead later and had the front door repainted (oooooh) and had a new gate, both of which technically needed listed building consent, without telling anyone.

Fire_Fox

I can't approve anyone doing anything that the conservation officer would never find out about, if every listed building owner did that eventually there would be nothing left to list! Listing isn't about the practicalities of modern day living, it's about respecting and preserving the building for the future. If you don't want to be constrained, don't buy a listed building.

Some experts believe you should use traditional materials and techniques and others believe modern additions or repairs should be obvious and honest - so a uPVC conservatory might be acceptable if it doesn't damage the original structure. I am not saying conservation get it right every time, but they get it right more often than cavalier homeowners.

PasturesNew

I knew this bloke, who got fined £10k for modernisation without permission:
http://www.scambs.gov.uk/pressreleases/pressrelease.htm?mode=10&pk_press_release=1091

Fire_Fox

Ouch £10K and he has probably devalued the property to boot! In South Cambs listed properties and original features are highly prized.

david29dpo

My next-door neighbours have just had wood effect plastic windows fitted to there listed barn. I was shocked they got permission but now i have seen them i must say there the best i have seen so far.

chappers

marcg wrote: »

Don't be entirely scared off though. The listing implies it must be a very pretty house so there's something...

May I point you in the direction of Plymouth Civic Centre