is there a difference between conservation and listed?

stolt

Is there any difference and does it mean that if a house is in a conservation area you have to get approval for everything you do to it.


actually just re read it and its in a conservation area..... is that good or bad?

Doozergirl

In a conservation area, the aim is to keep the exterior of the properties looking original; mainly what you see from the front.

Things like windows, doors and brickwork should be as in keeping with the original as possible. You can do what you like inside.

Listed Buildings (eg. Grade II), you have to have Listed Building Consent permission for all external works and any structural alterations within the house.

My local council produces a leaflet for each of the conservation areas within it's boundaries. You might want to see if your local council does similar.

I think conservation areas are a wonderful thing. If you like what you see in the street, it's unlikely to change much; no dodgy stone cladding or romanesque pillars! You will pay a premium to live in a conservation area though!

seven-day-weekend

Yes there is a difference.

You cannot put a nail in a Listed Building without consent. Any repairs/renovations have to be with original materials, which can be tremendously expensive. The Listing applies to the property. It may or may not be in a Conservation area. Listed Buildings are designated by National Government.

A Conservation Area is a nice place to live. There are not so many regulations as with a Listed Building (although more than somewhere that is not a CA). Your house may or may not be Listed if it is in a Conservation Area. CAs are designated by your local Council.

Having worked in Planning for ten years, I wouldn't touch a Listed Building with a bargepole. I would however consider a place in a Conservation Area.

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/legislation/legislation.htm

stolt

thank you very much for your replies, thats good then the conservation area sounds really nice, i'm not into stone cladding so thats lucky. I'll think i'll pop along to look at this house today.

Doozergirl

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

You cannot put a nail in a Listed Building without consent. Any repairs/renovations have to be with original materials, which can be tremendously expensive.

With respect, I'm a bit surprised that having worked in planning, you don't realise that your comments aren't strictly true.

Depending on the type of listing you can absolutely put a nail in a wall. To say not would be an exaggeration and one which most people would take literally to mean any type of nail. The vast majorty of listed buildings are Grade II and whilst common sense structural alterations need consent, you are still clear to do pretty much what you like with the interior.

Part of the purpose of a building being listed is that people now and in the future can read the history and evolution of a property. Original materials are not always required for this reason and if your 16th century house has plastic guttering when you buy it, then plastic guttering you can replace it with under this reasoning.

In many cases, if you were to add an extension to a listed building, rather than see traditional materials used, they would like to see a more modern type of build that would clearly contrast with the original.

seven-day-weekend

Dozergirl, I was talking a little tongue-in-cheek, and was intending to convey the fact that you do need permission for lots of stuff (not necessarily everything) in a Listed Building.

Also you may not be able to do as you wish with the interior. It may be part of the Listing.

I was trying to give a 'broad brush' picture as I only had a few sentences to do it in.