If you own a listed building, you need to be aware of what changes you can and cannot make, based on the listing level and the legal processes involved. If you need the building cleaned, it is vital to ensure you do so within the law.
Listed Building Consent is something you will need to seek to make any changes that will materially alter the character of a building. Key points to know are:
- This applies to all listed buildings
- You must apply to your local planning authority
- Failure to do so is a criminal offence
Even work like sandblasting stone to remove grime and return the exterior of an old building to its original state will require permission.
How Is Listed Building Consent Law Changing?
It is also important to be aware of the law even if such sandblasting work is required as part of the preparation of walls for retrofitting, which will now be permitted in England after the government was successfully lobbied over the issue by the Duke of Westminster.
He had argued that current listed building consent restrictions could prevent the steps required to ensure dwellings in listed buildings meet energy efficiency rules, which would render them obsolete. The government conceded the argument last month.
The Duke’s residential property holdings include 1,500 listed buildings, The Independent reported.
Under the new National Policy Planning Framework, retrofits in such circumstances will be classed as “important public benefits”.
However, it is important to note that this does not mean the abolition of the law. It will remain in place with this one amendment and any work will still need consent. The change simply means that permission can now be obtained for measures that were previously prohibited.
Moreover, it is always vital to ensure that the work is carried out by qualified experts to ensure there is no error that could lead to serious damage to the fabric of the building, which could land you in trouble.
No matter how the law may change, remaining compliant with it is vital, which is why you should always work with specialists in the field.
