When working in conservation areas and listed buildings, preservation is more than an aesthetic concern. It is illegal to alter or damage original fabric in protected buildings, and many conservation areas place restrictions on their appearance. Our London restoration projects comply with all guidelines from the local planning authority.
If you don’t hire contractors who know how to work with period buildings, you may be ordered to reverse the works, pay hefty fines or even face prosecution. The property owner is always liable for any breaches of planning law or damage to historic fabric.
In listed buildings, the entire structure is protected, inside and out. You should never assume that you can perform any work without planning permission and historic buildings consent, no matter how minor.
In 2015, a property developer who refurbished a Grade II listed Georgian house in Wales was ordered to pay a £300,000 fine or face a 20 month prison sentence. This is an extreme example, but less headline-grabbing stories happen all the time.