Buying a grade II listed building

[Tommasi]

Anyone had any experience of it? What can you change and what can't you? Is it just the outside that has to look the same? Cheers

[Heeeed the Ball]

My advice is dont do it, unless you have lots and lots of money

[Hue Jorgan]

you can change nothing outside, and very very little inside the planners are (or were) very strict, I would suggest a call to the local planning dept, before you buy anything of this nature

A friend of mine bought a building of this nature, and if I recall correctly they even had a say in how it was decorated

[WheyHey]

Unless it is exactly what you want down to the last detail. Don't.

[WheyHey]

Originally Posted by Hue Jorgan

you can change nothing outside, and very very little inside the planners are (or were) very strict, I would suggest a call to the local planning dept, before you buy anything of this nature

A friend of mine bought a building of this nature, and if I recall correctly they even had a say in how it was decorated

That will be grade 1, grade 2 is a little easier but still a pain. Any house built or part built before 1840 is listed (2) not a lot of people know that.

[Skippy]

Yes and it's not that much of a pain to be honest. What you can and can't do depends on the building but it can apply to the inside as well as the outside (e.g. fireplaces, staircases and the like). Generally, I phone the council, explain what I'm thinking of doing and they give advice as to whether I need to apply for listed buildings consent (which is free).

[architect1976]

Grade II listing can include internal fittings such as architraves, skirtings, fireplaces etc. it can also include room layouts so you may not be able to knock down walls that you don't want.

As a point of interest we've just won at appeal an application to knock about a Grade 2 listed building in Pilgrim Street and that includes putting in a lift through 5 floors and a spiral through 3 floors.

If there's no planning history for the property then it's a good idea to do what you need to do before speaking to the planning department and then tell them it was already like that. But don't tell them I told you that. I recently had a client that moved an entire floor 3 feet lower and managed to convince the planners that's how it's always been.

[Heeeed the Ball]

Here is a simple example, I used to satay at hotel that was listed, the main garden wall 8 ft tall needed pointing, it cost 40k and it was 300 yards long because it had to be done in certain manner with rigorours checks.

Dont do it mate

[ravydavygravy]

Originally Posted by WheyHey

That will be grade 1, grade 2 is a little easier but still a pain. Any house built or part built before 1840 is listed (2) not a lot of people know that.

Source please?

[WheyHey]

Originally Posted by ravydavygravy

Source please?

Twas what I was told by the planning office. Hawld on I shall have a google.


there you go

http://www.heritage.co.uk/apavilions/glstb.html