Heritage and listed buildings are special homes to live in. If you’re planning to alter or renovate a historic building, you’ll need to find a heritage property specialist near you who can guide you through permissions, consents and costs.
Here’s how to preserve your little slice of history with the expertise of a heritage consultant near you.
How to find a heritage property specialist near you
Heritage property conservation and management is a niche service so you’ll want to make sure you’re finding the most trusted and reputable specialists.
Finding a heritage property specialist in your area is quick and easy with Checkatrade. Only trades who pass our checks and meet our high standards are on Checkatrade.
Enter your postcode into the search box below to browse a list of heritage consultants who can help with your project.
Short on time? Request a quote and we’ll get some of our approved members to contact you directly.
Your questions answered about heritage consultants near you
What is the role of a heritage consultant?
Old houses and listed buildings are a privilege to live in but require a lot of love and attention. As such, it’s essential you take extreme care with any home improvements and updates to ensure you don’t damage something priceless.
So, if you’re the owner of a characterful, historic home, you’ll want to find expert heritage consultants near you. They can support the aim of your project, assessing what can and can’t be done, both inside and outside of the property.
A heritage consultant is a professional trained in the management of the historic environment including listed buildings, scheduled monuments and registered gardens. Their role is to support the aim of your project while promoting the sustainable development of historic buildings and sites.
They might have different specialisms including expertise in the planning system or obtaining listed building consents. But, however big or small your job, a heritage consultant can help guide you through any work while making sure significant elements are enhanced or preserved.
Services a heritage consultant might offer include:
- Heritage impact assessments
- Listed building consent applications
- Historical research & archive building records
- Conservation management plans
- Assessments of significance
- Assistance with grant funding from Historic England and the National Lottery.
- Consultation with Local Authorities
Do I need a heritage consultant?
If you’re the owner of a heritage property, there will be challenges when it comes to refurbishing and altering certain aspects of the building.
That’s why even the most competent DIY-yer or renovator will need the expertise of a professional heritage consultant near you. How much help and guidance you need will depend on the complexity of the job and your own skillset.
However, to ensure your heritage home is preserved correctly for the future, some elements must always be undertaken by a skilled professional.
These might include the following:
- Expert advisers for assessment, design, specification and gaining the necessary consents
- Specialist craftspeople to carry out work requiring particular heritage materials or techniques
- Skilled trades to undertake general building work and conventional installations
Heritage property consultants can support clients in assessing the viability of their schemes and the potential opportunities and risks, in order to promote the sustainable development of the historic environment.
Do I need a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA)/Heritage Statement?
You might require an HIA for planning applications that are within or close to something of age and significance. This includes conservation areas, areas with known listed buildings or for Listed Building Consent.
It is vital you speak to a professional heritage consultant as early as possible who can help prepare a Heritage Statement to accompany your planning application.
These specialist heritage reports are completed according to Historic England guidelines and other planning requirements.
What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2 Listed buildings?
Listed buildings are given a grade depending on their historical or architectural interest level.
For example, Grade 1 applies to buildings of exceptional interest and Grade 2 applies to buildings of special interest. As such, Grade 2 listed building renovation rules are less strict than they are for Grade 1 buildings.
Despite the guidelines being more relaxed for Grade 2 structures, you’ll still need to obtain listed building consent before making any changes.
Check out our listed building consent guide for more information.
You’ll need consent for Grade 2 listed building renovations in the following circumstances:
- Internal changes
- Renovations
- Repairs that alter your home in any way
- Extensions
- Changing to a different type of window
Another issue to consider surrounds Grade 2 listed building renovation costs. It’s important to note that any home alterations will require the correct materials and techniques to be used.
This can increase Grade 2 listed building renovation costs by up to 50%. So, always ensure you prepare for this when budgeting.
What happens if I do works without getting Listed Building consent?
It is a criminal offence to alter a listed building (that requires consent) without permission. So always double-check before you do anything!
- The maximum penalty is two years’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine
- It is also an offence to fail to adhere to a condition attached to a listed building consent
- The offence is committed by the person who carried out the works and by anyone who instructed the work to be carried out
- When you buy a listed building, you inherit the unauthorised work undertaken by previous owners and may be required to reverse the alteration
We recommend working with heritage builders near you with experience of working on listed buildings including the correct materials to use and legal requirements of obtaining consent.
How do I find the best heritage consultants and builders near me?
1. Use Checkatrade
You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our checks on Checkatrade. On average, our trades score 9 out of 10 on everything from reliability to tidiness.
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
2. Read online reviews
Check online reviews to see how other people rated their experience. We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.
3. Ask for recommendations
Recommendations from family and friends are priceless. Ask around locally to see if anyone can recommend a reliable heritage consultant near you.
Don’t forget to look those recommendations up on Checkatrade!
Ready to find a heritage property specialist near you? Enter your postcode in the box below to see who comes highly rated in your area.