Many people are daunted by the prospect of purchasing a listed building; new and seasoned owners of designated buildings often understandably have concerns about how to navigate a regularly evolving, and complicated planning system. Even if your building is not listed, it may be within the curtilage of one that is, registered as an important local heritage asset or within a Conservation Area, resulting in your planning application attracting similar scrutiny from the local Planning Department and Conservation Officers to that of a designated heritage asset. This is where an experienced Heritage Consultant can help you.
I provide planning advice to homeowners, professional organisations and charitable organisations who are responsible for historic buildings, whether they be residential, commercial or municipal. I have experience of small projects, to Expert Witness at Public Inquiries, and have the benefit of working alongside industry professionals with a wealth of experience and knowledge.
I specialise in planning applications and Listed Building Consents, providing well researched, robust and straightforward Heritage Statements, which will support your application by helping Conservation and Planning Officers understand what the changes are, why they are needed, and why they are acceptable.
I evaluate how each application needs to be approached, drawing on advice from the National Planning Policy Framework, Historic England, individual Local Plan and Conservation Area policy, tailoring each application in order to achieve a successful outcome for my clients.
Engage with a heritage professional at an early stage
Planning and design applications
It is important to engage with a heritage professional at an early stage, so that you can be advised on the opportunities and constraints that apply to each individual scheme. This will save you time and money in the long term. A good Heritage Consultant will be honest with you about your aspirations for the building. I assist in overcoming potential obstacles that may render your application unacceptable to your local Planning Department. Good design is imperative to a successful outcome; I work alongside talented and experienced Architects who will create a good design brief.
It is imperative that development does not adversely impact upon the significance or setting of the building, and if there is an impact, it must be assessed and justified in order for that building to sensitively transition into the 21st Century.
Call for an informal, no obligation discussion.
The planning application process
The planning application process need not be a complicated journey if the correct process is followed. Development law and policy is not in place to unreasonably restrict development or change to listed buildings; it is there to provide a structured framework which ensures sensitive and considerate change within our historic environment so that local character and architecture can be preserved for the enjoyment of our future generations.
