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There are about 370,000 listed buildings in the UK
and 8,000 designated conservation areas. All listed
buildings are subject to more stringent planning controls
than other properties and Listed Building Consent is
required from the Local Council before even minor changes
affecting the interior or exterior character of the
building can be carried out. Any significant alterations
may have to be referred to English Heritage for approval.
The Country
Land & Business Association has been lobbying
Government to provide means for building owners to appeal
against a listing and also to define exactly what features
such a listing deems to be important.
Typical changes that require planning
approval:
Renewing doors, windows, roof tiling,
and any changes to outer walls.
plus additions or structural alterations
such as
roof lights, new dormers, TV aerials,
satellite dishes, knocking through walls to create new
doorways, removing fireplaces, moving internal walls,
moving staircases and removal of panelling.
Conservation Areas - General Information
The 8000 areas now designated include
country houses, complete villages, canals, and 18th
and 19th century streets in towns. Council powers are
extensive in these areas and cover demolition, minor
developments and the protection of trees and hedgerows.
Gardens, parks, street furniture, paving, road layout
and open spaces such as greens are all covered by these
powers. Any tree in a conservation area is protected
regardless of whether it has a Tree Protection Order
on it or not and permission is required before it is
lopped or cut down. (This applies to all trees with
a trunk diameter greater than 100mm 1m above the ground.).
A fine up to £20,000 can be applied if a protected
tree is damaged or felled.
Planning permission is required for almost
all changes in a conservation area. These include replacement
windows, new porches and even the erection of garden
sheds if these are large. Plans may be required and
the name of a designated builder(s) may also be required.
Most 18th and 19th century building will
need special materials, such as lime-rich mortars and
clay roof tiles. Wooden doors and windows will also
need to retain their form when renovated and other special
skills will be required to renovate interiors.
Choosing tradesmen
Although personal recomendation
is helpful it is worth asking your builder or tradesman
if he is a member of a recognised trade association
and whether he has an insurance-backed warranty (such
as Masterbond) that covers faulty workmanship and materials
as well as insolvency.
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