Listed Buildings

Did you know that as many as 80% of the home improvement projects that we manage for our customers are in conservation areas or involve listed buildings?

When you want to make changes to listed houses or those in conservation areas, it’s vital to make sure that you have a project management company, like Llama, who knows what they are doing – or your new dream home could end up being a nightmare.

You’ll know if your property is a listed building, currently in the UK there are around half a million listed buildings.

A listed building cannot be demolished, altered or extended without special permission from your local planning authority. You may also have to maintain and repair your property and in some cases can face prosecution if you fail to do so or attempt any unauthorised alterations.

So this poses a real issue if you’ve bought a run-down building with listed status or that’s in a conservation area, and want to renovate it into a home.

Firstly, you’ve got to jump through a lot of hoops to get permission in the first place, and you may even find that your options to make changes are heavily restricted. And even when alternations are permitted, you’ll usually have to make sure that you use specific materials or techniques, which can make your renovation very expensive.

So when dealing with listed building or conservation area home improvement, it’s even more important to have someone who knows the sector, because it’s so easy to get it wrong. For instance, did you know that any internal changes you want to make also need permission? Examples such as installing new windows and doors, changing a fireplace or even the installation of television aerials and alarms need prior consent.

At Llama, we’ve many years of experience in ensuring that any listed buildings or those in conservation areas get the necessary permission and that your new home meets both your needs and that of your local authority.

Running a home improvement project involving a listed building or conservation area is a time-consuming business. There is a lot of negotiation, which can take weeks and even months, between you and the council to ensure you get what you want without falling foul of the rules. With our many years of experience, we have a solid understanding about what will and won’t be allowed.

Because home improvements and renovations involving listed buildings and conservation areas are so complex, many project management companies, and indeed builders, are reluctant to take them on or have little experience. Especially in areas of the UK where these types of building are less common.

So if you’ve got a listed building, or a property in a conservation area, before you make any plans call in the experts at Llama Developments. The sooner we get involved in your project, the better the outcome for you. We deal with all the different parties required, including not only the local authorities but also builders, joiners, architects and other tradesmen, to get your project off the ground. We ensure smooth-running from start to finish, even sourcing any necessary specialist materials or using specific techniques to satisfy your local council.