Listed buildings

[Moony]

Anyone here got any experience of living in/ dealing with listed buildings in england (or equivilant scot/NI,etc?) I'm looking at moving to a grade II listed cottage in the country with a lovely big garden, but I'd like to know if anyone has tried to, for example, get permission for Solar PV, add outbuildings within the curtilege or make any other changes to make an old building more sustainable (and cheaper to run ) Another change I'd be looking at would be to replace the old, inefficient (and expensive) oil-fired boiler with a new solid fuelled range for hot water/heating and cooking. Unfortunately this would likely require knocking a hole through the wall / roof-line for the chimney/flue - what are the chances that this might be allowed ?

This (potential) property is also in a conservation area, though the restrictions of listed building consent probably already outweigh those types of restrictions.

[Hamradioop]

I would be speaking to the local Planning officer and seek their views on what you want to do. As for the oil heating, I cannot see replacing that as a problem. Can you not use the original chimney with appropriate Liners? Assuming their is a chimney of course. What grade listing is it as that also affects what you can do.

English Heritage http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/prof ... nsent/lbc/

[Moony]

Unfortunately the chimney is in the living room (with wood burner), not the kitchen. The current oil boiler (+flue) is in a small utility room off the back of the house not where I want to be cooking on a range, hence the need for a new flue in the kitchen and potentially putting a hole in a very old wall

[TorNicho]

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/

Here is the governments 'planning permission' website.

I think you will run into some issues. Listed buildings are a difficult area.

[tigs]

it also depends on how the local planning interpret the laws too , we could not put pv panels on the house (grade 2 listed) but on the barn and other out buildings (that are also grade2 listed) ?? in some areas they wont let you even do that !

[hillingdonpete]

its the local parish council you need to be worrying about,if you have one!!!
they are a breed apart.
they will cause you problems you never even new existed
those people object to the sun rising in the East.

[Hamradioop]

its the local parish council you need to be worrying about,if you have one!!!
they are a breed apart.
they will cause you problems you never even new existed
those people object to the sun rising in the East.

Mainly because they are all NIMBYs and incomers. They object to keeping cockerels in a country area.

[Plymtom]

Keep in mind that central heating hasn't been around in the sort of boiler form you are talking about to get grade 2 listing, chances are theres a great deal of things you can do, grade 1 is harder, scheduled ancient monument,worse againl, but listed buildings are generally able to be modified to allow modern living, I've looked at them on these expensive estate agents sites when dreaming of lottery wins roofs, windows, features generally are requiring preserving but a random flue hole in an otherwise plain wall, will probably be no problem, you just need to talk to them (EH) thats the start point.

[junmist]

yeap thats what you need to do first talk to the listing building officer and then the planing officer you might find that they will let you do things but make you use certain materials to keep the character of the property

[Moony]

Thanks for the replies everyone ! I've got an appointment with my mortgage advisor to see if they'll fit a new chain around my neck
It'd be great prepping property (for my circumstances at least) apart from the formentioned heating issues.