Listed buildings are buildings that have a special historical place and therefore there are many rules and regulations regarding their upkeep. When you buy a building that is listed, you are agreeing to become a custodian of a historical artefact and therefore, what you can and can’t do will be very different to the rules that surround more modern buildings.
Listed buildings often have a lot of character, and because they are older will have features that you will never find in a more modern home. Original fireplaces, exposed oak beams and special features and quirks are all part of the charm and a reason why many people will choose to buy a listed building.
Something that you, like many other homeowners may want to do when you own a listed building and live in it, is increase the space that you have available. Many people think that you are not able to build an extension onto a building that is listed, however, this is not true – it just requires more thought and planning than it might with a newer home.
One of the big things that can mean that planning permission will be rejected for example, is building a large extension that is overpowering to the original building. When you are planning an extension for a listed building, you will stand a better chance of having the permission granted for it if you keep it to the rear of the property and ensure that it is lower and smaller than the rest of the original building.
You also need to consider the materials that you use to build the extension. Modern materials are generally not going to be approved as they will not be in keeping with the look and design of the original structure – look instead at natural materials that would have been used then, like these oak extensions www.timberpride.co.uk/oak-framed-extension for example.
Adding new doors into walls that are old is also something that will need to be planned carefully, and it is wise to not only consider how this can be done whilst maintaining the original character of the building, but also getting a structural engineer involved so that it is done safely too.