When you visit England, it's difficult not to notice that we are proud of our history and culture. Our architecture most prominently displays our rich heritage, notably historic castles, houses of the past and other listed buildings up and down the country.

Although most of these are public buildings such as large libraries and churches, it is possible to find listed buildings used for residential and commercial dwellings.

Working with many listed building architects is challenging as they are under strict planning regulations due to their listed status. Our architects have worked with various buildings and structures; they have years of experience. There are currently three tiers of grades for listed buildings, and they are as follows:

As you may expect, each grade category has its own planning restrictions. These help professionals and clients define what can and cannot be built and altered. Such applies to the internal and external fabric and features, even as part of restoration projects.

For example, extending listed houses or properties can be tricky and require extensive planning and approval. You must consider historic preservation rules and possibly consult with heritage experts. Ensure your plans comply with local building regulations to avoid fines or project delays.

Seeking professional advice on the subject is essential, especially when dealing with larger projects, as they have worked on many projects. If you have purchased or are considering buying a listed building, it's essential to investigate the planning flexibility.

Consulting with talented architects is highly recommended because they have the knowledge and experience to liaise with the planning officers and produce a property design that adheres to strict guidelines.

Architect Heathfield has plenty of experience working with historic and listed buildings for all purposes, including converting or renovating them for residential dwellings. 

Our proposals and approach are highly sympathetic to the original building features and materials across Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex. Yet, we intend to incorporate new and practical design solutions for your desired changes and alterations.

These alterations can take many forms for example, extending properties, adding storeys to houses or buildings, and remodelling the interior or exterior. We will establish your expectations and aspirations for the building from the initial consultation.

Whether you want to convert a large, modern commercial building into a set of residential apartments or renovate a 16th thatched cottage into your dream home, look no further. You can count on us to provide a tailored solution for various works, including listed buildings and houses.

Our architects will be more than happy to help you take a project to the planning decision stage, including developing a complete planning application. If you would like to arrange a consultation with our architects to discuss your project in more detail, please don't hesitate to call and get in touch. We ensure you speak with a knowledgeable team member about your ideas.

However, we are just as experienced with commercial structures and with housing. As professional listed building architects, we understand the work's practical necessities and are experts in the relevant property regulations for working on listed buildings. As you can imagine, working on historic buildings is a sensitive job.  

This is especially true for those who wish to add more modern features to the interior or exterior of historical areas or buildings. 

We also have significant experience in contemporary and traditional building methods and design, making us the perfect architects for restoring or modifying listed buildings. Our specialists work closely with clients on all heritage and conservation projects. Contact us today for more information. 

 Listed Buildings

As mentioned, we are experts in preserving and modifying Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III listed buildings. We understand each category thoroughly, so we'll work hard to find solutions for every project. Again, this is a delicate procedure, and you must pay significant attention to the property's relevant regulations.

We take great pride in our expertise in this field and have a universal understanding of the building methods and practices necessary to complete such work. Our design team has all the appropriate training necessary to undertake modern construction work on listed buildings.

As RIBA-certified Chartered Architects, we provide the professional design and project management expertise necessary to carry out work on listed buildings successfully. 

 Churches and Ancient Buildings

One of the most important things to consider when making alterations to listed buildings and houses is the planning permission and any regulations that prevent certain types of work. This is particularly important for places of worship, such as churches and any other structure of significant age.

Therefore, we are happy to offer our technical expertise, with thorough knowledge of the listed building techniques and inspection methods necessary first to conceptualise this work.

This original inspection will help you attain the correct permits and permission to carry out the work. You must obtain the necessary listed building consent to proceed with your projects. We can also assist with this and any other legal requirements before the work begins.

Preserving is essential, but we will do our best to stick to your ideas and improve your chosen building or area as best as possible. Alongside inspections and regulations, we can also offer professional advice on where you can obtain funding to help the work go ahead.

Additionally, our architects have an extensive list of local contractors covering East Sussex and West Sussex who we work with and trust to complete the project. Contact us today, and we'll do everything to help you. 

Listed Buildings Architects Near Me

Contact Architect Heathfield today! Our listed buildings architects are available throughout Sussex, Kent, Surrey and London including the areas below.