Grade-Listed Building Extensions & Conservation Projects

"Listing is not a preservation order, preventing change. It does not freeze a building in time... Listed buildings are to be enjoyed and used, like any other buildings." – Historic England

We share this pragmatic approach. Listed buildings - whether Grade I, II* or II - can be successfully extended, converted and modernised whilst preserving their special architectural and historical interest.

Our experience spans Georgian townhouses, Victorian mills, medieval barns and early 20th-century industrial structures across Somerset, Devon and West Dorset. We navigate the additional planning requirements that listed buildings require, securing Listed Building Consent alongside planning permission.

We prepare comprehensive applications including:

Heritage Statements – Assessing significance and demonstrating how proposals respect historic character whilst delivering functional improvements

Measured Surveys – Accurate documentation of existing fabric, structural elements and historic features

Design & Access Statements – Explaining design rationale and how proposals enhance the building's long-term preservation

3D Visualisations – Helping conservation officers and planning committees understand proposed interventions

Specialist Reports Coordination – assisting with structural engineers, heritage consultants and archaeological assessments where required

What's Required for Listed Building Alterations

Any work affecting a listed building's character requires Listed Building Consent in addition to standard planning permission. This includes internal alterations, external changes, and even some repairs depending on scope.

Our Approach to Historic Building Alterations

Sympathetic Design that Respects Heritage. Successful listed building projects balance preservation with practical modernisation. We design extensions and alterations that are clearly distinguishable from original fabric or follow original detailing whilst using complementary materials and proportions, depending on the building, architecture, planning considerations and merits of the individual project. We research architectural context and local vernacular before proposing solutions, consult Conservation Officers, prioritise repair and reuse over replacement of historic fabric and ensure thermal upgrades meet Building Regulations without harming character.

Common Projects We Handle

Listed building owners typically approach us for: sympathetic extensions, loft conversions preserving roof structures, window replacements matching original patterns, internal reconfigurations improving usability, conversion of ancillary buildings (barns, stables, coach houses) and upgrading services (heating, insulation) whilst protecting historic features.

Grade II Victorian Waterworks Conversion

Case Study: Grade II Victorian Waterworks Conversion

Project: Industrial building conversion, c.1890

Location: Historic market town centre

Listing: Grade II

This conversion of a disused Victorian waterworks demonstrates how carefully positioned window insertions can transform dark industrial spaces into bright residential accommodation without compromising historic character.

Challenge: The original building had minimal fenestration (window openings), making the residential interior space problematic without adequate natural light.

Solution: We secured Listed Building Consent for first and second-floor window insertions positioned to respect the building's industrial proportions and structural rhythm. Window design referenced industrial metalwork detailing appropriate to the 1890s construction date.

Outcome: The additional glazing enabled full internal remodelling whilst the Conservation Officer praised the sensitive approach to a significant industrial heritage asset.

1890s Industrial Building The Old Waterworks
Brick building with a sloped roof, two large windows on the front, three parked cars in front, and neighboring buildings to the sides under cloudy sky.
Architectural floor plans of a multi-story building with existing ground, first, and second floors, along with north-east and south-east elevation views.
Architectural drawings of a house, including proposed ground, first, and second floor plans, and east and southeast elevation views.

1909 Village Hall Extension

Project

Case Study: 1909 Village Hall Extension & Refurbishment

Project: Community building extension and restoration  

Built: 1909 as reading room  

Location: Village conservation area

This project combined substantial fabric and envelope repairs addressing, thermal efficiency, damp and deterioration with a modest single-storey extension providing accessible toilet facilities and improved and larger entrance lobby.

Challenge: Balance modernising a failing community asset whilst respecting its Edwardian architectural character and prominent village location.

Solution: complying with conservation requirements the extension uses a deliberately subservient design - lower roofline, wall setbacks - ensuring it reads as a later addition. Internally, we upgraded energy performance and addressed structural issues whilst retaining original joinery, flooring and architectural details.

Outcome: Planning approval secured community facility improvements for the next century whilst preserving the building's architectural integrity and village character.

1909 Stone Built Village Hall
A historic stone house with a grey shingle roof, surrounded by green grass and trees, on a cloudy day.
Stone house with a sloped gray roof, large windows, a porch with black railing, and a wheelchair-accessible ramp, surrounded by green grass and trees.
Architectural elevation drawings of a two-story house in four views: southeast facing, northeast facing, and northwest facing, showing windows, doors, and roof details.
Floor plan layout of a building including lobby, entrance, kitchen, chair store, hall, and restrooms.

Grade II Listed Mill Loft Conversion

Case Study: Grade II Listed Mill Loft Conversion

Project: Loft conversion creating additional bedroom accommodation  

Period: 19th-century former mill dwelling  

Listing: Grade II

This loft conversion demonstrates how roof spaces in listed buildings can be utilised without harming significant historic roof structures.

Challenge: Create usable accommodation whilst preserving original timber framing, purlins and roof structure identified as important to the building's listing.

Solution: We designed a conversion strategy leaving principal roof timbers exposed as architectural features. Stair insertion was positioned to minimise impact on room layouts below. All interventions complied with fire safety regulations whilst using reversible construction methods.

Outcome: Listed Building Consent granted, with the conservation officer noting the careful approach to preserving structural heritage whilst delivering modern functionality.

19th Century Mill Building
Backyard garden with lush greenery, potted plants, outdoor furniture, and a stone patio, adjacent to a yellow and stone house.
Yellow old house with multiple windows and a rounded bay window, surrounded by green bushes and trees, on a garden lawn, with a cloudy sky.
Stone church-like building with arched windows and a slate roof, surrounded by brick walls and parked cars in the foreground.
Three cars parked in front of a stone building with an uneven stone wall on the left and extension scaffolding on the right. The cars are an Audi, a Mitsubishi, and a Volkswagen, parked on a gravel surface in a residential area.
Architectural floor plan drawings showing existing and proposed layouts for the first and second floors of a house, including bedroom, bathroom, and staircase arrangements and modifications.
Architectural blueprint of a house, showing elevation views, cross-section, and roof details.
Architectural blueprint of a house showing north-west hidden roof elevation, cross-section elevation, south-east proposed elevation, and north-east proposed elevation with detailed roof and wall features.

Working on a Listed Building Project?

Listed building work requires specialist knowledge of conservation principles, planning policy and appropriate construction techniques. Contact us to discuss your project and review our experience with properties similar to yours. We offer pre-application advice consultations to assess feasibility before you commit to formal applications.