TOP TIPS FOR WORKING ON LISTED BUILDINGS

According to Historic England, there are approximately 386,000 Grade II listed buildings across the country. These beloved buildings are recognised as being of special historic or architectural interest, and every effort must be made to preserve them. Many have become cherished local landmarks and national treasures, contributing to the historic charm of our towns, villages, and cities.

But what does it truly mean to care for a listed building?

Below we have listed our top 5 issues to keep in mind when planning any work to older buildings and especially listed buildings:

1.    Before planning any maintenance work, it’s important to find out the buildings status and what any potential listing covers.

Listed buildings fall into one of three categories:

Grade I – Buildings of exceptional interest

Grade II* – Particularly important buildings of more than special interest

Grade II – Buildings of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them

2.    Listed buildings come with a rich history, so it’s important that any changes you make respect their character. Any maintenance work, repairs or modernisations must try to preserve the building’s integrity and celebrate its traditional features.

3.    The listing often doesn’t just cover the building itself. It can also include anything attached to it, as well as structures or items within the grounds — as long as they’ve been there since before July 1948. That could be anything from an outbuilding or a boundary wall to a fountain, or even statues in some cases.

4.    A new owner can end up responsible for work done without Listed Building Consent.
It’s not unusual for previous owners to have made changes that needed consent but either didn’t get it or didn’t follow the approved plans properly. Owning a property with unauthorised work isn’t a crime, but the local authority can issue an enforcement notice.

5.    When looking after a listed building, it’s vital to get advice from professionals who understand the rules – including specialist solicitors, architects, surveyors, and builders. Just as important is making sure any work is carried out by experienced, qualified engineers, like the team at AM Planned Maintenance.

At AM Planned Maintenance, we are experts in the sensitive and respectful upkeep of listed properties. Our team understands the responsibility and precision required when working with these irreplaceable parts of our national heritage.

Take, for example, a recent project at a 17th-century Grade II listed pub. Where one of our skilled engineers spent a sunny day—not enjoying a pint in the beer garden—but carefully repairing a 375-year-old cobblestone wall that was at risk of collapse.

Built in 1650, this historic Norfolk pub has been at the heart of village life for over 350 years, and as such, is protected by strict Grade II listing regulations. These regulations prohibit any “material change” to the structure, meaning that preservation must be as faithful to the original as possible.

Our engineer meticulously salvaged and reused the original cobblestones, incorporated period-appropriate supports, and used a traditional lime mortar mix to rebuild the wall in the original style. The result? A seamless restoration designed to blend perfectly with the original craftsmanship.

At AM Planned Maintenance, we don’t just see listed building work as property upkeep — we see it as safeguarding the story of our nation, one repair at a time.