Thinking of Extending a Listed Property?
Thinking of extending a listed property? The team at Jane Elizabeth Architects has created this guide to help you navigate your project with confidence.
Why should you extend your property?
Listed buildings are full of character and charm. The beauty of these properties and their connection with history leaves many owners wanting to call a listed property their home. Whilst listed properties are beautiful, the historic assets were designed for a way of life that looks very different from our own today.
Modern life demands practicality. The internal layout of listed properties is often unsuitable for contemporary family living. Kitchens can be tucked in the corner, there may be small windows with little daylight or general lack of open-plan living spaces. Perhaps your home is chaotic with family life or maybe you just need a little bit of extra space, either way, an extension can be a perfect solution.
You should not have to compromise. Owning a listed property does not mean you cannot create your dream home suitable for modern life. Extensions are a popular option for people looking to achieve this balance. Many, wish to remove old conservatories in favour of more sympathetic extensions. In the 1970s and 1980s, conservatories were commonly used to extend these properties. However, many now are deteriorating and cause extreme temperature changes in the summer and winter months.
Extending a Grade II Listed Property – an example
This is beautiful Grade II listed property with an adjoining wall forming the garden curtilage. This sensitive setting called for a particularly considered approach. A client of Jane Elizabeth Architects wished to remove the 1980s (non-historic) conservatory in order to construct a new ground floor extension better suited for family life.
All properties are unique and so are the solutions they propose. In this case, they advised that the new extension should be independently supported in order to minimise any structural impact on the main historic property and preserving the integrity of its original fabric.
The appearance of the new extension is in keeping with the main house, using traditional, high-quality materials whilst allowing a subtle differentiation between old and new. The materials used include handmade imperial red stock brickwork plinth laid in Flemish bond with lime mortar, timber frame walls with oak weatherboarding, a Kent peg tile roof, conservation roof lights and oak painted purpose made joinery. The new structure is well insulated, eliminating the extremes of cold and heat that the existing conservatory suffers from during the winter and summer months.
This example illustrates how Jane Elizabeth Architects was able to relocate the main kitchen for their client, which was previously tucked into a corner of the house, to a welcoming and accessible extension. This solution is ideal for entertaining, alfresco dining and is perfectly connected to the garden. The result is not only socially transformative but an enhancement to everyday wellbeing.
A Guide to Extensions
Extending a listed property requires both householder and listed building consent. The application must include a detailed design showing how the extension relates to the heritage asset, and additional consultants may be needed to support the submission.
Key considerations include the design approach, materials, scale, weatherproofing and any internal alterations. Conservation officers often favour modern extensions that are clearly distinguishable from the original building. Where possible, new structures should be self-supporting to reduce impact on historic fabric.
Single-storey extensions are generally easier to secure approval for than two-storey proposals. The building’s grade, setting and significance will strongly influence what is acceptable, and a heritage statement will usually be required.
Your Vision
Jane Elizabeth Architects have successfully supported clients to obtain planning and listed building consent to transform their beloved historic properties.
Thinking of extending your property? We recommend contacting Jane Elizabeth Architects to discuss your vision.