Looking for a Listed Building Architect in Leicester of Leicestershire, what to consider.
Listed buildings and listed houses are officially described as “heritage assets”. They are usually both beautiful and interesting, and include anything from before 1700 which has survived intact, also later buildings and structures of architectural or historical interest. This is why its important to get the right Listed Building Architects in Leicester for your valuable property.
Historic England keeps the register; extracts from their register are below in inverted commas.
“Buildings can be listed at Grade II, II* or I”
Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest. Only about 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I
Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. About 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*
Grade II buildings are of special interest. About 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class, and it is the most likely grade of listing for a homeowner”
“Listing celebrates and provides protection to the nation’s special buildings, and anyone can recommend a building for listing through (the) application process. Once a building is listed, changes that might affect its special interest have to be managed through the planning system.” That’s where we come in useful.
The opportunity still exists to take a rundown or neglected listed building and turn it into a stunning home. Obvious examples amongst the mix of listed buildings are former farmhouses, redundant barns, former chapels and churches, local government offices, factories and former industrial structures. At Kirkham Middleton Architects Leicester these have always been passion projects for us and we pride ourselves on a professional architectural service every time.
Farmhouses were mainly lived in by farmers until the mid 20th century. Changes to agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s with new systems of farming and larger machinery meant that the majority of old farm buildings became redundant. Many smaller farms were consolidated into larger holdings of 250 acres and more. As smaller farms in villages were sold, the farmyards and land nearby were often redeveloped into housing. The farmhouse itself was often prominent in the streetscape and ideal to become a trophy house, as they were often large and originally designed to signify high status, with local character and often in a recognisable architectural style dependant on their date and history.
When the car became more available to the middle classes after World War Two, more people were able to commute from villages into nearby towns and cities for work. The managerial and professional classes looked for homes in the healthy, attractive countryside away from city smog, dirt and overcrowding. Undervalued buildings became desirable and had money spent to rescue them as part of a wave of conservation in the 1970s and early 1980s which is when many more farmhouses and farm buildings were listed. This was particularly the case in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Reuse of listed former farmhouses often included associated barns in the listing, known as “curtilage” listed buildings to the farmhouse or other main building. Although these buildings were originally humble, they became popular and were considered successful for conversion to housing.
Nowadays, although planners and conservation officers can be quite precious, the opportunity exists to take on a rundown building, extend and alter it. Taking a rundown or derelict listed building and applying time, money and enthusiasm in a careful way to add value and create something which is individual, sometimes quirky, is always interesting and exciting, however modest the proposal. However, there is usually only one chance to make the most of the opportunity to make changes whilst saving the building. Unfortunately planners are reluctant to consider a second application once a proposal has been approved. Thus it is important to firm up the brief at an early stage, then deal with the design and implementation for repair, restoration, adaptation and any extensions to a ‘heritage asset’ in a systematic and structured way. Buildings can always be adapted to give them a new purpose however the essential character of a listed building which makes them worth preserving must be respected, which can be subjective and require patience with experts looking at the changes from the point of view of the wider public interest involved.
One of the problems we sometimes encounter is enthusiastic owners who want to rush into areas of the work they are excited about too early on. There are tried and trusted ways to tackle most projects which will save time and money in the long run.
Unless an enthusiastic owner has the particular set of skills necessary, those of us who have experience in the field advise the owner ‘please don’t try to be a self builder or ‘project manage’ your first listed building restoration, unless you are prepared for the costs of mistakes you almost certainly will make as you are learning on the job. Taking on a heritage asset is generally an expensive labour of love in what is a highly regulated area of specialist traditional building work, which can involve fine art restoration techniques.
At any one time we are usually working on several grade 11 listed buildings or buildings on the local lists of “buildings of special interest,” which are usually in a conservation area.
There still seem to be former farmhouses or old barns in villages in need of rescue. For an enlightened owner we are currently proud to be working on a little known gem of an Edwardian house designed by the renowned local architect Albert Sawday in a Leicester suburb to adapt it and help protect it for the foreseeable future.
If you need a Listed Building Architect in Leicester or Leicestershire contact Kirkham Middleton Architects on 0116 220 0321 or email