Adding a conservatory to a listed building

Owners of listed buildings will be well aware that certain restrictions will probably apply to any major home improvement like fitting double glazing etc but there are also regulations in place for conservatories too.

It seems the chief areas of concern are the size of the planned conservatory (in relation to the existing floor-plan of the house barring any previous extensions) and the appearance being in keeping with the overall property and in particular the elevation that the conservatory is joining onto.

You may also find that permission is only given for wooden conservatories, however it's always worth checking with your local planning office in advance or indeed your local conservatory companies. They may have experience of installing on similar properties to yours in the area, and as such may well be able to suggest designs and features that will gain planning consent.

Here are a few tips to consider.

Think about a physical doorway between the conservatory and the rest of the house. If you're thinking of a more open plan, flowing floor space, adding a doorway can help your conservatory be considered as a conservatory rather than a full extension.

Size matters. We've seen articles which suggest that considering the 'flow' of room sizes with a natural progression towards smaller rooms the further back you go can aid a planning application. Lantern style conservatories (where there's a second tier of roof/glass) may also make your application harder.

Don't choose an overly fussy design. Your application will be more successful if your planned conservatory is in keeping with the period appearance and features of your home. Some standard conservatory designs can appear fussy and overly detailed. Wood conservatories are usually favoured more because they usually have slimmer frames, compared to the more 'box-like' construction of a upvc conservatory, and detailing can be smaller in appearance, but modern upvc frames are always progressing and shouldn't be discounted that easily.

Shop around. As we've mentioned, a local conservatory company may have more local knowledge, useful for suggesting designs and features which will help meet planning applications. They may have already installed similar structures on other properties in the area and be uniquely aware of what is usually allowed and what is not.

Be prepared to 'negotiate' on the finished size of your planned conservatory, even if that means changing the build / design style.

Window-Quoter has access to 100's of local conservatory companies, specialising in hardwood, upvc and aluminium. You can get a rough expectation of cost based on your own measurements before having to contact any companies. What's more, you can use our free matching service to locate the very conservatory companies you seek, without obligation.

As with any improvement or alteration work on a listed property or one within a heritage or conservation area, it's vital to get all the proper consents before starting any work.

photo credit: Home Improvement Quotes

This story first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter - week beginning Monday 13th December 2010 - click here to read the newsletter in full.