Saving bacon through Historic Research!

It’s unfortunate when a homeowner discovers that Listed Building Consent is indeed required for certain internal alterations when ‘a’ realtor advised them that the listing only related to the outside!  However every cloud has a silver lining!  The Murphy Associates team was engaged by a Kent-based planning consultant to produce a Statement of Significance/Compliance.  In-depth historic research was undertaken revealing the history of a Grade II listed building, uncovering evidence to support works that had been undertaken in the past prior to listed and works which fell into the category of 'repairs'; justifying new works albeit retrospectively BUT more importantly averting enforcement action. 

If the Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Works to a Listed Building has been in place before events unfolding then a definitive answer could have been issued to avoid this type of situation occurring. A lesson learnt the hard way. 

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