Listed Building Specialists
Sensitive Restoration. Modern Living.
Grade I and II listed properties need a contractor who understands what “no shortcuts” actually means. Heritage materials, planning expertise, and a documented process that protects you from enforcement — and the building from permanent damage.
The Wrong Contractor on a Listed Building Is a Very Expensive Mistake
The construction industry is full of builders who have “done listed buildings before.” What they mean is: they have worked on old houses. There is a profound difference. Using the wrong mortar, skipping consent, or disturbing original fabric carelessly does not just invite enforcement — it can cause irreversible damage to a property that cannot be recreated at any price.
RCB treats listed building work as what it is — specialist work that demands specialist care.
What RCB Brings to Listed Buildings
Heritage skills, planning knowledge, and a documentation process that protects both the building and your ownership of it.
Planning Expertise — Before a Tool Is Lifted
- We assess listed building consent requirements before scoping any work
- Existing relationships with conservation officers in London boroughs
- Guidance on what can proceed under permitted development and what cannot
- We flag issues early — not after you have committed to a programme
Heritage Skills and Approved Materials
- Lime mortar and traditional pointing — no OPC cement on historic masonry
- Matching brick and stone sourced to conservation officer specification
- Sash window restoration and draught-proofing, retaining original character
- Period-appropriate ironmongery and joinery details where required
Modern Performance, Historic Character
- Discreet insulation solutions that improve energy performance without harm
- Underfloor heating systems compatible with listed building consent
- Updated electrical and plumbing runs that respect historic fabric
- New extensions that satisfy both planning and your brief for modern living
Full Documentation Trail
- Photographic record of existing condition before any intervention
- Method statements for notifiable works — submitted before proceeding
- Material schedules and sample approval records kept throughout
- All listed building consent conditions tracked to discharge
Our Process for Listed Properties
Methodical, documented, and planned around the planning system — not despite it.
Heritage Assessment and Planning Review
We assess your listed building consent position, identify what requires consent, what the conservation officer is likely to require, and what can proceed without formal application.
Scope Developed With Conservation in Mind
Every specification is chosen with the designation in mind. Materials, methods, and sequencing are agreed before works begin — including approval samples where the conservation officer requires them.
Skilled Execution, Documented Throughout
Works carried out by operatives experienced in heritage buildings. Photographic record kept throughout. Method statements followed. Nothing improvised on historic fabric.
Consent Conditions Discharged
We track all listed building consent conditions to discharge. Documentation submitted to the local authority. You receive a complete file confirming compliance — essential for any future sale or insurance claim.
The Credentials Behind the Claim
Verified, accredited, and independently reviewed. Not a builder who says they do listed buildings — a contractor you can evidence to your conservation officer.
Verified Quality — Not Marketing Copy
Our 9.96/10 Checkatrade rating is drawn from 114 independently verified reviews. FMB membership and TrustMark registration mean we are assessed against professional standards — not self-declared. That matters on a listed building, where the wrong contractor leaves evidence that cannot be undone.
Listed Building FAQs
Do I need listed building consent for internal works?
In many cases, yes. Listed building consent is required for any works that affect the character of a listed building — including internal alterations, repairs using non-matching materials, and changes to historic fixtures and fittings. We assess this before any scope is agreed, not after.
Can you match existing historic materials?
This is one of the most important parts of listed building work and we take it seriously. We source matching brick, stone, tile, and mortar as closely as possible — and submit samples to the conservation officer for approval before ordering in volume. We do not substitute modern materials and hope nobody notices.
What if the conservation officer requests changes during the project?
We build a relationship with the conservation officer from the outset, so there are rarely surprises mid-project. Where changes are requested, we manage the variation formally — with a written scope change and updated cost. Nothing proceeds on a nod.
Can you help with a property in a conservation area that is not listed?
Yes. Conservation area restrictions often apply to unlisted properties — particularly to external works, extensions, and changes to windows or doors. We assess the conservation area guidelines and permitted development position before scoping any work.
Restore It Right. Live in It Properly.
A conversation about your listed building costs nothing. We will tell you what is possible, what needs consent, and what it is likely to cost — before you commit to anything.