New bathroom in Grade II Listed Building

[Dinosauraddict]

Has anyone applied for listed building consent? I want to add a new bathroom into a grade II listed building. It would be for an en suite, and would be directly underneath the current bathroom. It wouldn’t need to remove any original features, but would obviously need some plumbing works. Does anyone know how likely this is to be approved please?

Sounds very likely. I did similar in my grade 1 property. It took six months to get permission as we were gutting the whole place and changing the rooms around, but we got there on Plan D!

On what basis are you even asking for permission? It doesn’t sound like you are making permanent changes to the fabric. Plumbing would typically be boxed in or hidden behind stud walls.

Thanks both.

@desperatehouseknife I think I’ll ring the council and check, but my understanding was that it would need it. It would broadly consist of a vent to outside, a new stud wall, drainage and plumbing for a shower,
toilet and sink, plastering etc which substantially affect the internal look, and the vent will obviously need an external change. Does that not sound like it would require LBC? (I’ve never had a Grade II listed property before so very happy to be corrected.)

@legal - thank you - that gives me a lot of hope that if I do need to apply I could get it through!

New external vent would strictly require permission. If on the primary frontage then this is a given, if it in an unimportant location then many wouldn’t ask. Using a cast iron air brick externally is the usual acceptable way.

If you are removing old lime plaster then this would also be something to ask about. Likewise if you are cutting beams or studding or cutting big holes in 17th century floorboards. Everything else is just superficial. If they asked you to remove it and return the room to the original condition then you could.

If you ask whether you must apply then they will tell you that you do, even if the written guidelines can be legitimately and correctly interpreted that you do not need to. This is their stock answer because they don’t trust people and want a paper trail.

But perhaps it’s important to say that if you apply for permission then you will undoubtably be granted it, hopefully at the first iteration and if not then at a subsequent one.

It’s also import t

We did major plumbing work and replaced two bathrooms in a Grade II listed building. You will definitely need to apply for PP for an exterior vent. I suspect that if you have wattle and daub walls then you won’t be allowed to move them about. Councils tend to be more concerned with exterior walls and features but you must let them know what you’re doing (and send diagrams!).

If you want to sell your house at any point in the near future you'd be as well to make sure everything is documented and you have LBC.

Thank you everyone, that’s incredibly helpful! I’ll apply for PP and LBC and hopefully the changes are minor enough that it shouldn’t be too much of a saga.

I hope you’re not in a hurry, though. It took six months to get PP to get rid of our deathwatch beetle!

Christ I’m so sorry @Vanilla that must’ve been a nightmare. And eurgh I was honestly hoping it wouldn’t take that long :-(

Lol, thanks

It depends on the council and how many conservation officers there are. It may be quicker where you are. Keep us posted!