Basement

[TheTeaFairy]

Pondering the pros and cons...
My Georgian Grade II listed terrace has a basement that is mostly dry (one tiny corner gets a bit damp after heavy rain). It's only about 6ft high so would need digging out. I'd love to make use of it (spare bedroom).

Has anyone converted a basement recently? Any info/details you can share would be great.

Thanks 🙏

Bumping for basement experts - seeking all experiences, good and bad

Haven't done one but have seen a fair few done. Digging a basement out is probably the most expensive home improvement you can take on and in a listed building I should imagine it would be astronomical. Before that though, my automatic assumption would be that the listing body would refuse you permission as the low ceiling in the cellar is a significant part of the character of the building. Digging out a basement is a slow delicate job as foundations have to be supported the whole time. You basically have to build new supports for the building. A building old enough to be listed probably has close to non-existant or very small foundations. In today's market with costs shooting through the roof for regular building work, I can imagine underpinning to make a nice waterproof basement bedroom could cost you 80/100k easy. My neighbour did it (not listed) & his cost 250k

Just seen you're a terrace, so you'd have to protect both your neighbour's properties too...

If you get permission to do it, look for a basement specialist with listed knowledge. A regular builder could land you in hot water with the council.

Please don't -

Tank it
Add a concrete floor
Use cementious plaster or gypsum

Please
Get pre - application advice from your local planning authority. They will have a website.
You may need to dry line and ventilate it via a French gravel style drain and air bricks, depending where the outside ground level is.
Talk to your neighbours

Party wall agreements will be needed with both neighbours and they have the right to instruct someone to act on their behalf at your expense.

Thanks for the replies.

I know it would be complicated, require a lot of planning (especially due to the listing) and cost a small fortune.

Hmmm.

See if you can have a phone chat with your local conservation officer.

Your house is too old to have a damp proof course and so converting the basement which would involve tanking it, is likely to cause serious issues with damp in the ground floor of the house as the mosilture in the walls will no longer be able to evaporate as easily.

I don't think you would get listed buildings permission either.

Thanks for replying.

I am aware of the importance of letting the house breathe and am trying to find an expert who can advise me about possible ways to proceed.

I'd like to use materials such as limecrete.

Bumping for basement people

I've just remembered SPAB, they might have some ideas.

Thank you @PurpleToeNail