Will I need listed building consent for this?

[moleinstudy]

Our home is Grade 2 listed. I am hoping to knock through some panels between beams to allow more light into a very dark room. The beams would remain completely intact as shown in the attached picture.

We haven't done anything to our listed home before and I am keen to make the process as streamlined as possible so if anyone has any tips I would be incredibly grateful.

I propose to email the planning officer to ask if I need to do anything further but really want to avoid making a formal application if I can!

I had a grade 2 listed house and could just call the Listed Buildings office at relevant council. Ask advise etc. they were always helpful. Doesn’t have to be a formal application.

Thanks @Duplocrocodile , I have been told they won't handle requests on the phone at the moment unfortunately.

I don't know, but, wow, that's beautiful.

Yes you'll need consent. Everything about the property is listed and unless you are replacing like for like (for example in kitchens and bathrooms) you'll need permission. We live in a listed property and have done loads to it but have always checked and needed consent for things like what you're proposing.

You might not need consent, but you will certainly need listed building officer confirmation if you do not need consent (and FWIW I think you do need consent).

Can you get a pre-application consultation? You might need to pay but you will get some proper input from the council officer.

What a beautiful home.

The listed property owners club is worth knowing about for all kinds of reasons including these kinds of questions...
www.lpoc.co.uk/

I would say almost certainly you will need LBC for that. It is a significant alteration to the fabric of the building.

Yes you will.

I'm not sure which panels you mean but they look like lath and plaster so are historic fabric which would be removed. Depending on how strict your Council is, you could be in for a battle.

You'll need to write a heritage statement in support of it and a method statement of how you would remove them without affecting the beams.

There is no consistency across planning departments in London boroughs so no idea what your local department is like. We have a very strict planning officer and she seems to make up the rules on a whim. Don't get on the wrong side of planning and I am certain you will need - and may not get - planning for this. It might help to have a sympathetic architect who already has a relationship with your conservation officer and can make the application for you. Unfortunately that all adds to the cost. Enjoy your home and don't be put off if they say no.

You will need LBC for the proposed works, yes. You're removing historic fabric, the material between the beams is protected as well as the beams so any alteration will require consent.

To make the application quicker you'll need to provide a design and access statement along with drawings showing what you're proposing, the methods which are going to be used and how they remaining historic fabric will be protected. I'd also say you're not proposing to remove all the panels so the original configuration can still be seen.