Listed building damage

[ListedBuild]

Our grade II listed property has been damaged by workmen putting scaffolding up on our neighbours property. The C18 stone bracket hood over our front door has been completely destroyed. It was the oldest remaining feature of the property. Neighbour has said they’ll make it good - but how can they? Does anyone know if this type of stone feature can be replaced? I presume we’d need a really good stonemason

I’m trying to tell myself it’s just a building but honestly I’m so upset I could cry - it was so old and beautiful. At least no one was injured.

How shocking, they must have been incredibly careless to cause this.
I would think you should probably talk to your conservation officer ASAP because if it’s replacement rather than repair they will need to be involved.

Get your local historic buildings and conservation officer involved. They can advise on how to correct the damage and potentially contractors to use.

As you say you'll need to get a good stonemason for starters - places like the Yorkminster stone works may know a good jobbing stone mason. Presumably there's some kind of agreement with neighbours to repair given their scaffolding was touching your property?

I agree with PP, this is a job for the conservation office and the scaffolding insurance company.

We’ve reported it to the conservation officer, now just waiting for them to get back to us.

I’m not sure whether the costs would come out of the neighbours insurance or the scaffolding company? The scaffolder said his boss would be in contact but we’ve not heard from him yet.

Agree with others, contact your council’s conservation officer.

Contact the scaffolding company tomorrow and ask for their insurance details and state you will be making a claim, if you wait for them to contact you it is likely to be a long wait. Make sure you take photos of the damage and gather photos of how the hood looked before they damaged it.

There will be people who can either repair or rebuild the hood but it's likely to be expensive and you may have to wait for them to be available.

As LIZS posted, the council conservation officer can probably tell you who can do the repair. You could also try Historic England.

Was there a party wall agreement in lace? Scaffolding company should have liability insurance.

What’s a party wall agreement? Sorry, I’m not knowledgeable about property

What work are the neighbours doing? You'd only expect a Party Wall Agreement to be called for if it's something major affecting the party wall - eg they're converting the loft or extending their property. If they're having the outside decorated or a roof repair, it's unlikely to require a PWA.

If there are new foundations created within 3m or work on adjoining structures you need a pwa.

Ah ok. They are needing roof repairs following storm Eowyn. It’s a row of terraces and we are the end terrace.

Are they listed too?

Yes, and the scaffolders were not aware that either property is listed. Which I would’ve thought they might need to know. The scaffolder responsible for the damage was very upset.

So your neighbour should have sought permission for the repair