Dealing with the Regularizing of Unauthorized Work

Grade II* listed The Priory at Blakesley, Northamptonshire.

LB owners can entirely innocently proceed with repair/like-for-like replacement work thinking no consent is needed, only to find otherwise when the council knocks on the door. Whilst the council will understand that there was no intention to break the law (and remember this comes under the criminal code!), you will be asked to immediately regularize the situation with an application for LBC.

I was able to assist my client James Sparrow of Priory House in Blakesley, Northamptonshire who recently (December 2018) found himself in this situation concerning roof covering replacement and roof timber repairs. I project-managed the process through preparation of the necessary application, producing a Heritage Impact Assessment, liaising with a consultant structural engineer and meeting the council conservation officer on site as part of the application process. LBC was duly granted within the 8 week statutory period.

Mr Sparrow comments:
“Alex has done the most fantastic job for us. Obtaining the right consents to do work to a high-grade listed building can be very time consuming and very stressful. Alex, in a very calm and professional way, took all the load off us and handled it brilliantly. He has the great benefit of having worked as a conservation officer for many years and he understands exactly what is required. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”