How Can Disused Historic Buildings Be Converted Into Homes?

Britain has a chronic housing shortage, and one way of addressing this persistent problem is by converting disused historic buildings for residential use. This process has been going on for decades of course, as many former factories and warehouses in post-industrial inner city areas are now desirable living spaces and apartments. 

However, in many cases such opportunities are limited by listed building restoration regulations. These exist to protect the original characteristics of the structure and ensure that any changes are in keeping with its historical or cultural context. 

To make the process easier and more transparent, Historic England have now issued detailed guidance on the process of converting disused old buildings for residential use. According to a report in Architect’s Journal, this could mean that up to 670,000 new homes could be created without the need for lengthy construction or to use greenbelt land. 

The authors of the guidance note: ‘The redundant textile mills of Yorkshire and Lancashire alone could provide 42,000 new homes, emphasising the potential for historic buildings to contribute to the housing supply.’

Duncan Wilson, chief executive at Historic England, said the report was ‘a timely and useful guide for developers who want to adapt historic buildings for new housing’.

He added: ‘historic buildings can offer attractive and sustainable living spaces that meet the needs and aspirations of modern homebuyers, while retaining their heritage significance and special character’. 

Tim Heatley, co-founder of developer Capital & Centric, said: ‘Inquiries for conversion projects currently outnumber new building inquiries ‘by a factor of four’. Perhaps people like historic buildings as a reminder of the past, of a bygone era when things appeared simpler.’

The new guidance will include advice on design development, listed building consent, and ongoing maintenance. 

Top Tips For Choosing The Right Decorative Plaster Cornices

Plaster cornice mouldings can help to make a room look more elegant and add visual interest, but they are not just purely decorative. They can also enhance the sense of space and proportions of the room, so it’s important to consider your choice carefully before installation. Here are some pointers.

Consider the style of your property

The age of your property may well naturally suggest the style of the cornice; for example a characterful 19th century home is the perfect fit for Victorian cornices. These tend to be more ornate styles with intricate details that draw the eye upwards, emphasising the elegant proportions of this type of home.

On the other hand, a more contemporary home may suit sleeker and less obtrusive cornicing. 

Consider the room dimensions

Small rooms with low ceilings are best suited to more subtle and streamlined cornices that will not overwhelm the space and make it feel even smaller. In rooms with higher ceilings, larger mouldings can help to draw the room together and create a sense of harmony and balance. 

Consider how the room is used

Think about the atmosphere you want to create in the room: for example, in the dining room you may wish to have a more decorative cornice to bring a sense of formality and drama, whilst in the living room where you will be mainly relaxing and using as a family space, you may wish to have a more contemporary and minimalist design.

The colour can also influence the overall effect: do you want a traditional white; the same colour as the walls; or even a bold contrasting tone or hue? 

Of course, these are just guidelines and ultimately it’s down to your personal sense of style and preferences.

What Happens When A Listed Building Is Illegally Demolished?

There is so much value in historic buildings and structures because there are so few surviving examples of many historic buildings, and anyone who owns or manages a piece of history has a legal duty to carefully steward it and be mindful of its character when restoring it.

Most of the time, this involves taking care of a historic building and knowing when you need listed building consent and how to apply for it, with most people who have such a building in their possession having as vested an interest in its preservation as the nation does.

However, what happens if someone brazenly demolishes or irreparably alters a listed building to the point that it cannot be fixed easily, if at all?

It is possible to get consent to make significant alterations to a listed building in very limited circumstances, and even demolish a historic building if the Conservation Officer of your local planning authority agrees that demolition is the only option.

This was not the case, for example, with Carsebrudge House, which was owned by the somewhat ironically named Advance Construction.

The building was the victim of a fire in late August 2024, which led to a Dangerous Building Notice being filed on the building to keep the site secure, as well as a petition by residents of Clackmannanshire to preserve the heritage of the site and reject a request for demolition.

However, before the demolition application could be approved or denied, Advance Construction demolished the building illegally on 18th September, given that Historic Environment Scotland noted that they would have objected to the demolition of the B-listed building if the relevant planning authority had ruled it safe.

Whilst the relevant law is different in Scotland than it is in England and Wales, the penalty for an illegal demolition can be as high as two years imprisonment and an unlimited fine, which means that the concept of asking for forgiveness rather than permission is exceptionally costly.

Historic England Updates Advice On Efficiency Adaptations

If you are undertaking a listed building restoration, no doubt you will be aware of the need to follow certain regulations. Listed structures have a special historical and architectural value, and the regulations are designed to help preserve the original characteristics and ensure that any restorations or alterations are sympathetically carried out.

Before any alterations are made, listed building consent and possibly planning permission needs to be obtained from the local authority. Wherever possible, it is usually requested that like-for-like materials are used even for minor alterations or repairs. All this can present challenges when it comes to energy and carbon efficiency adaptations.

As the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to climate change becomes more urgent, Historic England have issued new advice on what permissions are needed for some of the more common decarbonisation and energy efficiency improvements. 

Ian Morrison, Director of Policy and Evidence at Historic England, said: “This Advice Note demonstrates how the sustainable use and reuse of our historic buildings can help address the impacts of climate change.”

“It provides clear advice to local planning authorities, heritage consultants and those involved in the planning process, alongside building owners and occupiers, to ensure England’s historic buildings are adapted appropriately to respond to the climate crisis.”

Tor Burrows, Group Sustainability Director, Grosvenor said: “Adapting historic buildings to ensure they contribute towards a low carbon future is an essential part of preserving this country’s heritage.”

“We welcome the publication of Historic England’s new Advice Note and the clear signal it sends. Protecting the unique qualities of historic buildings and improving their energy and carbon performance are compatible and achievable.”

A new training programme will be rolled out to help local authorities and heritage professionals understand the new guidance more fully. 

5 Ways Decorative Plaster Can Enhance Your Interior Space

Decorative plaster mouldings have been used throughout the centuries to add character and definition to interior spaces, from grand Gothic cathedrals to humble Victorian terraces. Sadly during the latter half of the twentieth century, much of the art of traditional plasterwork has been lost and many original examples have been damaged or destroyed.

As historic plasterwork restoration experts, we can restore or reinstate a wide range of features from lath and plaster walls to cornices, ceiling roses and panel mouldings. We can also install new plasterwork in your home, restaurant, theatre, or any other space. Here’s a look at just some of the ways these features can enhance your interior space.

Cornices and coving

Cornices and coving are used to provide a pleasing transition between the ceiling and the walls, helping to define the space and make the ceiling feel higher. Larger rooms with higher ceilings particularly suit elaborate designs, while smaller spaces benefit from clean lines with subtle details. 

Ceiling roses

Ceiling roses originate from the days of gas or candle lamps, and were used to disguise the soot marks and protect the ceiling from heat. As electric lighting took over, the roses took on a decorative purpose, to add interest and show off the light fittings. The right ceiling rose can also add depth and drama to a room.

Wall panels

Panel mouldings are a common feature of period properties, and they are often used to add interest and depth to plain walls. They can be combined with traditional wainscotting, or even frame carved wooden panels or paintings. The panels are especially effective in large high-ceilinged spaces to turn a plain expanse of wall into a statement.

Corbels 

Corbels were originally used as an architectural feature to support structures, and now they are commonly used as a decorative feature underneath mantelpieces, shelving, or around entryways or other ledge structures. They add sophistication and help a room to feel more finished and aesthetically pleasing rather than merely functional. 

Architraves

Architraves are the mouldings that are used to frame doors and windows, helping them to look more finished and defined. They can turn a simple opening into a key feature of the room, and also draw a whole property together by creating a sense of flow and consistency between each room. 

The style of the architraves can be matched to the style and colour of the skirting boards and cornices to enhance the visual harmony and bring a pleasing sense of coherence to the room.

These are just a few of the features that we can restore to their original condition, reinstate with exact duplicates, or install as new features to enhance any style of property, whether contemporary, mid-century or of period design.

800-Year-Old Listed Building Undergoes Ambitious Restoration

An 800-year-old listed building in Dover is in the process of some significant restoration work that will preserve some of the legacy of leading Victorian neo-Gothic architects. BBC News reports that the Maison Dieu town hall in Kent will also be permanently open to the public for the first time in its history when the work is completed in 2025.

The Grade I listed building was originally founded as a pilgrim’s resting place, before being used as a victualling yard and since the 1830s, Dover’s Town Hall. A £4.27m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has been awarded to help fund the £10.5m restoration project, which began in 2022. 

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’re delighted to see work underway on the Council’s biggest heritage restoration project to date. The project will bring the Maison Dieu to life as one of the most significant civic heritage buildings in the country, ensuring that it plays a key role in the future of Dover as a heritage, cultural and community venue.

He added: “Bringing a restoration project of this size to reality has taken a huge amount of work by specialist architects and conservators, and the in-house team at DDC, and would not have been possible without the incredible support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Wolfson Foundation, Dover Society and Dover Town Council.”

The building has an internationally significant decorative scheme that was designed by the renowned Victorian neo-Gothic architect William Burges (1827-1881). He created ornate designs including a striking wyvern dragon painted onto the decorative plasterwork ceiling. 

Unauthorised Renovations Highlights Purpose Of Listed Status

Planning officers have served enforcement notices after significant alterations were made to a Grade II* listed manor house without consent. BBC News reports that Swinfen Hall in Staffordshire, which was built in 1755, has been the subject of illegal work including the building of a swimming pool and the removal of fireplaces and internal walls.

There are also reports that UPVC windows have been fitted instead of windows that are in keeping with the original materials. While it is not impossible to make alterations or restorations to listed buildings, strict regulations mean that the owners must seek planning permission and/or listed building consent from the local authority first.  

Grade II listed buildings are considered to be of national importance and special interest, and their special status is intended to safeguard them for future generations. The building might be listed because of its architectural merit, or because of its association with historical events or significant historical figures. 

Owners of listed buildings are obliged to maintain the building in reasonable condition, and to carry out any repairs and alterations using materials and methods that are sympathetic to the original characteristics of the building.  In some cases, the owners may be able to apply for grants and financial assistance for repairs from heritage and charitable organisations.

Swinfen Hall in Lichfield was designed by Benjamin Wyatt in 1755 for the Swinfen family, and remained in the family for the next two hundred years. When the family line discontinued in 1948 after the death of Michael Swinfen-Broun, the hall and estate passed to the Church and the City of Lichfield, and most of the land was sold off.

The hall stood empty for many years, and was granted listed building status in 1982. IT was acquired by private owners in 1987 and converted into a hotel, which recently closed down. It is not clear who is responsible for the illegal changes to the fabric of the building, but they could face significant legal penalties, including fines or even a jail sentence.

A spokesperson for Lichfield District Council commented: “Owning a listed building comes with the responsibility of conserving, maintaining and protecting it for the benefit of the public and future generations. This work has been done with complete disregard to that responsibility, and the law, and those behind the work could now face imprisonment.”

“Lichfield district is rich in history, often portrayed through our wonderful buildings, and the council will be robust in protecting them.”

The building’s Grade II* status means that it is in the top five per cent of protected listed buildings in the UK. The case highlights the importance of respecting the legislation so that buildings of significant cultural, historical and architectural value are protected for the benefit of society, community and tourist sector.

Victorian Society Adds Ten At-Risk Sites To Endangered List

The Victorian Society, a UK charity that is dedicated to preserving Victorian and Edwardian built heritage, has added ten new buildings to its Endangered Buildings List. BBC News reports that all of the new additions are at least Grade II listed, and in need of significant restoration. 

Although listed status affords the buildings a degree of protection from demolition or unsympathetic renovations or alterations, the owner of the building is not legally obliged to maintain it to certain standards. 

If the building is deemed to be at serious risk of deterioration, the local authority may serve an urgent works notice to instruct the owner to carry out the necessary repairs. If the owner does not comply, the local authority may carry out the works themselves and recover the costs from the owner, or seek a compulsory purchase order to acquire the property. 

However, campaigners argue that the regulations do not go far enough, and that many UK buildings that are deemed to be of historical or architectural importance are in danger of falling into ruin. 

The Victorian and Edwardian era was notable for some fine examples of architectural design, both of the exterior and interior of buildings. It was a time of great change as the industrial revolution and the advent of the railways opened up more advanced construction methods and access to a wider range of materials.

Earlier Victorian architecture was influenced by the classical style, while later on the Gothic Revival style became more popular. The Arts and Crafts movement influenced the interior design of buildings, with an emphasis on quality hand-made products with high standards of craftsmanship. 

Victorian and Edwardian homes with original features such as fireplaces, parquet flooring, ceiling roses and cornices are highly sought after today for their spacious interiors and character. Some of the buildings on the list of the Victorian Society include a former boarding school, a banqueting hall, and one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks. 

Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: “As always, this sad (but fascinating) list of buildings is a testament to the excitement, variety and invention of the Victorian Age. Nobody should dismiss the 19th-century British for their social and political achievements, or their legacy. There is so much to cherish.”

He added: “How terrifying to see buildings I have known loved or used all my life in Southend and Cardiff in need of rescue. But come on. Look at the character on display here. They all add colour and story to any urban landscape. Their restoration and reuse make huge commercial sense. They are attractions in themselves.”

Other buildings on the list include the former Bramcote Tennis Pavilion in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and St Luke’s Chapel, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottinghamshire. The list was drawn up from public nominations across England and Wales. 

To qualify, the structures must have been built between 1837 and 1914, and be representative of the industrial, domestic, religious, or civic architecture of the era to a nationally significant degree.