BUILDING SURVEYING
Specialist Conservation Advice
1) Specialist Conservation Advice
a) Are you looking to acquire an interest in a listed building or historically significant property?
b) Are you planning restoration, renovation or extension works to a listed building or historically significant property?
Historic building projects and surveys are a specialised field and most regular Chartered surveyors are not experienced or qualified to understand these buildings.
The nature of the buildings and the associated legislation that exists to protect them needs to be fully understood. Failure to understand what you are dealing with can lead to poor and often costly decisions, and in the case of Listed Buildings, potentially criminal legal action.
Our Heritage service is led by Mike Hazeldine, a Chartered Surveyor with over 20 year’s experience as well as an MSc in the Conservation of Historic Buildings. Mike has been involved with a variety of Listed Buildings including Grade 1 properties such as Lyddington Bede House and Wrest Park.
At GNA we believe that the best long term solution for saving an historic property is finding an economic use to secure its future. We take a practical and commercial approach when working with our clients to find solutions to the problems that occupying Listed Buildings can bring.
Pre-Acquisition Listed Building Surveys
We survey the building in great detail and research its history and development.
In addition to studying what is present, we also consider what might be missing so that any unauthorised alterations undertaken by previous owners are identified. We also investigate past planning and listed building consents and ensure they reflect the current state of the building.
It is very important that a potential purchaser is fully informed before committing to such a purchase and this is particularly true when purchasing an historic building.
Defect Diagnosis
Defects that exist within historic property are not always the same as those find in modern buildings, and requires specialist knowledge. It is not uncommon for a historic building to suffer following misjudged attempt to improve them to modern standards. This requires a special appreciation and understanding of how historic property works. Truly understanding the building, and its recent development is the starting point in establishing why a particular problem has started to occur.