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Listed building & period property restoration
Sympathetic, like-for-like restoration of listed and period homes across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the New Forest — using the materials and methods these buildings were built with.
Owning a listed building brings real responsibilities alongside the pleasure of it. We carry out sympathetic, like-for-like restoration of period and listed homes across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the New Forest, using the traditional materials and methods these buildings were built with.
What it means to own a listed building
When a building is listed, it is recognised as being of special architectural or historic interest and is protected by law. In England there are three grades. Grade I covers buildings of exceptional interest and Grade II* particularly important buildings of more than special interest; together these are a small minority of the list. The great majority, around nine in ten, are Grade II — the grade that covers most listed houses, cottages and farm buildings.
It is worth understanding that all three grades carry the same legal protection. A Grade II cottage is safeguarded just as firmly as a cathedral. The listing also applies to the whole building, inside and out, and can extend to later additions and to other structures that were within the curtilage (the grounds) before 1 July 1948.
Listed Building Consent and why it matters
Any work that would affect the character of a listed building as a building of special interest — alterations, extensions, demolition, and in many cases repairs that change materials or detailing — needs Listed Building Consent from the local planning authority. This is separate from planning permission, and a project may need both. Like-for-like repair using matching materials often does not need consent, but it is not always obvious where the line falls, so it is worth checking before you start.
This is not a formality to be brushed aside. Carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building is an offence under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The offence applies whether or not you intended any harm, and even if you did not realise the building was listed. There is no time limit on enforcement — a council can require unauthorised work to be put right years after it was done, often at considerable cost.
In practice, consent is usually straightforward when the proposed work is sensible and clearly described. We are happy to help you understand what is likely to need consent before you commit to anything.
A sympathetic approach, with the right materials
Old buildings work in a fundamentally different way from modern ones. Cob, lime, timber framing, brick, flint and stone were all built to breathe — to take up moisture and let it evaporate freely. Modern materials such as cement render, gypsum plaster, hard sand-and-cement pointing and plastic (impermeable) paints trap that moisture in the wall. The result is damp, decay, salt damage and rot, often blamed on the old building when the real cause is the wrong repair.
Our approach follows the principle of like-for-like: repairing with the same materials, details and workmanship that were originally used, so the building keeps working as it was meant to and its historic character is kept intact. Where a wall was built in cob and lime mortar, that is what it should be repaired with — not a quick modern substitute that stores up trouble.
Experienced craftsmen and conservation-minded knowledge help protect your building from costly, damaging mistakes.
The restoration work we do
We have worked on older and listed buildings for more than forty years, and our craftsmen bring that experience to every job. Restoration work on period and listed homes typically includes:
- Cob walls — repair, rebuilding of failed sections, and protecting earth walls from the damp that destroys them
- Lime work — mortar, render, plaster and limewash, specified to suit the building and its exposure
- Green oak and chestnut timber framing — repairs, replacement of decayed members and traditional jointing
- Brick, flint and stone masonry — matching historic materials, bonds and pointing
- Sympathetic extensions and outbuildings that sit comfortably alongside a period home rather than competing with it
- Breathable insulation and sustainable heating, to improve comfort and efficiency without compromising the way an old building handles moisture
Why specialist knowledge matters
The biggest risk to a period or listed building is well-meant work carried out by people who do not understand how it was built. The wrong materials can cause real, lasting damage — and on a listed building, can also lead to an enforcement notice and the cost of putting it right.
Our head carpenter Andy Shervington and our lead mason work in traditional materials day in, day out. Founder Colin Clark co-produced a cob buildings advice publication with the New Forest Conservation team, and that conservation-minded thinking runs through how we work. We are not trying to make an old building modern; we are trying to keep it sound and true to itself for the next generation.
Working with conservation officers, and advice before you buy
We are used to working alongside conservation officers and Building Control, and a constructive, well-prepared conversation early on tends to make the whole process smoother. We can help set out proposed methods and materials in the terms a conservation officer needs to see, which gives an application the best chance of a sensible outcome.
If you are thinking of buying a period or listed property, a visit beforehand can save a great deal of worry. We offer consultancy visits to assess the condition of a building, flag anything that may need attention and talk through what is realistic. Where the work then goes ahead with us, the consultancy fee is deducted from the final invoice.
If you own or are considering a listed or period home in Dorset, the New Forest or Hampshire, do get in touch on 07711 360 698 or office@colinclarkbuilders.co.uk for an honest, unhurried conversation.
Trusted with a historic estate
Close to our own door, we carry out ongoing maintenance and refurbishment at Edmondsham House and across the Edmondsham Estate. Looking after historic buildings year after year — rather than simply passing through on a single project — is the surest test of whether a builder really understands them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need Listed Building Consent before repairs start?
Not always, but it is easy to misjudge. Genuine like-for-like repair, such as repointing in a matching lime mortar, often does not need consent. However, Historic England is clear that even like-for-like work can require consent if it affects the building's special architectural or historic interest. Anything that changes materials, for example cement render or mortar in place of lime, almost always needs consent. We advise speaking to your council's conservation officer first, and we can help you scope the work before you commit.
Why must lime mortars and renders be used instead of modern cement?
Old solid-wall buildings are designed to breathe. Lime mortar, render and plaster are softer and more vapour-permeable than the masonry, so moisture can escape and the building stays dry. Hard cement traps damp, pushes it into the surrounding stone, brick or cob, and causes spalling, decay and rot over time. On a listed building, replacing lime with cement also alters its character and so requires consent. Matching the original materials and detailing is central to how we approach period work.
What does period restoration typically cost?
We cannot quote without seeing the building, as every old structure differs in its condition, materials and access. As a guide to the wider UK market, specialist lime repointing is often quoted in the region of roughly £40 to £100 per square metre, and skilled trades around £200 to £350 per day, though heritage work varies widely. These are researched market ranges, not our prices. We offer a consultancy visit, the fee for which is deducted from your final invoice if the work proceeds, so you get a clear, tailored picture first.
Can you work with my architect, conservation officer or surveyor?
Yes. Most listed and period projects involve a conservation officer, and often an architect or building surveyor too, and we are used to working alongside them. We can advise on appropriate traditional materials and methods, contribute to the detail behind a Listed Building Consent application, and carry out the work to the agreed specification. If you are at an early stage, a consultancy visit is a sensible starting point to understand the building and what any consent process is likely to involve.
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