Planning Permission Secured for Sensitive Conversion of a Non-Designated Heritage Asset

The mid-19th century building is identified on the Historic Environment Record as a non-designated heritage asset and occupies a sensitive historic environment, within the setting of a Conservation Area, a Grade II listed building and other non-designated heritage assets. 

Our assessment established that the building’s significance derived principally from its surviving external architectural form, historic function as a public house and contribution to the surrounding historic streetscape. Although its interior had undergone considerable alteration, surviving fireplaces and chimney breasts were identified as features of historic interest. 

The proposed conversion required some intervention, including alterations to the internal circulation and the introduction of a new external staircase and first-floor entrance. Rather than treating all change to the historic building as inherently unacceptable, our assessment considered where significance actually resided and the extent to which the proposed works would affect it.

Importantly, the proposals retained the building’s fireplaces and chimney breasts and avoided substantial alteration to its principal elevations, roof form and overall townscape presence. The external staircase was positioned on a secondary elevation and designed as a lightweight, clearly contemporary intervention.

The Council’s Conservation Officer agreed with this approach. Their consultation response found that the staircase and new door would have a minimal effect on the wider setting and only a low-level impact on the building itself. They also agreed that the interior was predominantly modern and specifically identified the retained fireplaces and chimney breasts as the principal surviving features of notable historic interest. Overall, the Conservation Officer raised no objection, concluding that the low level of harm was outweighed by the public benefit of securing the building’s upkeep and preserving its contribution to the wider setting. 

The planning officer subsequently accepted that assessment, concluding that the scheme would not have harmful effects on the character and appearance of the area or adverse effects on heritage assets. The only heritage/design-related condition required the new staircase to be finished in black to reduce its visual prominence. 

Full planning permission was granted in March 2026. 

This project demonstrates how proportionate heritage assessment can help facilitate the sustainable reuse of historic buildings: identifying the elements which genuinely contribute to significance, retaining those elements wherever possible, and accommodating carefully designed change where this can secure a viable future for the asset.

Services provided: Heritage Statement | Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment | Heritage Impact Assessment

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