Can i open up a fireplace without permission?

[Lorna]

Hi

I am looking to buy a Grade II listed terrace, and nobody seems to be able to tell me if i can open up the living room chimney breast and demolish an interior wood & glass vestibule without the correct permission.

As i understand it, the exterior of the building is listed and to change anything you need to get permission from the council, however the interior seems to be a grey area...can anybody shed any light??? I dont partiularly want to buy it, if i cant make it my own inside!

Thanks
Lorna

 

[biffvernon]

Welcome to the forum, Lorna. Listing applies to the whole building, inside and out, so you may well need listed building consent to alter internal features which materially affect it's character. Proceed with caution but don't be put off immediately.

 

[Pford75]

I dont partiularly want to buy it, if i cant make it my own inside!

Echoing Biff's comments....the entire building is listed...not just the exterior. If you anticipate major changes internally and have a very fixed view of what you want, then it may be that a listed building is not the best choice.

With a listed building, the best interests of the building come before the desires of the home-owner....invariably this means significant compromise on what can and cannot be done to the building. Many Conservation Officers will allow some changes, but there are no guarantees. Talking to the local CO before purchase may give you some idea on whether the specific changes you mention would be allowed, but in the long run, owning a Listed Building requires a different mindset and approach to a non-listed building.

If you anticipate that this is going to become a source of frustration, it might be better to look for non-listed buildings.