Garden Work - Listed Building Consent?

[swoodley]

I'm trying to collate our 'shopping list' for Listed building Consent so that we can repair all the dodgy work the builder who renovated the property in the 80's completed (Garden Gate latch fittings on internal doors being a nice feature!).
Having read (even more) about the consent process, I'm now wondering if I also need to include any changes to the hard landscaping (i.e. replace crazy paving patio's).
Any help greatfully appreciated.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Precisely what needs consent is down to the Conservation Officer and can vary between properties, so a good start is probably an informal chat. If you start by describing some of the unsympathetic changes that you want to undo, and say that you would like some advice because you are keen to get things right, he or she will almost certainly be pleased to help.
Changes to the garden may need consent, because the listing extends to the curtilage of the house. How far your curtilage extends is another question. I assume that the crazy paving is not an original feature, and if it is being replaced with something more in keeping, it may be agreed verbally.
If you look up your house here http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/ it should tell you when it was listed, and what the historic features are.
You will probably already know that obtaining listed building consent can involve some time and expense in preparing detailed plans, but gaining it means that you may be able to reclaim VAT for the work and materials.
Keep us posted with your progress :wink:

 

[Nemesis]

The listing description shouldn't be used to decide what the historic features are though - this is simply a description and not intended as anything else.

Curtilage isn't the issue really here, it's setting.

Curtilage is a legal minefield!

 

[Penners]

I have it on good authority (from our CO) that the one thing you don't need to worry about is your garden plantings. Your CO has no jurisdiction over anything growing in the ground (although there are hedge height rules).

 

[stickybeak]

.

 

[rog and gina]

Just wondering, what are the hedge height limits? our next door neighbours(other half of the cottage) have a conifer hedge that has grown too big for us to get to the top to trim it, they dont seem to have noticed that it has got to about ten feet tall now! any ideas?
Thanks, Gina

 

[Nemesis]

Here's some info about the High Hedges Act from Dorset's website:



http://www.north-dorset.gov.uk/index/enjoying/coast_countryside/trees_and_hedgerows-3/high_hedges.htm


And here's the Act:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30038--i.htm

And an update from Naturenet:

http://www.naturenet.net/trees/hedgerow/highhedges.html

 

[plumbers mate]

Penners said >>I have it on good authority (from our CO) that the one thing you don't need to worry about is your garden plantings.

However digging a big hole in which to plant a tree or even deep digging a veg bed could be enough to damage the underlying archaeological stratigraphy if it is likely to be sensitive.
Even earthworms have been guilty of that in the past - and don't get me started on tree roots -------

 

[charlie-ia]

one thing you don't need to worry about is your garden plantings. Your CO has no jurisdiction over anything growing in the ground .

Unless you have a tree preservation order, though i suppose the solicitors told you if you did.

digging a big hole in which to plant a tree or even deep digging a veg bed could be enough to damage the...

... tree (in our case).
we're not allowed to cut down any trees thicker than our wrist, or dig within a certain distance of the trees (general small gardening is ok) or plant anything large under the canopy of the trees as the digging could damage the roots, and as the new tree grew they would compete.

 

[Nemesis]

Trees in Conservation Areas are afforded some protection, not only those with TPO's on them.

 

[Penners]

Yes, digging a hole can risk damaging archeological remains.

In fact, if you want to learn about anything from the past - buildings, foundations, fire-pits, detritus, etc., you dig. And the further you dig, the farther back in time you're going. For example, the Roman baths in Bath were at ground level when they were built. Today they're 6 metres below.

So, it seems to me that planet Earth must be bigger today than it was in the past.

Where has all that extra planet come from?

 

[Flyfisher]

Stardust

 

[Penners]

"We are stardust, we are golden,
We are billion-year-old carbon
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden."

Right on, man.

 

[charlie-ia]

Trees in Conservation Areas are afforded some protection, not only those with TPO's on them.

we have 6 protected trees, and live in a conservation area. It definately matters if we plan to do anything large.
the tree man told us that we could basically do what we liked, as long as the trees wernt under threat (a cut root can let in disease).
the conservation man said as it was the look of the street theyre trying to preserve, if we went for something crazy with golden gravel and mirrored monoliths they may raise an eyebrow, but they dont have a lot of clout on theire own to stop you, but theres probably other regulations that could be used (like the discussion on pools).

both said just ask first.

edit= 5 protected trees. the sixth (ponderosa pine) blew down recently. the electricity board cut 15ft off the top. it still appears to be alive, but wether it will make it through the summer i dont know. its no longer protected though we are expected to plant a replacement.