Statement of significance for listed farmhouse..

Farmer Rich said:

we are currently exploring the idea of refurbishing our grade 2 listed farmhouse. we want to make it comfortable to live in again as it is looking a bit worse for wear, and would also like to convert some of the surroundings buildings into short term accommodation.
before any of this starts we need a statement of significance to be drawn up. can anyone recommend someone who can do this? our local conservation officer is being less than helpful! in or near the Worcestershire area ideally, thanks.

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solo said:

My main gripe was conservation officer telling me we had to use his spec for patch repairing rendering to the outside of listed building. I specifically wanted to use a local washed sand in the mix so it was a better match to the existing. Outcome was we now have spotted dog look as it doesn't match. At final inspection he told me I needed to use a brick tint to cover up the botch. I refused and told him to pay as it was his fault. Never been resolved and he has since left but we are left with his mark on the building. So whatever they say they don't know it all!

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suffolksmallholder said:

The thing with listed buildings is that the authorities want them to keep their history intact. I don't blame them either. You only have to look in areas where money is not a problem and you will see a big difference to areas where money is and always has been less readily available.
I can think of two areas that I know well; High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, where there is little left of the original town and in the surrounding countryside many so called listed farmhouses have been so radically altered there is not much of them left. On the opposite end of this spectrum is Lavenham where the whole town is close to being considered for a world heritage listing. I know where I'd rather see old unmolested buildings.
A grade 2* has a listed interior too so extra,extra care has to be taken and why not. Any changes will ruin it forever unless great care and attention to the original detail is kept as the paramount objective!
I'll wait for the howls......
codlasher

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renewablejohn said:

Well I can only speak for our authority which is totally incompetent when it comes to Listed buildings. I had a 4 year running battle with our conservation officer to actually restore our grade 2 listed building to something like its original character. Without this dogged determination and the excellent support of English Heritage we would have ended up with a building that was damp and crumbling from the inside outwards. What annoyed me most was having to train the conservation officer in the historical building techniques in particular how glazing used to be installed direct into stone mullions using lime mortar.

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solo said:

My main gripe was conservation officer telling me we had to use his spec for patch repairing rendering to the outside of listed building. I specifically wanted to use a local washed sand in the mix so it was a better match to the existing. Outcome was we now have spotted dog look as it doesn't match. At final inspection he told me I needed to use a brick tint to cover up the botch. I refused and told him to pay as it was his fault. Never been resolved and he has since left but we are left with his mark on the building. So whatever they say they don't know it all!

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