Someone has bought a listed cottage and wants to replace the windows, open up a wall and add a bathroom. Her builder has told her it is fine. Her neighbour has told her it absolutely is not. She has been advised to find an architect who has done this before.
She is enquiring to find out whether her project is possible at all.
What owners ask
They usually ask what is and is not allowed, whether consent is needed for a specific change, what happens if work has already been done, how long an application takes, whether the authority can refuse, what the fees are, whether a heritage statement is needed, whether specialist consultants are required and whether the practice has done this before.
Explain the process, never the outcome
The stages, what an application contains, who decides it, how long it takes and what happens on refusal. Whether a particular alteration will be permitted is a judgement for the authority with input from conservation officers.
Example conversations
These scripts use information a practice might publish. Your answers should come from your own pages.
Owner: Can I replace the windows in a listed cottage? Assistant: Works affecting a listed building usually need consent, and what is acceptable depends on the building and the authority. The heritage page explains the process, what an application involves and the practice's fees for this kind of work. Could you tell me the address and the listing grade if you know it, so someone can advise on the approach?
Owner: Some work was done before I bought it and I am not sure it was approved. Assistant: That is a situation the practice deals with, and it needs proper advice because unauthorised works to a listed building are a serious matter. I will pass this to the team so someone can speak to you directly. Could you give me the address and a contact number?
Owner: Why does this cost more than a normal extension? Assistant: The page explains what heritage work involves, including the additional survey and recording, the heritage statement, consultation with the conservation officer and the longer application process. It sets out the fee structure for this work compared with standard projects.
Explain why fees are higher
Measured survey, recording, a heritage statement, pre-application discussion, specialist consultants and a longer, more iterative process. Owners compare heritage fees against standard ones and need to understand the difference.
Say what specialists may be needed
Heritage consultants, structural engineers experienced with historic fabric, ecologists where bats are a possibility and specialist contractors. Publishing this prevents a budget that covers a third of the project.
Be clear about timescales
Pre-application discussions, the application period and the possibility of amendments. Owners planning around a move or a birth need realistic expectations.
Route unauthorised works to a person
Work carried out without consent is a serious matter with potential enforcement consequences. That needs a professional conversation immediately, not a chat window.
Capture what makes advice possible
Address, listing grade if known, whether it is in a conservation area, what is proposed, whether anything has already been done, timescale and budget.
Qualify early
Heritage projects are not for every practice, which is the point of project enquiries architects should qualify early.
Planning anxiety runs through all of it
It is covered in planning and permission questions clients ask architects.
Building assessments have a similar shape
They are covered in commercial survey and dilapidations enquiries, and enquiry handling in an AI receptionist for architects.
Getting started
Publish your heritage experience, the process, fees and what specialists may be needed, then capture the address and proposals at any hour. SpideyChat for architects answers from your published pages and never predicts a consent decision. Try SpideyChat on your own site, or read about capture on the features page.