Securing consent for a heritage project
Listed Building Consent
Kensington and Chelsea, West London
- Project
- Reconfiguration of flats within a listed building
- Council
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Historic planning scope
- Planning and listed building consent strategy
- Result
- Listed building consent secured
Background
A listed residential building in one of West London's most protected neighbourhoods required consent for the combination and refurbishment of flats. Any intervention had to respect the building's historic fabric and secure listed building consent.
The Challenge
The challenge was balance. The client needed a more practical living arrangement, while the building's original walls, ceilings, floors, doors, staircase details and decorative elements had to be protected. In heritage work, the wrong intervention can undermine both the building and the application.
What We Did
This consent strategy was delivered through the specialist planning practice now incorporated within GIR Group.
The approach protected the building's special character while supporting the client's objectives. It identified retained historic features, used lightweight partitions where appropriate and ensured new work remained sympathetic to the retained fabric.
The Outcome
Listed building consent was granted, allowing the flats to be combined and refurbished while safeguarding the property's architectural and historic character.
Historical portfolio note
This historic commission was delivered by a specialist planning practice before GIR Group's current planning service was established. Interests in that practice were subsequently acquired by GIR Group's directors, and the project is included as part of the planning portfolio associated with that acquisition. It was not originally undertaken by GIR Group.
