We are firm believers that timely intervention and regular maintenance is key to sustaining the value of a listed building.

We are specialists in assessing issues and specifying their repair. Our knowledge of traditional methods and sympathetic repair techniques ensure the best outcomes for the building. Our longstanding relationships with conservation specialists and local authority officers mean we can reach the best possible solutions for repairs and adaptations of a heritage asset.

We are familiar with the issues faced by the custodians of heritage assets. The need to balance the maintenance of buildings and long term budgeting of funds can be complicated. Approached in a similar manner to quinquennial reports, we report on maintenance requirements. We then forecast budget allocations from present into the longer term. We provide schedules of work for tendering to specialist contractors, liaise with conservation officers and oversee works.

Listed Building Consent may specify the need for an Historic Building Record to develop the understanding of a building prior to and during any proposed works. Recordings range from Level 1 comprising photographs and brief notes to Level 4 providing a comprehensive analytical record. In accordance with Historic England guidance, our reports are suitable to fulfill planning purposes.

As part of a Listed Building Consent, we produce comprehensively researched heritage statements. Referencing national and local planning policy and guidance, the statement describes the significance of the building and the potential impact of any proposal. We include a range of sources including photographs, historical maps, sketches and analysis of on-site evidence.

Where necessary we work with other specialists such as Archaeologists.

Every five years, church buildings should be inspected by a suitably experienced and qualified professional, appointed after consultation with the Diocesan Advisory Committee. Our practice is approved by the Dioceses of St Albans and Oxford, currently working with thirteen churches on a quinquennial basis. The ages of the churches range from medieval to modern.

We work with many churches ‘beyond the quinquennial’, advising on re-ordering and other long term projects. We have worked with many churches for over fifteen years. 

Our intimate knowledge of the church construction and issues faced enables us to offer detailed advice rooted in the use of traditional materials and techniques.