Consent for Energy Efficiency Home Improvements

Simple draught-proofing, such as compression and wiper seals self adhered to the door or frame, that does not involve cutting a channel or groove into the door or its frame, can be achieved without affecting special interest and needing LBC. More invasive methods of draught-proofing, such as grooving, and fireproofing by splitting doors or overboarding, may affect special interest and may therefore need LBC as may the addition of mechanical door closers, floor-mounted spring closers, etc.

See also paragraph 48 for further information on draughtproofing. See Historic England technical advice Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings: Draught-proofing Windows and Doors for further information.

The main exception is:

1. Cutting a channel or groove into the edges of a door or door frame to accommodate draught-proofing materials, in cases where it would be visible and/or affect historic fabric of significance or would harmfully weaken the structure of the door. Though such works may affect special interest and therefore need LBC, they may be the most appropriate way to draught-proof the door

Simple draught-proofing, such as compression and wiper seals self-adhered to the window or frame, that does not involve cutting a channel or groove into the window or its frame, can be achieved without affecting special interest and needing listed building consent.

More invasive methods of draught-proofing, such as grooving and channelling may affect special interest and may therefore need LBC.

See also paragraph 49 for further information on draughtproofing. See Historic England technical advice Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings: Draught-proofing Windows and Doors for more detailed information.

The main exception is:

1. Cutting a channel or groove into the edges of a window or window frame to accommodate draught-proofing materials, in cases where it would be visible and/or affect historic fabric of significance or would harmfully weaken the structure of the window. Though such works may affect special interest and therefore need LBC, they may be the most appropriate way to draught-proof the window(s).

The installation of secondary glazing, if carefully and reversibly carried out, would not affect special interest and listed building consent would not therefore generally be needed for its installation.

Secondary glazing can have minimal visual impact if carefully planned to be as discreet as possible – slender frames can be concealed from view from outside and also be unobtrusive internally. It is therefore important that secondary glazing is plain, and either without subdivisions or with sub-divisions that follow the main divisions of windows – e.g. in two parts for a sash window. Any fixings should be as minimal as possible and into the framing of the window or the reveal, located either immediately behind the sashes/casements of the window or further forward within the reveal. See Historic England advice notes Traditional Windows: Their Care, Repair and Upgrading and Modifying Historic Windows as Part of Retrofitting Energy-Saving Measures. For the avoidance of doubt, double-glazing of sashes or casements themselves is likely to affect special interest and need LBC.

The main exceptions are:

1. Where insertion requires the truncation or cutting of historic features within the window reveals or would otherwise affect historic features (for instance where the works would need shutters to be removed, truncated or fixed shut).
2. Fixing the frame of secondary glazing to building materials where it is difficult to hide or disguise the fixing points if the secondary glazing were to be removed (stone or brickwork, or undecorated woodwork, for instance).
   Hiding previously used fixing points in painted timber is simple – when the installation is removed, the fixing holes are filled and the whole redecorated. This is more difficult in exposed brick and stonework and long practice suggests it is best to use some other method of fixing, such as an unfixed sub-frame or to fix into the mortar joints only. Mortar can more easily be repaired than stone and would not lead to harm as would holes in masonry. Fixings in undecorated historic woodwork should be as unobtrusive as possible.

Where historic windows or replacement windows of historic pattern survive without historic glass it may be possible to introduce slim-profile double-glazing without harming the significance of the listed building. There are compatibility issues to consider as the introduction of double-glazing can require the renewal of the window frame to accommodate thicker glazing, thereby harming significance.

Where historic windows have been replaced with ones whose design does not follow historic patterns, these are unlikely to contribute to the significance of listed buildings. Replacing such windows with new windows of a sympathetic historic pattern, whether single-glazed or incorporating slim-profile double-glazing, may cause no additional harm. It also provides an opportunity to enhance the significance of the building, which is the desired outcome under national policy.

Appropriate repair of shutters and external blinds or awnings would not affect special interest and therefore not need LBC.

External shutters, blinds and awnings protect against solar gain, whilst shutters also reduce heat loss. Such shutters are good at reducing heat loss but are less effective against heat gain. Some listed buildings formerly had external shutters, awnings and blinds; on many buildings it would be entirely appropriate for these missing features to be reinstated.

Similarly, reinstatement of internal shutters can bring many benefits and their reinstatement would be appropriate too. However, LBC is likely to be needed for the reinstatement of missing shutters, awnings and blinds, or for entirely new shutters, awnings and blinds. See also note 8.

Amongst the simplest of insulation methods, loft insulation does not affect special interest where it is a simple matter of laying insulation above flat ceilings in the roofspace, between the joists of the ceiling below (creating what is known as a cold roof) without alteration of roof and ceiling structures; it therefore does not need LBC.

The impact of insulation on the potential for moisture accumulation in building fabric, when insulating at ceiling level should always be considered before installation. Insulation should never be fastened to or sprayed on the underside of slates or tiles, as this makes it impossible to maintain or reuse the roof coverings.

The main exception is:

1. Any additional ventilation installed to reduce the risk of moisture accumulation may affect special interest and need LBC.

Solid ground floors can be a significant part of the history and character of an older building, so taking up floors and excavating below to install insulation can be potentially damaging to valuable historic fabric. Even where the floor finish is of no particular historic significance, any alterations to the floor structure beneath need to take account of potential buried historic features and archaeology, which can be of particular significance in churches. If the property is listed all such work will most likely require listed building consent.

Solid walls

Planning permission will be required for external insulation if the building is listed or in a conservation area. For listed buildings, listed building consent will also be required. Under certain circumstances external wall insulation can be classed as permitted development but the local planning authority should be consulted before any work commences.

Cavity walls

For listed buildings, any form of wall insulation is likely to require Listed Building Consent. External insulation will often require planning permission.

Changes which unacceptably altered the character or appearance of a listed building may not in any case be granted Listed Building Consent.

Timber-framed

[A protective coating or cladding] is likely to require consent for listed buildings and may require planning permission for other buildings.

Solid walls

In listed buildings, consent will be required for any internal alterations that affect the appearance and character, including any materials, details and finishes of historic or architectural interest. In many cases this may make the installation of insulation unacceptable.

Cavity walls

For listed buildings, any form of wall insulation is likely to require Listed Building Consent.

Changes which unacceptably altered the character or appearance of a listed building may not in any case be granted Listed Building Consent.

Timber-framed

In listed buildings, consent will usually be required for any internal alterations that affect the appearance and character, including any materials, details and finishes of historic or architectural interest.

Listed building consent is required for the change to a listed building in any manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The requirement applies to all types of works, and to all parts of buildings covered by the listing protection (possibly including attached and curtilage buildings or other structures).

An application for listed building consent is made to, and determined by, the local planning authority. This is separate to any need for planning permission. The local planning authority must consult Historic England and the National Amenity Societies on certain listed building consent applications.

If listed building consent is granted, conditions may be attached to the consent, such as: how much the solar panels project above the roof, how quickly they need to be removed at the end of their useful life, and the colour of the framework.

If you intend to install a PV system to a listed place of worship, you may need to get permission from the relevant denominational advisory committee or listed building consent. If your denomination is one of those covered by the Ecclesiastical Exemption, you will need consent from the advisory committee. The Ecclesiastical Exemption does not remove the need for planning permission. If your denomination is not exempt, you will need listed building consent and planning permission as set out above.

Our website contains more information on listed places of worship and consents.

For listed places of worship, we also recommend that you

• seek advice well in advance of any application to undertake works and before making any financial or contractual arrangements
• always consult with your local authority and denominational advisory body regarding statutory requirements
• develop an energy strategy for the place of worship and associated land and structures before making any decision on the installation of equipment

If the site where the solar panels are to be installed is a Scheduled Monument, any work will require scheduled monument consent from the Secretary of State, not the local planning authority. Historic England manages the process of scheduled monument consent on behalf of the Secretary of State. The protected site of a monument may also include any adjoining land essential for its support and preservation.