A clear, practical guide to listed building consent: when it is needed, what evidence a strong application contains, and how to work well with conservation officers.

Twelve practical checks — from head height and structural surveys to party walls, building regulations and ventilation — to settle before you instruct a loft conversion builder.

Extending a home in a conservation area comes down to research, sympathetic materials and early conversations with the council. Here is how to avoid the delays that catch most beginners out.