How We Secured Retrospective Planning Permission on a Non-Designated Heritage Asset

When building works don't quite go to plan, it can feel overwhelming—especially when you're dealing with a property that has heritage value. We recently helped a client successfully obtain retrospective planning permission for extensions and alterations to their home, and we wanted to share how we navigated this tricky situation.

What Happened?

Our client had carried out extensions and alterations to their dwelling, but unfortunately, the works weren't built in accordance with the approved planning permission. To make matters more complex, while the property wasn't Listed or locally listed, but it was considered a non-designated heritage asset—meaning it holds some historical or architectural significance.

The Challenge

The main hurdle was that our client wanted to retain certain aspects of the works that had already been completed which were not approved. They had their reasons for wanting to retain certain aspects of the works, but we needed to balance their needs with what would likely be acceptable to the planning authority particularly given the heritage sensitivities.

When dealing with heritage assets, planning and conservation officers carefully consider the impact of any changes on the building's character and significance. Getting retrospective approval meant demonstrating that the alterations could work harmoniously with the property's heritage value.

Our Approach

Rather than simply submitting the scheme as-built and hoping for the best, we took a strategic approach. Working closely with our client and bringing in our own independent heritage adviser, we carefully reviewed the completed works. Through this collaborative process on site, we identified specific tweaks that could be made to the built-out scheme.

These weren't major overhauls—they were thoughtful adjustments that would better respect the heritage character of the property while still allowing our client to retain the core elements that mattered most to them. Our heritage adviser's input was invaluable in understanding what would satisfy conservation concerns while keeping the scheme practical and liveable.

The Result

By taking the time to refine the design of the proposal before submission, rather than rushing in with a retrospective application for the works exactly as built, we gave the scheme the best possible chance of success. Furthermore, the application was supported by a robust planning statement as well as a standalone heritage assessment. Our strategy paid off—retrospective planning permission was approved.

What Can We Learn?

This case demonstrates that even when things don't go according to the original plan, there's often a path forward. The keys to success were:

• Obtaining expert advice early on – bringing in the relevant experts such as planning consultants can identify potential hurdles and solutions to those hurdles (ie. bringing in other technical experts were necessary).

• Flexibility and collaboration – working with the client to find acceptable compromises to give the best chance of success

• Strategic thinking – making considered changes before submission rather than hoping for approval as-is

Need help with a retrospective planning application ? Get in touch to discuss how we can assist with your project.