Did you hear about that couple down the road who made some upgrades to their property, and had to change it all back because they didn’t apply for planning permission first?
You’ve probably heard a few similar horror stories about planning permission, but the good news is, you don’t need it when installing a new boiler in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
However, if you live in a listed building, you may need to check with your local planning authority before any work goes ahead, just to be on the safe side.
Listed building consent
Depending on the type of building you live in, you may need to acquire listed building consent before installing a new boiler. This is mainly because of the flue, which has to get through to the outside of the building.
As an example, on the back of Georgian-style buildings and basements etc. it is acceptable to put in a four-inch flue terminal. However, on the front of any building in the new town or old town, I’d advise having a look around to see if there are any other flues on the buildings, and always check with your local planning officer.
You could also ask your chosen heating engineer if he/she already has experience fitting a new flue in the same type of properties in your area.
You’ll find that most of the time, your local planning authority will approve your new boiler installation, as long as the original stonework on the building is protected and the character of the building remains unaltered.
Protection of stonework
Once I had a job in Portobello, which meant working on an old red sandstone building behind the promenade. We were given consent to do the work, which involved cutting the stone so the flue could reach the outside.
There was only one stipulation: if there was any breakout of the stone, they would want it repointed and repairedto match the original stonework exactly, so it had to be pretty near perfect.
Luckily, we managed to drill a pilot hole from the outside in, to ensure it was clean – otherwise, it could have cost us a fortune in repairs.
Sometimes there are other ways to get around it. For example, if a flue cannot go through a building, it may still be possible to fit it through a fixed panel of a glass window, as this is deemed to be a temporary structure and will not break the fabric of a building.
Very occasionally, and despite best efforts, I’ve had a situation where we were not given permission to install a flue, and as a result the customer had to fit an electric boiler rather than gas.
Who’s responsible for listed building consent?
At the end of the day, it’s always the homeowner’s responsibility to apply for listed building consent – although as an engineer, I always do my utmost to ensure these things are covered.
In order to apply for listed building consent, you must first contact your local planning authority who will send you the necessary forms. In some cases, it may even be possible to submit your application online, so it’s worth checking your local planning authority website for more guidance.
Remember, it is a criminal offence to carry out work on a listed building without first acquiring consent.
Conclusion
You’ve probably heard a few tales about the miseries that occur when planning permission is left out of the equation, but the good news is that you don’t have to worry when installing your new boiler.
However, if you live in a listed building, it’s always wise to check with your local planning authority, as you may need listed building consent.
Usually, you will be given consent as long as the original stonework and character of the building is protected, and you should ask your engineer if they’ve had previous experience with similar buildings in your area. They may know a way to install your new boiler with minimal disturbance to your property.
It’s always the homeowner’s responsibility to apply for listed building consent, and you can apply by contacting your local authority.
Are you thinking of installing a new boiler in your listed building?
