Lintel for new opening in Grade 2 Listed house

[KerryFl]

We have just got approval for some works in our Grade 2 listed house. The council have said that if we need to put a lintel in for a new opening (we will), they want prior approval "To ensure that special regard is paid to protecting the special architectural and historic interest and integrity of the building.."

Does anyone know what they would want as it sounds like a concrete lintel wouldn't be approved?

Also, we need to provide details of making good - I assume this to be lime render but anyone have any other details they would require?

This is first time with a Grade 2 listed, as you can tell! Thanks.

 

[a twig]

What do the rest of your lintels look like? They’d probably want it to match

 

[a twig]

And yes they will want a method statement saying what the new lintel will be and how it will be installed.

A lime mortar that is closely colour matched to existing mortar would be best, depending on your existing construction an NHL2 based mortar will probably suffice

 

[Kearn]

If really depends what the opening is and what job the lintel is doing and whether it will be seen. BC should probably be notified, and they would then stick their tuppence worth in also…

For context, we have inserted a steel for a large opening in our property - all fine from a LBC perspective and won’t be seen once everything is finished up. Oak was an alternative, but sometimes consistency wins.

But, yes you need to identify the pros and cons of the approaches considered, the rationale for your choice and the relevant impacts on the significance of the building, and level of harm as defined by HE.

 

[KerryFl]

It will be a lintel for a new doorway opening that will be plastered. The other lintels are not visible as they are plastered. Obviously, a concrete lintel would be easy but as they have requested details as per the permission, I am assuming that this would not be preference for them.

 

[Flyfisher]

You may be assuming too much.

Without knowing the construction of the property it's not easy to say if a concrete lintel would be appropriate or not. If it's an oak timber-frame house then it probably wouldn't be appropriate but if it's a brick or stone house then it probably will be, especially as you say it will be plastered over to match the walls.

In my experience, these things can often be a 'tick-box' exercise and if you explain what you intend to do in sufficient detail then they'll likely say ok, simply because you've described the works in sufficient detail. If, for some reason, they don't agree with your proposal then it's incumbent on them to say what would be acceptable, which leads back to option 1 and why it is always a good idea to discuss these sorts of things with the conservation office in the first place.

Seems to me you have two options:
1. contact your local council conservation or historic buildings officer and ask them what they want
2. confirm you intend to install a concrete lintel and then cover it up and make good with a plaster to match the existing plaster