Specialist roofing for listed and conservation area buildings across Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire. Lime mortar, clay tile matching, lead flashings and listed building consent guidance. Grade II and Grade II* experience.
Stratford-upon-Avon has one of the highest concentrations of listed buildings of any English market town. The Old Town conservation area alone contains hundreds of listed properties spanning five centuries of building history — from the timber-framed Elizabethan buildings around Shakespeare's Birthplace to Georgian townhouses on the Waterside approach. Each era of construction brings specific roofing requirements, and each carries specific legal obligations under the listed building consent regime that do not apply to unlisted properties.
We have worked on listed buildings in Stratford for over 20 years. This experience means we understand not just the technical requirements — which materials, which mortar mixes, which tile profiles — but the planning context that governs each repair decision. We advise on consent requirements at every survey for listed properties, and we have never instructed a homeowner to begin work that subsequently required a retrospective consent application.
Listed building consent is required for any works to a listed building that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. For roofing, this primarily means material changes — replacing clay tiles with concrete, using cement mortar instead of lime, or substituting EPDM for a lead parapet. Routine like-for-like repair using correct materials generally does not require consent. Where the boundary is unclear, we contact Stratford-on-Avon District Council's conservation officer directly for pre-application advice before instructing any work.
Free quotes — no call-out fees — honest advice.
“Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on the Waterside — full chimney repointing in hydraulic lime and lead flashing replacement. They managed the consent process, delivered the work to conservation specification and provided full photographic documentation for the District Council file.”
“Tudor timber-framed property off Chapel Street. Complex roof repair with clay peg tile matching and lime ridge mortar. They clearly understood the building and the planning requirements without needing to be told. Excellent.”
“Listed farmhouse outside Snitterfield. Needed like-for-like slate replacement on the north slope. They sourced the right Welsh Blue profile, confirmed no consent was required for the repair, and completed the job in two days.”
Yes. We work on listed buildings across Stratford-upon-Avon and the wider Warwickshire district regularly. This includes Grade II and Grade II* listed properties in the Old Town conservation area, on the High Street in Henley-in-Arden, and on farms and manor houses across the rural CV37 and CV34 catchments. We understand listed building consent requirements and advise on the correct consent route before any work begins.
For listed buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon the most common requirements are: clay plain tiles in a matching profile and colour for any tile replacement on a visible elevation; lime mortar for all repointing of chimney stacks, ridge mortar and any pointing work on the historic fabric; lead flashings to appropriate codes rather than modern alternatives; and natural Welsh slate or Cotswold stone slate where the original covering was slate. Stratford-on-Avon District Council's conservation officer is the final authority on material acceptability for each specific building.
Routine repair and maintenance using like-for-like materials on a listed building generally does not require listed building consent. Any change of material, change of appearance, or alteration to the building's historic fabric does require consent before work begins. The boundary is not always obvious — a change from lime mortar to cement on a chimney stack is an alteration requiring consent, even though it might appear to be a like-for-like repair. We advise on consent requirements in every survey for listed properties.
We use pre-mixed hydraulic lime mortars from specialist suppliers, with the mix proportions matched to the hardness and absorption characteristics of the surrounding brick or stone. For Stratford Old Town properties with Victorian red brick, we typically use a 1:2.5 NHL 3.5 mix. For softer pre-Victorian stock and Cotswold limestone properties, we use a weaker NHL 2 mix. All pointing is raked out to a minimum 20mm depth before repointing to ensure adequate mechanical key.
We can prepare the technical specification documents that accompany a listed building consent application and can meet with the conservation officer on site if required. We cannot act as a planning agent, but we can support your application with detailed method statements and material specifications. Most straightforward roofing consent applications in Stratford are handled by the homeowner or their solicitor using our technical documentation.
No call-out fees. No obligation. Local roofers covering Stratford and Warwickshire since 2003.
01789 509542 ✉ Email Us Instead