Facade Preservation and Interior Reconstruction

The preservation of facades alone and the gutting and reconstruction of interiors, is rarely an acceptable approach to the re-use of listed buildings and will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. Where this approach has been accepted in the past by the Department this has applied mainly in cases where historic buildings have sustained major damage unintentionally. By adopting a flexible and imaginative approach historic buildings can be adapted to new beneficial uses without destroying their architectural and/or structural integrity. For example, maximum office floor loadings are never needed in all parts of a building, so any unusually heavy loads can often be accommodated in stronger areas such as basements.