Lichfield Specialists

Listed Building & Conservation Area Roofing in Lichfield

Conservation-aware roof work on Lichfield’s listed property. Welsh slate, hand-made clay tile, sheet lead and lime mortar – to the standard the Conservation Officer expects. Free survey, written fixed-price quote.

CALL 07376 660 209
Get a Free Survey

Conservation-aware methods
Own employed team
Free pre-application survey
Written fixed-price quote
Fully insured for heritage work

Roofing for Lichfield’s Heritage Property

Lichfield is one of three cities in Staffordshire and contains over 230 listed buildings, with seven separate conservation areas. The Cathedral Close holds the highest concentration of medieval and Georgian architecture in the county. If you own a listed building or a property within one of Lichfield’s conservation areas, any roof work normally needs Listed Building Consent or Conservation Area Consent before it can begin – and the materials, methods and visible finish all have to satisfy Lichfield District Council’s Conservation Officer.

We work with Lichfield homeowners and property owners across WS13 and WS14 on exactly this kind of work – slate repair on Georgian property, hand-made clay tile work on older buildings, sheet lead flashings, valley and apron work, and full re-roofs where the underlying timber is past saving. Our approach is the same on every heritage job: free pre-application survey, written method statement, fixed-price quote, and we work to the standard the Conservation Officer expects.

Heritage Roofing Work We Carry Out in Lichfield

Welsh slate repair & re-slating

Welsh slate (Penrhyn or Cwt-y-Bugail) for Georgian and Victorian Lichfield property. Carefully selected reclaimed slate where a perfect match is required. Copper or stainless steel nail fixing – never galvanised on heritage roofs.

Hand-made clay tile

Hand-made clay tile (Aldershaw, Tudor, or matched reclaimed) for Tudor and earlier Lichfield property. We match colour, surface texture and dimensions to the surviving original tile wherever possible.

Sheet lead flashings, valleys & aprons

Proper sheet lead to BS EN 12588 – codes 4, 5 and 6 depending on the position. Chimney aprons, back gutters, valley work, parapet flashings. Welted joints, lead clips, proper geometry. Never PVC or aluminium alternatives on listed property.

Chimney stack rebuilds & repointing

Chimney rebuilds in matching brick or stone with hydraulic lime mortar (NHL 2 or NHL 3.5), not modern Portland cement. New lead aprons and flashings included. Pots reinstated to match where surviving.

Roof timber repair & conservation

Where original roof timber is sound it stays. Where it is past repair we splice in seasoned oak or pitch pine to match. We don’t strip out historic timber without good reason – the Conservation Officer is rightly strict on this.

Conservation area flat roof work

EPDM rubber or built-up felt on rear/hidden flat sections where heritage controls allow. Material choice depends on visibility from the public realm and the specific conservation area policy – we’ll advise during the survey.

Lichfield’s Seven Conservation Areas

Lichfield District Council currently designates seven conservation areas across the city and immediate surroundings, each with its own appraisal and management plan. Roof work in any of these areas is subject to specific local policy in addition to the standard Listed Building Consent requirements that apply to individually listed property.

Cathedral Close conservation area – the tightest controls in the city. Many properties around the Close are Grade I or Grade II* listed. The original Welsh slate, hand-made clay tile and lead-dressed parapets are typical. Any change of material is rarely accepted.
Lichfield City Centre conservation area – covering Bird Street, Bore Street, Conduit Street, Market Street, Dam Street, Sandford Street and surrounding. Georgian and early Victorian property dominates. Welsh slate or hand-made clay tile expected for like-for-like repair.
Stowe conservation area – the area around Stowe Pool. Mix of older property and quality Victorian villa development. Materials policy slightly more flexible than the Cathedral Close.
Greenhill conservation area – covering the historic Greenhill suburb. Brick and clay tile dominate. Some interesting Edwardian property.
Boley Park conservation area – protecting the planned Edwardian and inter-war development at Boley Park. Less restrictive than the medieval core but still policy-controlled.
Streethay conservation area – covering the historic Streethay village core, now joined to Lichfield by modern development.
Curborough conservation area – the smallest, protecting historic farmstead and village character on the city’s northern edge.

For any roof work visible from the public realm, our recommendation is always the same: a pre-application chat with the Conservation Officer is cheaper and faster than dealing with enforcement after the fact. We can join that conversation as part of our survey if you’d like.

Why Property Owners in Lichfield Choose Us for Heritage Work

Own employed team

No subcontractors who may not understand heritage methods. The people on your roof are our people.

Familiar with Lichfield’s conservation areas

We work across the Cathedral Close, Bird Street, Stowe, Greenhill, Boley Park, Streethay and Curborough.

Free pre-application survey

No charge to look at your roof and advise on what consent (if any) you’ll need before any work starts.

Written fixed-price quote

Quote is in writing, the price doesn’t change once accepted, surprise extras don’t appear at the end.

Method statement supplied

For Listed Building Consent applications we provide the method statement and material specification you need to support the application.

Fully insured for heritage work

£2 million public liability insurance, with specific cover for heritage and listed building work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need permission to repair my roof if my house is listed?

For genuine like-for-like material replacement (broken Welsh slate replaced with matching Welsh slate of the same gauge and size), often no Listed Building Consent is needed – but it is always sensible to check with the Lichfield District Council Conservation Officer first. For any change of material, change of detail, or work that affects the building’s character, Listed Building Consent IS needed, and carrying out unauthorised work is a criminal offence under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Can I use modern concrete tile if it looks similar?

In almost all cases, no. The Conservation Officer will require like-for-like materials. The test is character – concrete tile rarely matches the character of Welsh slate, hand-made clay tile or stone tile that listed buildings typically have. There is no shortcut here; trying to use a cheaper substitute will normally fail planning.

What if my property is in a conservation area but not listed?

You generally have more flexibility, but you must still check with Lichfield District Council. Article 4 directions or specific conservation area policies may apply to your street or property. Any roof change visible from the public realm may need Conservation Area Consent. The Cathedral Close has the strictest controls; other conservation areas like Stowe, Greenhill or Boley Park have varied controls.

How long does Listed Building Consent take in Lichfield?

The statutory determination period is 8 weeks from validated submission. Lichfield District Council is often quicker than this for straightforward like-for-like applications, particularly if you supply a clear method statement and material specification with the application. For complex applications (re-roofs, change of material, structural alterations) allow the full 8 weeks and possibly longer if consultation with English Heritage or other statutory consultees is needed.

Are listed building roof repairs zero-rated for VAT?

No. The VAT zero-rating for alterations to listed buildings was abolished in 2012. Repair work to listed buildings is now standard-rated for VAT, the same as any other roofing work.

Will you support my Listed Building Consent application?

Yes. As part of our free survey, we’ll provide a written method statement, material specification and photographs that you can attach to your Listed Building Consent application. We don’t make the application on your behalf (the owner is the legally responsible party) but we make the supporting documentation easier for you to prepare.

Do you work with architects and heritage surveyors?

Yes. For larger projects where you’re using a heritage architect or a chartered building surveyor, we work to their specification. We can also recommend conservation-experienced professionals in the Lichfield area if you don’t already have one.

Need a Velux on a listed building or in a conservation area? See our Lichfield Velux page including Conservation model guidance →

Get a Free Survey for Your Lichfield Listed Building

Fill in the form and we will call you back within 30 minutes to arrange your free survey. For emergencies call 07376 660 209 now.
Prefer email? Write to info@aetherroofingsolutions.com.

Heritage Roofing Across Lichfield WS13 & WS14

Free survey, written fixed-price quote, conservation-aware methods, own employed team.

07376 660 209

Also serving the wider Lichfield district including Burntwood, Streethay, Boley Park and surrounding villages.