Living with Listing - Course

The course

Do you own a listed building? Are you thinking of buying one? This course is for you. In the one-day workshop, Alfie Robinson (a historian and heritage consultant) will give you a crash course in what exactly you’re getting yourself into.

We will begin by briefly exploring why we’ve ended up with listed buildings, what the protections mean in practice, and then teach the fundamentals of how to ‘read’ a listed building description using real-life examples.

The course will tackle the most common (and riskiest) misconceptions about old buildings and the way they are protected in UK law and in the planning process. We will then consider some of the most common types of alteration to a listed building you’re likely to want to do, such as upward extensions, ground-floor extensions or internal changes. We’ll consider how to approach this, how likely these are to get permission, the conservation principles to use, how to find the right craftsmen and women, and how to go about restoring things to their ‘original’ state.

It’s all about helping you do the right thing for your home and for you as painlessly as possible.

On the day

• History and background to listed buildings
• Reading listings with questions on real-life listings
• Protections in Law and Policy
• Misconceptions
• Changes to buildings, how to go about them and how to find contractors
• House tour of a listed building

When and where

• The course will take place  from 10:00 till 16:00 on Saturday May 17th 2025.
• The course will now begin with a tour of a listed property at 285 Kennington Rd, London SE11 6BY. Please meet here for a 10am start
• The remainder of the course will take place in Create Streets’ offices in central London at 81 Lambeth Walk SE11 6DX 

Practicalities

The course fee is £110

Tea, coffee, water and snacks will be provided but attendees should bring a packed lunch.

Tutor

Alfie Robinson is a historian and heritage consultant based in Cornwall. His publications can be found on Academia.edu and ResearchGate. He took a first class BA degree at the University of Cambridge followed by an MA (distinction) at the University of York where his thesis focussed on medieval English architecture. As a heritage consultant, Alfie turns his research skills to present-day building projects, where he advises on the history of existing structures, their significance, and what to do next.

Testimonials

Joel Endersby Heritage Restorations -“We have worked with Alfie on numerous projects; he has made a fine name for himself as a historian”

Marazion Quaker Meeting -“He was extremely thorough [...] our applications were readily granted. We were extremely pleased with both Alfie’s work on our behalf and the finished result which has won plaudits from both our members and the local community, including the local town council.”