HERITAGE & LISTED BUILDING SURVEYS
We provide specialist surveying and professional advice for historic and Listed buildings across the North East of England and the Yorkshire Dales. Our role is to assess condition, understand significance, identify risk, and provide clear, proportionate guidance to support the ongoing care, repair and management of heritage assets.
With over 50 years of combined professional experience in building conservation, our advice is grounded in a detailed understanding of traditional construction, historic materials and established conservation principles. We work pragmatically, balancing heritage sensitivity with usability, safety and long-term stewardship.
Our services support private owners, trusts, churches, estates and managing bodies in making informed, compliant decisions about their buildings.
Heritage Condition Surveys
We undertake detailed inspections of historic and Listed buildings to assess condition, diagnose defects and advise on appropriate repair strategies. Surveys focus on how the building performs, how defects have developed and how intervention can be managed sensitively and proportionately.
Our advice is evidence-based, avoiding unnecessary intervention while ensuring risks are properly addressed.
Quinquennial Inspections
Quinquennial inspections form a core part of our heritage work, particularly for churches and other protected buildings. These five-yearly surveys provide a structured assessment of condition, maintenance needs and emerging risks.
They are designed to support long-term planning, prioritisation of works and responsible stewardship.
What Our Services Include
Depending on the instruction, surveys typically include:
- Full external and internal inspection of the building fabric
- Assessment of roofs, masonry, timber elements, joinery, glazing and rainwater goods
- Identification of active, underlying and emerging defects
- Consideration of environmental exposure and material performance
- Review of access, safety and maintenance constraints
- Photographic documentation to support findings
- Clear, structured reporting with prioritised recommendations
Where appropriate, we also provide advice to support Listed Building Consent applications and liaison with conservation officers.
Our Conservation Expertise
Our heritage advice is informed by extensive experience of:
- Traditional masonry, timber, slate and lime-based construction
- Historic roof structures and coverings
- Moisture movement and breathability in traditional buildings
- Age-related deterioration and environmental exposure
- Conservation philosophy and best practice
- Working collaboratively with architects, custodians and local authorities
Why Choose Cowie Consulting
- Over 50 years of combined professional conservation experience
- Chartered Building Surveyors with heritage specialism
- Independent, proportionate and technically rigorous advice
- Clear, accessible reports tailored to non-technical stakeholders
- Strong regional knowledge of historic building forms and materials
HERE TO HELP
An opening discussion, not only in relation to condition, is important but, in these changing times, reviewing possible development potential can also be extremely beneficial.
Our discussions are fluid, practical and focused on your objectives, and we are always on hand to help and guide you.
Call: 01325 480 424
Email: info@cowieconsulting.net
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