While the intricate web of laws and protections afforded to Britain’s built environment is what has preserved its historic character in the 21st century, it can also be very difficult to parse when it comes time to undertake conversion or building work. With a variety of different laws protecting historic buildings and landscapes, as well as different categories of protection, it can be a daunting process to confront. This is especially true in particularly beautiful and strongly protected areas such as Harrogate and the surrounding district, which has some of the most stringent planning protections in the country where heritage is concerned. That’s why it’s a good idea to have an expert on your side to give you the best advice whatever your situation, and it’s why you should get in touch with Blue Willow Heritage.

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Blue Willow Heritage is a Harrogate heritage consultancy that has many years of experience in creating high quality and successful arguments in support of a huge variety of schemes, all the way from modern residential dwellings to Victorian school conversions and medieval commercial buildings. Our approach is based on a deep and thorough knowledge of both planning legislation and heritage buildings, which allows us to create compelling cases that can overturn previous decisions and steer new ones in a successful direction, based on a dialogue between clients, architects and planners and the local authorities. By understanding the needs of all parties and translating them into concrete proposals, we can create submissions that fulfil the needs of all stakeholders.

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At Blue Willow Heritage, we go above and beyond mere compliance to genuinely add value at all stages of the project. We don’t just tick boxes, we make better buildings, which we can do all the way from the drawing board to the first spade in the ground or when the keys are handed over. Through our experience in consulting with planners, architects, specialist craftspeople and construction companies, we can provide advice and insight that can optimise a building’s design and materials from a heritage perspective, making it high quality and more likely to receive planning permission.

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Harrogate and the surrounding area are particularly sensitive and incorporate a wide variety of buildings and landscapes, from the Yorkshire Dales National Park to its rows of handsome Georgian and Victorian townhouses around Valley Gardens or the traditional agricultural buildings of Nidderdale. At Blue Willow Heritage we have worked with a huge range of different building types in many different settings, with an emphasis on local projects in North Yorkshire, and come fully prepared with the local knowledge of the area that can make all the difference. So whether your project is in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Otley, Ilkley, Grassington, Pateley Bridge or anywhere inbetween, we can help overcome any heritage concerns you may have.

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We produce supporting documents for your scheme including listed building consent, desk-based assessments, statements of significance heritage statements, and historic building recordings. We can also help with all of your on-site requirements too, and provide services such as watching briefs, below-ground archaeological services, drone surveys, human remains analysis and more. So if you’ve got a project in the Harrogate District that needs specialist heritage advice, call Blue Willow Heritage first.