The decorating notebook
Painting, colour & listed-building consent
A familiar paint colour does not settle the permissions question. Check the building, the existing finish and the proposed change before specifying the work.
Start with the address and the proposed work
Check the conservation area map and the individual listing before discussing alterations. Keep the description of the work precise: repainting an existing coating, removing earlier layers and painting previously exposed material are different proposals. The council’s map helps identify the designated area; it is not an approval for a particular decorating scheme.
Sources: RBKC: conservation area maps
Listing includes the interior
RBKC explains that a listing protects the whole building, including internal features and later extensions. Changes affecting its character require consent. A room behind an unaltered façade can therefore still need careful assessment. Include cornices, doors, panelling, shutters and any unusual earlier decoration in the information you give the council.
Sources: RBKC: listed buildings explained
Exterior colour and unpainted surfaces
Historic England advises that external redecoration may need permission where it changes a listed building’s character. Examples include coating walls that were previously unpainted or making a pronounced colour change. It also highlights the significance of earlier decorative layers. Do not assume that stripping back to a clean surface is always an appropriate starting point.
Make the decision before ordering paint
Send the authority clear photographs, the current finish and a description of the proposed preparation and coating. Ask what advice or consent is needed for that scope. Keep any written response, conditions and approved samples with the project documents. Conservation-area designation, listed status and any property-specific restrictions should be checked separately; this guide does not give a blanket permission to repaint.
Translate the answer into a specification
The decorating quotation should reflect the agreed method and surfaces, with responsibilities for approvals stated. Separate specialist investigation, fabric repairs and conservation work where needed. A colour from a heritage range is a product choice, not proof of permission or suitability. If the proposed work changes after inspection, revisit the advice rather than treating an earlier answer as covering a different scheme.
- Full address, listing entry and relevant conservation map
- Photos of existing coatings and significant details
- Preparation method, proposed product and colour sample
- Written advice, consents and conditions before work proceeds
Start with a conversation
Tell us about your property.
Share the address, the rooms or surfaces, and what you have in mind.
Your project details
Tell us what you would like to decorate and where.