I'm in the process of buying a Grade 2 listed stone built Georgian town house in Belford, Northumberland, and I am waiting for the survey report. It has an extension, which was, by the look of it, done before the place was listed, as it removed a tall arched window to do it. My guess is about 30 years ago. There are already plans passed to knock it down and build a new one, but I am not sure I need that, and would like to work with what is there.

It has one or two problems that are obvious and need addressing, and I'm praying the survey doesn't notice much more! I don't know how extensive the listing is, and I had already thought of getting somebody from the planning dept out to tell me what I can and can't do - such as altering the living room fireplace to take a stove, and enlarging the (original) loft access, so that you can actually get into it!

I loved the house on sight, and really want to take care of it. Luckily, from the sale of my present house, I should have more than enough to deal with it.

Andrea