N'land building inspectors are a pretty clued-up and helpful bunch, Andrea, and I certainly wouldn't suggest trying to slide things in that haven't been passed or do things first and get approval afterwards. They can (and have) made people demolish things that weren't approved.

On the other hand if they can see you're trying to do TLC to a historic building and have a good idea of what you're doing they'll let you get on with it.

My C17 farmhouse isn't listed, but once the inspectors realised we were trying to improve and conserve what was there (and remove the C20 bodges), they stopped interfering except for the things they have to inspect.

They seem a bit keen on sound insulation though.

Paws