Painting historic buildings in Nottingham

Painting can be a relatively cheap way of improving the appearance of a building and enhancing the character of an area. However, it can also have a harmful impact where it is out of character with the building or its surroundings. Repainting windows, doors, gutters and fascias, as part of the normal maintenance of a building, doesn’t need permission. However, if you are intending to paint the whole of a building, or large parts of it, you need to be aware that permission may be needed from the council. We therefore recommend that you seek our advice before starting any work.

Is the painting an ‘advert’?

Adverts are controlled through planning law. If you are proposing to paint a building for the purposes of ‘announcement or display’, (including business names and logos, and symbols relating to the business or activity taking place in the building) it would be classed as an advert, and permission from the council is likely to be needed. It is an offence to display an advertisement without permission.

Is it a listed building?

If the building is listed, and the painting will change the character and appearance of the building (for example a significant change of colour) permission is needed. It is an offence to carry out work affecting a listed building without consent.

If the painting is an advert, and the building is also listed, then both listed building consent and advertisement consent will be needed.

Other considerations

Where a building is made out of brick or stone, and has not been painted before, painting is a major change that will have a long-term impact on the appearance of the building that is difficult to reverse. A painted wall is likely to need significantly more long term maintenance than an unpainted one.

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