Business Details
26 Years
experience
Your Trusted Surveyors for Heritage and Property Solutions
Smith & Garratt is a family-owned firm of specialist surveyors established in 2000, renowned for delivering practical solutions to property management challenges. Our expertise spans heritage consultancy, planning and development, and private client services, with a particular focus on historic buildings across England and Scotland. With over 25 years of combined experience in town and country planning, our multidisciplinary team combines surveying, legal, and architectural skills to provide tailored advice. We specialise in listed building consent, building pathology, and conservation projects, having worked on Scheduled Monuments and A-listed properties. Our commitment to excellence was recognised with the Historic Houses/Sotheby's Restoration of the Year Award 2018.We pride ourselves on pragmatic problem-solving, evidenced by our track record of successful planning appeals and complex restoration projects. Our clients benefit from our deep understanding of building healthcare, from routine inspections to major renovations. We serve private individuals, charities, and local authorities, offering services ranging from measured surveys to expert witness reports. Our approach integrates technical expertise with a client-centric ethos, ensuring outcomes that balance heritage preservation with modern functionality.
Services
Heritage Consultancy
Listed Building Consent
Building Surveys
Planning & Development
Private Client Services
Conservation Projects
Expert Witness Reports
Building Pathology
Measured Surveys
Restoration Work
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- 25+ years of planning consultancy experience in England and Scotland
- Principal surveyor double-qualified in law and surveying
- Award-winning heritage consultancy with Sotheby's Restoration Award 2018
- Multidisciplinary team combining surveying, legal, and architectural expertise
- Proven success in complex listed building projects and planning appeals
Associations and certifications
- Historic England
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- Historic Houses
- Listed Property Owners Club
What people say
Fantastic job
Delighted with transformation
Invaluable expertise
Positive outcome achieved
Superb detailed survey
Services
Heritage Consultancy
Specialist advice for listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments, covering conservation, restoration, and statutory consents. We manage projects from design stage through to completion, ensuring compliance with heritage regulations while maintaining structural integrity. Our team has worked on properties dating from the medieval period to modern listed structures.
Listed Building Consent
Expert navigation of listed building consent processes, including preparation of detailed applications and negotiation with local authorities. We specialise in securing permissions for alterations, extensions, and renovations while preserving historical significance. Our success rate includes complex cases requiring appeals and public inquiries.
Building Surveys
Comprehensive surveys identifying structural defects, damp issues, and compliance requirements for residential and commercial properties. Our Level 3 surveys provide detailed analysis of building conditions, with prioritised recommendations for repairs and maintenance strategies tailored to historic structures.
Planning & Development
Strategic planning consultancy for residential and commercial developments, including brownfield regeneration and renewable energy projects. We manage applications, appeals, and planning agreements, with specialist knowledge of heritage impact assessments and community infrastructure levy negotiations.
Private Client Services
Tailored property solutions combining surveying, legal, and architectural expertise. Services include compulsory purchase compensation claims, expert witness reports, and building standards appeals. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive support for complex property transactions and disputes.
People
Hugh Garratt
Senior Surveyor
Double-qualified surveyor and lawyer with 25+ years' experience in heritage consultancy. Founded Smith & Garratt in 2000 after a career as a land agent. Specialises in planning appeals, listed building consents, and expert witness reports. Led award-winning restoration projects including the Mackintosh Oak Room at V&A Dundee.
Questions
What heritage consultancy services do you offer?
We provide listed building consent applications, conservation management, restoration planning, and heritage impact assessments for properties across England and Scotland.
Can you help with planning permission for listed buildings?
Yes, we specialise in securing listed building consents and navigating complex planning processes, including appeals and public inquiries for heritage properties.
What survey types do you conduct?
We offer Level 3 building surveys, measured surveys, building pathology reports, and specialist defect analyses for residential and commercial properties.
Do you handle private client property matters?
Yes, our private client services include compulsory purchase compensation, expert witness reports, and building standards appeals with legal and surveying expertise combined.
What areas do you cover?
We operate throughout England and Scotland, with particular expertise in border regions and historic properties requiring specialist conservation knowledge.
Have you won any industry awards?
We received the Historic Houses/Sotheby's Restoration of the Year Award 2018 for our work on Marchmont House and multiple RICS commendations for heritage projects.
