Good site, Keith!
Only a couple of points…
The requirements for obtaining LBC are not peculiar to Shropshire but are now statutory throughout England.
As for obtaining work in the field of conservation, the old system of ‘known tradesmen’ lists kept by the local authority has been superceded by the Trader Register (
www.traderregister.org.uk). On first contact with the CO, owners of old properties looking for a local tradesman will frequently ask them who they can recommend, which is when they’ll now be referred to the Trader Register. In my experience this happens regardless of whether you’ve got a website because it gives the tradesmen on that list the appearance of credibility, whether a reality or not!
Be aware also, Keith, that I know of no tradesman who charges for obtaining LBC or any of the other permissions for the simple reason that the customer plays one off against the other. There are other issues here, but they’re too involved to be gone into without boring everyone to death.
And explain the Charles Rennie Mackintosh connection with the Hill House-modelled furniture, especially that wonderful chair. Not everyone will get the allusion. Perhaps a link to a Mackintosh site?
Having decided to retire next year, if anything in your neck of the woods comes my way I’ll point them in your direction. Get your head around sash windows though and get your name on that Trader Register. For some reason they reckon to take eight bloody weeks from receiving your ‘agreement’ to actually putting your details on the site! Typical. A lot of guys are now putting the Trader Register logo on their sites because it makes them look "accredited", so you need to match them.