Heritage Drone Surveys & Listed Building Inspections

Listed Building Inspections Detailed condition surveys of listed buildings — roofs, facades, chimneys, parapets, stonework and guttering — delivered as annotated photo reports without scaffolding or working at height.

Heritage Site Mapping Accurate 2D orthomosaic maps and topographic surveys of historic sites, estates, gardens and landscapes. Ideal for planning applications, conservation management plans and grant reporting.

3D Modelling & Digital Reconstruction Photorealistic 3D models of historic structures for research, interpretation, marketing and archive purposes. Models can be shared as interactive files or embedded in websites and presentations.

Condition Monitoring Programmes Repeat drone surveys at planned intervals to track deterioration over time, monitor restoration progress and provide documented evidence for funders, insurers and statutory bodies.

Conservation Planning Support Detailed aerial data used by architects, conservation officers and structural engineers to plan and specify repair works accurately before any contractor sets foot on site.

Emergency Heritage Inspections Rapid callout for storm, fire or flood damage to historic properties. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire.

No Scaffolding — No Disruption Traditional inspections of towers, roofs, chimneys, parapets and stone facades require expensive access equipment that takes days to erect and can close sections of your site to visitors. Our drones access the same areas in minutes, with no physical contact with the structure. Historic fabric stays protected. Your site stays open.

Precision Condition Assessments High-resolution aerial imagery captures details the naked eye cannot — cracked masonry, failed pointing, water ingress, vegetation growth, corroded ironwork and structural movement. Early identification means better-targeted repair work, lower long-term costs and stronger evidence for insurance claims or conservation reports.

3D Models & Orthomosaics Mapping We convert drone data into photorealistic 3D models, elevation surveys and accurate orthomosaic maps of entire buildings or landscapes. These records provide an invaluable baseline for ongoing condition monitoring, architectural research and public interpretation — and can be shared digitally with consultants, trustees and funders.

Stronger Funding Applications Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other grant bodies increasingly expect detailed condition evidence alongside funding bids. Our drone-generated reports — with annotated imagery, measurement data and 3D visualisations — provide exactly the kind of professional, accurate documentation that strengthens applications and satisfies progress reporting requirements.

Safe Access to Restricted Areas Many heritage sites include inaccessible roofs, remote ruins, unstable structures or environmentally sensitive land. Drones capture accurate data in locations where traditional survey methods are impractical, unsafe or legally restricted. 

The North West of England holds one of the richest concentrations of historic buildings anywhere in the UK — from Liverpool's Grade I listed Victorian waterfront and the medieval churches of rural Lancashire, to the sandstone manor houses of Cheshire, the industrial archaeology of Greater Manchester and the country estates of Cumbria.

Many of these structures are at risk. Funding is scarce, access is difficult and the cost of traditional surveys often consumes budget that should be spent on actual repair work. Image Surveys is based in Southport, at the heart of this region, and we understand both the landscape and the funding landscape that heritage professionals navigate.

We are based in Southport and cover heritage projects primarily across Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria, with regular work along the North Wales coast and throughout the wider North of England. We will travel further for significant heritage projects so please call us to discuss. if we cannot help we may know someone who can!

Key areas: Liverpool · Southport · Formby · Preston · Lancaster · Blackpool · Chester · Macclesfield · Wirral · Wigan · Burnley · Penrith · Carlisle · Llandudno · Conwy · Bangor