Heritage & Listed Building drone surveys
Non-invasive drone surveys, 3D modelling and condition recording for listed buildings, churches, castles, monuments and historic sites across the North of England and North Wales to assist grant funding, project monitoring research and maintenance.
Get a free Quote today : 0800 999 1295
Protecting the past without risk
With around 400,000 listed properties in the UK — including roughly 100,000 Grade I and 24,000 Grade II* buildings — many owners and custodians need specialist help to manage historic assets responsibly.
Managing a historic site means careful planning, research and decision-making, and that depends on accurate, up-to-date information.
Image Surveys works with conservation officers, heritage organisations, architects and property owners to document and preserve historic sites providing accurate quality assured data. We subscribe to the guidance and standards set out in HEAG317 published by Historic England and can achieve those required standards where a project dictates for accuracy and working methods for orthomosaic mapping and visual inspections (under HEAG099).
We handle preparation of full site surveys, risk assessments and flight plans following CAA rules and Historic England guidance notes to minimise risk to the property and any people.
Using advanced UAV technology and high-resolution photogrammetry, we carry out non-invasive inspections and create accurate 3D models and 2D maps safely — from castles and churches to industrial heritage and listed buildings. Our data helps you establish baseline records, monitor structural condition, identify deterioration, meet conservation standards and satisfy grant-funded reporting requirements.
✅ CAA-Licensed Pilots | ✅ Fully Insured | ✅ Non-Invasive | ✅ No Scaffolding Required
Call 0800 999 1295 | Get a Free Heritage Quote
What heritage professionals come to us for
Planning support Making alterations to sensitive sites even ones which are essential for preservation and continued use can be difficult. Our drone services for heritage planning can be a valuable asset in getting the project off the ground!
Inspecting safely, without scaffolding Churches, towers, chimneys and monuments are difficult and costly to access by traditional means. We inspect roofs, stonework, masonry, gutters and elevated structures non-invasively — no scaffolding, no working at height, no disruption to visitors or fragile fabric. See Building Inspections & Roof Inspections
Recording defects and monitoring change High-resolution imagery identifies cracked masonry, water ingress, vegetation growth, failed pointing and structural movement, helping you prioritise repairs and track deterioration over time through repeat surveys.
Quality assured accurate maps and 3D models Orthomosaic maps, elevation models and 3D digital reconstructions support conservation planning, restoration and long-term archive records. Add interior laser scans to "step inside" or digitally "take the roof off. See
Reducing survey costs and disruption Scaffolding, cherry pickers and rope access are expensive and intrusive at sensitive sites. Drone surveys save time and money, protect historic fabric, and keep visitor areas open — freeing budget for the work that matters.
Strengthening planning and funding applications Detailed aerial data helps architects, conservation officers and engineers understand site conditions before work begins, and provides clear visual evidence for planning applications, grant funding, progress reports, insurance documentation and conservation reports.
Surveying protected and inaccessible sites Many heritage sites have inaccessible roofs, remote ruins, unstable structures or environmentally sensitive surroundings, including SSSI land. Drone survey captures accurate data where traditional methods are impractical, unsafe or restricted — with minimal impact on the site and nearby wildlife.
Our heritage services at a glance
- Non-invasive building inspections of historic houses, industrial sites and monuments. See Building Inspections
- 2D mapping and 3D topographical maps of sites and land. See Mapping & Modelling
- Accurate surveying to plan & check maintenance & repairs
- 3D modelling, digital twins & laser scanning of objects
- High-resolution imagery and video for research, marketing and visitor engagement
- Counter drone technology
- Assistance with grant-funding documentation for Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund bids
- Emergency inspections after a storm, fire or structural damage (24/7 callout)
RESEARCH & RESTORATION
Drones open up information that was previously difficult to gather. Modern software lets us combine multiple data sources to detect damage unseen by the human eye, then turn the captured data into shareable maps and detailed 3D models of all or part of a site. The same records that aid day-to-day conservation also make it possible to reconstruct a site after a disaster — the value proven following events like the Notre Dame fire.
Counter-Drone Protection for Heritage Sites
Historic houses, listed buildings, cathedrals and the grounds around them are an increasing target for unwanted drone activity — from intrusive filming over weddings, members' days and private events to reconnaissance ahead of theft from high-value collections. Open grounds and public access make these sites hard to protect by conventional means, and a drone crosses a centuries-old boundary in seconds.
Alongside our heritage survey work, Image Surveys can advise on and supply counter-drone detection and tracking technology that gives you early warning of an approaching aircraft, helps locate where it and its operator are flying from, and creates a clear, recorded picture to support a swift, lawful response by your team or the police. It's detection-led and non-invasive — the same care we take not to disturb protected fabric on a survey applies to how these systems are specified and sited.
- Deter drone activists and hobby fliers
- Avoid down time to operations
- Protect the privacy of events, festivals and members' days
- Safeguard visitors, staff and irreplaceable collections from illegal drone activity
- Build a time-stamped evidence trail for police and CAA reporting if the worst happens
Concerned about drones over your site? Speak to our team in confidence — call 0800 999 1295.
Where we work
We carry out heritage and historic-building surveys across the North of England and North Wales, working with conservation officers, trusts, architects and private owners.
We're especially well placed for sites across Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria, close to our Southport base.