High quality design is as important in repairing buildings as it is in new build and alteration projects.
Our conservation team, which includes three accredited conservation architects, has a national reputation for its passionate commitment to safeguarding the long-term future of our heritage. We advocate the careful repair of the building fabric and constructive adaptations, unlocking older buildings for a new lease of life. Thorough historical and technical assessment informs our problem solving and design work. Rigorous attention to detail, specification and workmanship lie at the core of our approach.
Understanding a building prior to developing proposals for repair or alteration of historic fabric is always our starting point. This includes documentary and historic record research as well as thorough assessment of the condition of the building fabric. Listening to building owners and users is fundamental in developing an understanding of how existing buildings function and how improvements can be made in the future. Our rigorous approach to detail is applied through all stages of a project and we understand that a pragmatic, creative and collaborative approach to design and problem solving is often required to ensure that intellectual issues are balanced with aesthetic, practical and economic considerations.
Our specialist conservation services include:
Conservation Explained
A quinquennial survey is a detailed condition assessment of a building, typically carried out every five years, to identify necessary repairs and long-term maintenance needs. It ensures that heritage buildings remain safe, structurally sound, and compliant with conservation standards.
A heritage impact statement is required when a proposed development may affect a designated or non-designated heritage asset or its setting. It assesses the asset’s significance and evaluates how the proposal would conserve, harm, or enhance that significance, supporting informed planning decisions.
A significance assessment involves identifying and understanding a heritage asset’s evidential, historical, aesthetic, and communal values. It examines the asset’s fabric, setting, and evolution to explain why it is important, providing a clear basis for assessing the impact of proposed change.
