“Mary’s inputs and focus were of very considerable assistance to both ourselves and our clients and she was integral in allowing the project to progress.”
Understanding your perspective: Maximise the financial return of your site
Using our experience and responsiveness, we help you to avoid delays at key points within the project. Redevelopment in historic places contributes to the value of your site, and will enable you to promote what is unique about it. We work to solve complex problems, because we deliver efficient results in a fast-paced property market so fixing these properties is important and contractors like the resin floor company are essential for this purpose. We unlock the potential of tricky sites in an imaginative way. We bring a broad range of additional skills to support your project team.
“Mary’s research was evident in her clear assessment of the area development plans, the Conservation Area Management plan, and the building’s historic development in the way she identified constraints and the building’s immediate context, curtilage, and setting.”
How we can help: avoid costly delays through our phased approach
As heritage planning consultants for commercial and residential development, we provide pragmatic and robust heritage advice in a commercial context, resolving issues efficiently to keep your project moving forward. We provide advice through architectural design, reports for planning applications and risk assessment for property development near historic buildings and places.
Our technical expertise guides teams through heritage complexities across sectors including
• residential redevelopment
• commercial development
• energy generation
“Mary proved herself adept at assessing the potential impacts of proposed changes, identifying ways to avoid or mitigate detrimental effects and exploring alternative approaches to reduce or offset any harmful impacts.”
Our support and promise to deliver – our advice and deliverables
Drawing on experience, we provide timely and appropriate advice using compliant strategies to maximise your financial returns to ensure the successful completion of work.
Deliverables to maximise financial returns
Using our technical expertise, we can provide you with advice and negotiate on your behalf to gain planning consent.
We have a proven track record of producing reports for the discharge of planning conditions.
• Historic building advice
• Planning & consents
• Heritage reports
• Heritage design
• Project management
• Expert witness for appeals
“Ms Neale’s command of relevant legislation, policies, and guidance relating to protected heritage assets enabled her to advise us about the impacts of the proposals … Her justifications for the necessity of the works and the public benefit they would provide were clear and convincing.”
Case studies of previous projects
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- Large scale developments
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- Medium scale developments
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- 2-6 houses
Why choose us? – Capability to guide your project
With a proven track record navigating the system, we act as your advocate to get consent while building positive relationships with councils. We focus on solutions, unlocking your site’s potential within budget and timeline constraints.
Turning limitations into opportunities
Whether adapting listed buildings or developing in conservation areas, we bring an ambitious vision grounded in practical delivery. By doing so we empower developers, architects, and planners through our heritage services.
“Ms Neale’s engagement with statutory consultees like Historic England and the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings highlighted her commitment … She supported us with ongoing advice as part of her service, extending the benefit of her input.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. What are the legal and regulatory requirements for adaptive reuse projects?
Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is subject to a robust regulatory framework, including the need to obtain planning permissions, listed building consents, and approvals that align with local heritage and conservation policies. We are here to help developers to carefully navigate this process to ensure compliance whilst supporting the progress of your proposals. The processes and principles are similar within each political boundary on this island, though the controls affecting the protection of the historic environment differ in the following regions:
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/
https://historic-wales-rcahmw.hub.arcgis.com/
https://historicengland.org.uk/
2. How can the historic significance and character of a building be preserved during the adaptive reuse process?
Preserving the historic character and significance of a building during adaptive reuse is critical. This requires a sensitive design approach that integrates modern functionality and accessibility while respecting original architectural features and construction methods through the use of appropriate materials and techniques. Balancing the preservation of character while integrating environmental sustainability is another key consideration and online tools are helpful: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/conservation/heritage-energy-efficiency-tool-heet. Archway Heritage have signed up to to https://heritagedeclares.org/ to show our commitment to this process.
3. What are the potential financial incentives or funding sources available for adaptive reuse projects?
With the exception of regeneration projects, there are limited financial incentives and funding sources available to support adaptive reuse of historic buildings, including grants, tax credits, and other schemes specifically targeted at heritage conservation and redevelopment. We can research these options for you to understand the potential cost benefits and unlock funding.
4. How can the local community be engaged and involved in an adaptive reuse project?
Engaging the local community is essential for the success of adaptive reuse projects. We explain the social and cultural significance of the historic building(s) in our reports and explore ways the redevelopment can enhance its legacy and provide benefits to the surrounding area through thoughtful programming and placemaking.
5. What are the key technical and structural challenges of adapting historic buildings for new uses?
Adapting historic buildings for new uses presents a range of technical and structural challenges, such as addressing outdated building services, accessibility issues, and deterioration of historic fabric. Overcoming these challenges requires specialised expertise and a thorough understanding of conservation principles.
6. Are there any examples of successful adaptive reuse projects that could provide inspiration or lessons learned?
Studying precedents of successful adaptive reuse projects can provide valuable insights and inspiration. These case studies can offer lessons on balancing stakeholder interests, implementing effective strategies, and delivering high-quality outcomes that preserve historic character while meeting modern needs.
A. Scotswood Urban Regeneration (Newcastle)
This project aims to regenerate a run-down urban area in Newcastle, creating a new sustainable community. It will deliver 1,800 new homes, as well as schools, retail, leisure, and community facilities, along with upgraded infrastructure. The project began in 2011 and is expected to take 15 years to complete.
B. Brixton Solar One (London)
Brixton Solar One is a community-led urban solar power project located on the Loughborough Estate in London. It involves installing PV panels on the estate’s rooftops to generate clean energy for residents, financed through a community share offer.
C. The Royal London Hospital Redevelopment (London)
The redevelopment of the historic Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London, involved a £1.1 billion PFI project to create a new, state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The new hospital has 1,248 beds, an increase of 186, with over 40% in single rooms with en-suite facilities.
D. Thames Tideway Tunnel (London)
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a major infrastructure project in London, involving the construction of a 30km tunnel to address the city’s aging sewerage system. Described as a “huge undertaking,” the project aims to improve water quality in the River Thames.
E. UWE Bristol Campus Expansion (Bristol)
The University of the West of England (UWE) is undertaking a large-scale campus expansion project, acquiring a 70-acre site for a new media hub and faculty of arts. This is one of the largest university expansion projects underway in Europe.
7. What are the key economic benefits of redeveloping heritage buildings in the UK?
A. Attracting Investment and Economic Development:
- A well-maintained historic environment helps project a positive image, create investor confidence, and attract high-value jobs and businesses.
- Historic buildings and areas can act as a catalyst for economic regeneration in areas of market failure and deprivation.
B. Supporting Small Businesses and Creative Industries:
- Historic buildings can provide affordable, diverse commercial and industrial spaces that are essential for supporting new, small, and creative businesses.
- The adaptive reuse of historic buildings helps foster enterprise, innovation, and knowledge-based employment.
C. Boosting Tourism and the Visitor Economy:
- Historic places and buildings are a major draw for visitors, both domestic and international, and are an essential element of the UK’s tourism industry.
- Redeveloped historic sites and buildings can become focal points for leisure, entertainment, and the 24-hour economy.
D. Enhancing Property Values:
- Listed buildings in office or domestic use tend to deliver consistently higher yields and property values compared to non-historic buildings.
- Adaptive reuse can help preserve the cultural, heritage, and historical value of older buildings, delivering long-term economic benefits to the community.
E. Generating Local Economic Activity:
- Refurbishing historic buildings places a greater emphasis on skilled labor, generating higher levels of pay and investment in local economies.
- Selective redevelopment around historic environments is often more successful than large-scale comprehensive redevelopment, better fulfilling the needs of local communities and maintaining economic diversity.