retrofit and Stewardship of Historic Fabric
by Adam Grover
We are currently working on a Grade 2 Listed Townhouse in Bristol, aiming to convert and restore neglected offices into high-quality maisonettes.
With listed buildings, stewardship extends beyond ownership, encompassing public heritage. Our project includes restoring the property’s front to align with its neighbour, enhancing the historic square’s street-facing façade. This improvement contributes to the public realm by preserving the character of the area.
Collaborative Approach
Heritage projects require collaboration between clients, planning consultants, designers, and the local planning office. Together, we aim to protect and respond to a place’s historic fabric while creating new, quality dwellings. This partnership approach ensures that all stakeholders work together, rather than as adversaries, to achieve a common goal.
Achieving planning approval for listed buildings demands detailed preparation: heritage statements, design & access statements, planning drawings, details, drainage routes, and railing designs. These elements must be decided early to ensure the preservation of historic fabric alongside new developments. The process involves careful planning and detailed discussions to demonstrate how the stewardship of the historic fabric is being maintained while providing quality additions.
Design and Heritage
The existing historic fabric guides our design process, resembling an archaeological journey. Knowing when to dig deep and when to use a delicate touch is crucial. With all listed or historic buildings, we work with planning and heritage consultants and the LPA’s advisors to balance careful preservation and thoughtful additions. This dialogue ensures that our approach respects the building context’s unique character and meets the planning department's requirements.
Key Takeaways for Clients
Engage Experts Early: Budget for and involve planning and heritage consultants from the start.
Allow Time and Resources: Plan for extensive collaboration to determine the best approach.
Expect Iteration: The planning process involves back-and-forth with the planning office; approval won’t be instant and pre-app is recommended in most situations.
Understanding the importance of these steps ensures a successful project that honours the historic fabric while creating new, quality living spaces in the heart of the city. This project is Bristol based but such issues are relevant to all the historic towns we work in - Bath, Cheltenham, Exeter, Totnes to name but a few!