East Anglia
Nottinghamshire
Hutton+Rostron has offered heritage sector services as leading specialists in building pathology for over 50 years and also offer proven expertise addressing heritage-based planning matters and providing heritage consultancy. Our work is focused on historic buildings (designated and undesignated heritage assets) with the company carrying out condition surveys, defect appraisal, timber & damp surveys and historic building recording as well as prepare statements of significance, heritage statements and conservation management plans to support client requirements and resolve heritage-based problems. Many of our projects involve working with ‘buildings at risk’ to achieve satisfactory outcomes to identify and address defect issues and move renovation projects through the planning process.
As part of SOCOTEC UK, H+R is part of a multi-disciplinary organisation that can also draw on a wider range of professionals specialising in fields such as sustainability, construction material testing, building control and CDM.
Ferry Project
Location: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Client: Social enterprise and registered charity helping the homeless and vulnerable
Services: Condition surveys, damp surveys, heritage statements, schedules of work and heritage consultancy
Project details: The Ferry Project established itself at 11-14 South Brink, Wisbech in c.2010 occupying a complex building that comprises of three listed buildings (grade II, grade II* and grade II) which had become amalgamated in the mid-20th century firstly as offices then a hotel. The building was refurbished in c.2010 to facilitate occupation by The Ferry Project. In 2021 The Ferry Project embarked on a new building refurbishment project to address defects, necessary maintenance and repair issues that had arisen over the previous decade and improve the function of the building to meet current client needs and resolve fire safety issues. H+R were involved from the outset initially preparing a condition survey and undertaking damp surveys to identify defect issues and maintenance and repair needs. Working with a local architect and fire safety consultant, refurbishment proposals were developed over four phases of work. H+R prepared the heritage statements and schedules of works which accompanied four separate listed building consent applications submitted between 2022 – 2024. Following successful listed building consent approvals works are being implemented in phases.
Pippbrook House
Location: Dorking, Surrey
Client: District Council
Services: Building pathology consultancy and heritage, design and access statement
Project details: Grade II* listed building originating as a country house in 1856 before transferring to Council ownership in the 1930s, firstly adapted for use as council offices and then as a library and offices. The building remains in Council ownership but has been predominantly vacant since 2011. The building had suffered from roof defects resulting in water ingress which led to damage of interior fabric and an outbreak of dry rot. H+R were appointed by the Council to review the construction and condition of all parts of the roof envelope assessing chimneys, parapets, roof coverings and roof drainage and advising on risk management, conservation and refurbishment. In 2023 H+R prepared a heritage, design and access statement to support a listed building consent application for proposals for the comprehensive repair of the roof envelope to address known defects to the roof covering, roof structures, chimneys, parapets and roof drainage allowing for taking down and rebuilding chimneystacks, lifting and relaying roof coverings. Following listed building consent approval works are being implemented.
The Abbey Art Centre
Location: New Barnet
Client: Private, not for profit
Services: Condition survey, heritage consultancy, heritage, design & access statement and support at appeal
Project details: This grade II listed medieval barn is not found in its original location, which was in Kent. It is now located in New Barnet in the grounds of a Victorian villa where it was erected in 1930s, repurposed and remodelled to serve as a place of worship for a religious community. In 1946 the site sold and became The Abbey Art Centre and Museum and the barn was used first as a museum space and then later as an exhibition space which remains its use today. By the 21st Century its was evident that buildings within the art centre had fallen into poor repair and the owner recognised a plan was needed to regenerate the site and facilitate repair of the buildings if The Abbey Art Centre was to remain a viable enterprise. The owner, their agent and architect had been working on various proposals at the site before H+R’s involvement. H+R became involved in this project in 2022 when listed building consent was refused for a scheme of works to refurbish the barn’s roof and replace a porch with a larger porch incorporating toilet facilities. H+R reviewed the refused listed building consent application and advised on its weaknesses and options for moving forward with an understanding that any new listed building consent application would probably be refused, and this case would likely go to appeal. H+R advised on what information would be needed to support a new listed building consent submission, justify the works and stand up to appeal scrutiny. H+R undertook a condition survey, which was a key evidence-based document for justifying certain works, and prepared the heritage, design and access statement. The listed building consent resubmission was, as expected, refused but the project team were successful at appeal (appeal upheld) and the client can now move forward restoring the barn and adding a new porch with toilets that will help sustain the use of the building as a exhibition space.
Name: Katie McAndrew
Job title: Building Pathologist and Historic Buildings Consultant
Tel: 07425401639
Email: katie@handr.co.uk
Historic Building conservation YES
Conservation planning YES
Architectural design and new build in historic areas
Historical research YES
Historic area assessments
Project Management
Archaeology
Other
Condition surveys, defect appraisal and timber & damp assessments