DESIGN & INTERIORS STEEPED IN HISTORY
Angela Love, Director at Active Workplace Solutions, discusses the challenges and complexities of working with regulated or listed buildings.
“It’s crucial to seek advice from local
authorities and to allow
wriggle room in budgets and timelines because there will always be curveballs when it comes to refurbing and refitting a listed building.”
Setting the scene Locating a business in a heritage building provides certain economic advantages. A 2018 survey of more than 500 UK businesses by Historic England found that 85% of those operating in historic buildings expressed satisfaction with where they work. Owners and operators reported that their ‘listed buildings provided an attractive exterior that gives a positive first impression to their clients and customers’. Historic England has long championed the idea that well maintained historic high streets and townscapes can bring great advantages to local businesses.
Such sought-after locations can boost corporate image by offering an element of prestige. As Historic England’s survey highlighted, employees occupying these buildings are more likely to agree that they’re proud to work for their organisations, whilst customers may be equally as delighted to visit.
Regulations Rigorous regulations are in place to protect the historical and architectural significance of listed buildings. However, as difficult as it can sometimes be, if you work well within the rules then you can make any desired changes.
Generally, you do not need planning permission to make internal alterations. But you are likely to need listed building consent if you want to remove certain items such as fireplaces, panelling, decorative architraves or plasterwork. Any external work to the building façade, including windows, will most definitely require full planning permission. Even a functional repair such as replacing a rotten window frame will require permission, with Historic
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England always advising repair over replace. This will mean using original materials and designs which are authentic to the original design.
It’s crucial to seek advice from local authorities and to allow wriggle room in budgets and timelines because there will always be curveballs when it comes to refurbing and refitting a listed building.
Case study Active continues to work within a number of Grade I and Grade II listed building refurbishments across the UK, many of which have experienced countless internal design changes.
Many of these buildings are steeped in tradition and as part of our ongoing commitment we work closely with each buildings’ Heads of Estates to refurbish a diverse number of rooms and to carry out essential repairs. The ultimate goal is to retain the original features of each building and this requires careful consultation with senior management teams to ensure all needs and expectations are met. As such, clear lines of communication are paramount.
Retaining historic fabric leads to the retention of cultural significance. The most appropriate method to achieve this is by undertaking refurbishment on a minimal intervention basis so that none of the building’s character is lost. This also helps us to avoid unsympathetic alteration of important features and prevents the unnecessary disruption of the fabric that gives significance to these monumental buildings, allowing employees, customers and visitors to feel their full majesty.
www.activeworkplacesolutions.co.uk/ twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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