The members of our team are based in London, Oxford, the South West and the North East, but we work across the United Kingdom on a wide variety of projects.

The Elvetham Hotel, Hampshire (2019-)

Elvetham Hall (Grade II*) dates from 1859-62, but stands on the site of a Tudor manor. It famously hosted a 3-day lavish entertainment of Elizabeth I in 1591. The architect of the present Hall was Samuel Sanders Teulon. Elvetham is one of the most eccentric and innovative examples of his "rogue" style of Gothic architecture. The interiors are of exceptional quality and are the product of some of the leading craftsmen of the mid-Victorian period.

Teulon also designed a number of other structures around the Grade II Registered Park and Garden, including the stables, water tower, gardener's cottage and various garden structures which form an architectural set piece with the Hall.

Heritage Information was appointed by the new owners of the hotel to undertake a heritage gazetteer, in order to set out a detailed assessment of significance for each of the statutorily listed buildings and for the Registered landscape. An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment was also undertaken to inform the archaeological potential of the site.

The heritage and design considerations relating to the repair, restoration and adaptation of a number of the heritage assets on the site were informed by the gazetteer, as well as some new development in order to enhance the provision of the hotel's facilities.

We continue to provide heritage and design advice, liaising with the local authority and other stakeholders, and we have been commissioned recently to undertake a Conservation Management Plan to secure a long-term heritage-led strategy for the management and maintenance of the site.

West Quay, Poole, Dorset (2017-20)

The "Land Between the Bridges" in Poole is a 6-8 acre regeneration site located on the edge of the historic Old Town and Town Centre Heritage Conservation Area. Once a busy wharf, the site in 2017 was largely clear, comprising some poor-quality modern commercial buildings.

The proposals involved the redevelopment of the site to include nine buildings of up to 450 residential apartments with quayside walk and associated landscaping.

Heritage Information was commissioned for its design advice, and to undertake a Heritage Statement, an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and a Setting Assessment. These documents formed the basis of the Heritage and Archaeology chapters of the submitted Environmental Statement.

Our input into the design process helped to ensure that the typology, bulk, scale and mass of the buildings addressed the historic uses and sensitive setting of the site, whilst the layout reflected the historic grain of the adjoining Old Town and sustained important views towards and from the Conservation Area and local landmarks such as the Grade II* listed St James Church.

Woolwich Central Site (2019)

This was a major development site within the centre of Woolwich that represented Phases 3 and 4 of the Woolwich Central development. The proposals included a 27-storey tower fronting the open space of General Gordon Square and a further 8 blocks of 12 to 16 storeys. The planning application was refused by the Royal Borough of Greenwich for its harm to the townscape of Woolwich town centre and to the settings of a number of highly significant heritage assets - including the Grade I listed Brass Foundry and the Grade II* Royal Artillery Barracks, as well as to the settings of 3 Conservation Areas and a number of nearby Grade II listed buildings and locally listed buildings.

Heritage Information was commissioned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to act as independent expert witnesses at a public enquiry. We worked closely with council officers and the appointed counsel to provide a detailed Proof of Evidence relating to heritage and townscape matters, together with Rebuttal Evidence to the appellant's submissions.

The Planning Inspector agreed with our case that the proposals would appear incongruous within the local townscape and would result in harm to the settings of a number of statutorily listed buildings and Conservation Areas. The Secretary of State dismissed the appeal.

Lower Porthcollum Farm, St Erth, Cornwall (2016-17)

The site comprised a Grade II listed early 19th century farmhouse located within an historic farmstead containing a number of curtilage listed former agricultural buildings. These outbuildings were in a near-derelict condition, whilst a Cornish chall barn had burned down some years earlier.

The initial proposals involved a number of sensitive alterations to the interior of the farmhouse for which Heritage Information was appointed to undertake a Heritage Statement. Following our initial site visit, we advised on a holistic conservation approach to the farmstead as a whole would stand a higher chance of achieving the client's aspirations in the farmhouse. We negotiated the sensitive repair, restoration and conversion of the near-derelict curtilage listed outbuildings, and the conservation of an historic farmyard wall containing architectural stonework from an 18th century barn. One of the repaired outbuildings was extended on the footprint of the lost chall barn, designed to reflect the historic farmstead context. These additional heritage benefits offered a substantial enhancement to the significance and long-term use of the historic farmstead and the setting of the listed farmhouse.

As requested by the local authority, we undertook a Level 3 recording exercise on the two farm buildings to be converted. The farmstead was also near a deserted late medieval settlement and so we also undertook an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment to assess whether further archaeological evaluations were required.

The German School, Petersham (2018)

The main secondary school building of the German School was built in 1978-80; it was commissioned by the Federal Republic of Germany and designed by Kersten, Martinoff and Struhk - architects with a strong track record in designing high-quality public sector buildings. The building was statutorily listed Grade II in 2017 for its for its exceptional standard of sensitive design and use of materials, and imaginative flowing plan form.

In order to cope with growing student numbers, it was proposed to add two first-floor extensions and a ground-floor extension to the dining room, as well as the remodelling of a number of internal spaces.

Heritage Information was appointed to produce a Heritage Statement and to advise on the design of the proposals given its listing and the location of the building within the Petersham Conservation Area and Registered Landscape. The proposed extensions were designed to reflect and complement the high-quality use of materials, detailing, finishes and architectural language of the building in order to be subservient additions. The internal proposals sustained the original design ethos of the building which maximised light, space and flexibility of uses around a free-flowing plan form with axial vistas through the building – the new partitions reflected the spirit of adaptability of the internal spaces whilst also being entirely reversible additions.

The Wardrobe, Old Palace Yard, Richmond (2016)

This Grade I listed building within the Richmond Green Conservation Area forms part of one of the last surviving fragments of one of the most important Lancastrian and Tudor royal palaces in England. The Tudor building was adapted and largely rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century, but there remains highly significant fabric dating from the earlier period.

The proposals involved a number of internal alterations, primarily to remove inappropriate mid-20th century fabric, reinstate historic plan form, and to create a studio building within the garden.

Heritage Information was appointed to undertake a detailed significance assessment of the building in order to guide the design process, and to produce a Heritage Statement. The proposals were considered to substantially enhance an understanding of the significance and history of the building by archival research, the better revealing of Tudor timber framing, and the reinstatement of historic plan form.

We were also commissioned to undertake an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for the erection of the studio building, given the high archaeological sensitivity of the palace site.

Former Sandwell College,

Smethwick (2015)

This extensive site comprises two locally listed late 19th century school buildings and a Grade II listed Edwardian Technical School. The site is located within the Smethwick High Street and Crockett's Lane Conservation Area. The three buildings were in a poor and deteriorating condition, having been severely damaged by vandalism. The remainder of the site to the rear had been cleared of mid to late 20th century college buildings.

The proposal involved the repair and residential conversion of the three historic buildings and the development of the remainder of the site for housing.

Heritage Information was appointed to provide heritage and design advice in order to inform sympathetic conversion of the three heritage assets - and also to negotiate with the local authority and the Victorian Society who took an active interest in the case.

The proposals offered a great opportunity for the substantial enhancement of the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the long-term conservation of three 'at risk' heritage assets.

Our output included a Heritage Statement, a Townscape Visual Impact Assessment and an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment.

Ellington Street, Islington (2016-17)

This mid-19th century London townhouse formed the end of a Grade II listed terrace within the St Mary Magdalene Conservation Area. The house was in a poor and deteriorating condition and been subject to detrimental internal and external alterations.

The proposals involved the repair and restoration of all significant internal and external fabric, various internal alterations and a single-storey rear extension.

Heritage Information was commissioned for its design advice, and to undertake a Heritage Statement to secure Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission for the proposals. We supported the scheme because there were a number of enhancements included within the proposals which benefited substantially the heritage values of the building and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

Although refused by the local authority for the proposed size of the rear extension, we acted as expert witnesses at appeal. We argued that the scheme was justifiable on the basis of the high quality of the extension's design, and the tangible heritage benefits provided by the scheme. The appeal was upheld.

Grange Road, Highgate (2015)

Although unlisted, this building within the Highgate Conservation Area is a fine example of the late Arts and Crafts suburban style. It was built in 1914 to designs by architects Rix and Wilkins. The exterior was largely intact and much of the original internal architectural detailing survived.

Heritage Information was appointed to advise on proposals to erect a single-storey glazed extension to the rear elevation.

Firstly, we undertook an assessment for statutory listing according to government and Historic England criteria. Based on extensive research and assessment of the fabric, we concluded that the building was not of sufficient special architectural or historic interest to merit statutory listing; its pared-down “Hollywood” Arts and Crafts style was typical of so many suburban houses from this period.

Moving forward, we successfully negotiated with the local planning authority and the Highgate Society, and provided a Heritage Statement to demonstrate minimal impact on the unlisted building and on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.