West Midlands
West Midlands
To unlock the potential of historic buildings and places, it is essential to understand their significance and to manage change sympathetically. WSP’s Heritage Planning & Placemaking Team advises clients on managing change to heritage assets.
The team support clients through all stages of the planning process, from assessing the suitability of sites through to negotiating schemes with the local planning authority, and when necessary, serving as expert witness at public inquiries. They also lead multidisciplinary teams across WSP to deliver heritage inspired masterplans and placemaking projects, and work towards delivering Net Zero development.
Maintaining good working relationships with local authorities, Historic England, and other heritage bodies, assists the team in securing consents efficiently. They provide a comprehensive and seamless service in response to client’s needs, whilst ensuring that heritage is at the heart of placemaking.
1. The staged reservicing of Buckingham Palace, London
Client: The Royal Household
Phased refurbishment programme over several years during which the grade I listed Palace has remained occupied and operational. WSP’s Heritage Planning and Placemaking Team prepared the strategy to obtain necessary consents, and continues to manage negotiations with Westminster City Council and Historic England, advises on the design of interventions, undertakes options analysis, and manages discoveries as the scheme is implemented.
2. Eden Project North, Morecambe
Client: The Eden Project
Redevelopment to provide an environmental education facility and tourist facility within a historic sea-side resort location, and a Conservation Area, and within the wider setting of two grade II* listed buildings. Project seeks to attract visitors to Morecambe and regenerate the historic town, with cultural and economic benefits for the local community and North West England. Conservation input: Historic building conservation, conservation planning, historical research, contribution to EIA assessment, design development, negotiated planning approval with Historic England and the Conservation Officer at Lancaster City Council.
Eden Project North, UK | Eden Project
3. The Bristol United Press Building, 1 Temple Way, Bristol
Client: Bankfoot APAM
Renovation and extension of the Bristol Evening Post Building to provide mixed-use accommodation, including office space and flexible leisure uses. The building is a non-designated heritage asset. We produced a heritage assessment, which included identifying the building’s special architectural and historic interest, and established the contribution of its setting. We were part of the design team and advised on the production of an appropriate scheme, which includes extending and repurposing the building in a sympathetic way. We produced a Heritage Statement, which assesses the impact of the proposed scheme upon the building’s special interest, and the special interest of neighbouring heritage assets, including listed buildings and a conservation area.
Conservation input: Historic building conservation, conservation planning, historical research, design development, negotiated planning approval.
Name: Nick Corbett
Job title: Director, Heritage Planning & Placemaking
Tel: M + 44 (0) 7388 946 142
DD +44 (0) 121 407 6632
Email: Nick.Corbett@wsp.com
Historic Building conservation
Conservation planning
Architectural design and new build in historic areas YES
Historical research
Historic area assessments
Project Management
Archaeology
Other