Case Study: North Lancs (Padiham) Rebuild & Remodel

The Project:

Client:

A local authority. Client had compulsorily purchased a defective and dangerous building in a conservation area. Objects include the goal of restoring the building to a beacons property for a conservation zone requiring appropriate condition commensurate with the standards of the improvements being encouraged in the locality whilst providing two shops plus two maisonette flats with new separate entrances for quality affordable housing for persons in housing need, whilst retaining original detailing and stonework features of the building.

The Property:

A building more than two hundred years old with various period external features, but extremely dilapidated and semi-derelict, that was originally two shops with living accommodation above which had been amalgamated into a single building. Located in a pleasant northern market town. The building comprised three floors, cellars and had a small outrigger extension to the rear of one of the original two buildings. A shoddy, sub-standard and potentially dangerous conversion to a single building had previously been partially attempted, leaving the premises at risk of collapse, and in need of significant and urgent re-construction. Compulsory purchase had allowed for the Powersave rebuild to take place. Modernisation and upgrade of services and facilities to be undertaken to meet current building, safety and letting standards.

Problems to Rectify:

Significant water ingress was causing very serious damage to the shop-fronts, shared roof and several walls, damaging windows, doors, staircases, plumbing, heating, electrical and various shared systems which had rendered all units uninhabitable. A full ‘back to brick’ refurbishment program with install of modern services and facilities would restore the building to its desirable best and help the client meet strong demand for affordable housing and high street lock-up shops in the area. Project included the need for some demolition (a small rear extension), new construction (of two new outriggers providing stair access to each new maisonette, rebuild and strengthening of various damaged structural items (e.g. roof, walls, windows, shopfronts, etc) and install of heritage standard wooden windows and shopfronts.