Heritage Consultancy

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We understand what makes our historic environment special and support you in adding value to your buildings without harming what is significant.

We love our historic buildings and places, but they don’t always work well for modern needs. Our professional expertise is in researching, assessing, and understanding what makes these buildings and places special or significant, and how to make changes without harming that significance.

This understanding and passion for our built heritage will support you to unlock the potential of your historic buildings, whether they are Grade I, II*, II , locally listed or non-designated heritage assets. We will guide you and work collaboratively with your architects, and advisors to make the changes that will help these buildings have a sustainable future, and for those who use them to thrive.

Our aim is to get the best possible solutions for our clients by providing creative, practical, and expert advice.  We can advise on how to make a building more accessible, improve energy efficiency and add sensitive additions as well as how to adapt buildings for new uses.  We also work to support where new development is proposed within a historic environment, for example within a conservation area or in the setting of a listed building.

Our services include:

  • Advice and support for all grades of historic assets; including new build ‘in the setting of’
  • Early appraisal and input into feasibility studies
  • Assessment of large-scale regeneration, strategic site allocation, masterplanning and tall buildings
  • Heritage planning and Listed Building Consent application advice and advocacy with Statutory Authorities
  • Expert support through all RIBA work stages
  • Carbon reduction & net zero heritage advice

 

01

Architecture & Design

We realise your project’s potential and help you see things differently

02

Economics & Social Value

Shape communities, driving economic and social progress. We quantify this impact, helping secure approvals and funding

03

Masterplanning, Landscape & Assessment

Design that delivers on your priorities and contributes to green infrastructure

04

Planning Consultancy

Comprehensive planning strategy and submission advice - tailored to your site and your objectives

05

Sustainable Buildings & Places

Achieve your sustainability goals with strategic guidance and data-driven insights

Related Insights

Image of Heritage guide Insights 17.10.24

Owning a listed building is an exciting opportunity to own a piece of history but, if you haven’t owned one before you might be uncertain about what it means, and what is and isn’t allowed.

A guide for listed building homeowners

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Image of PXL_20240619_124742733.MP Insights 01.10.24

But what exactly is a Registered Park and Garden?

Research into ‘Suffolk’s Unforgettable Garden Story’ resulted in 8 newly Registered Parks and Gardens

Read more
Image of building on fire Insights 18.09.23

Principal Heritage Consultant, Daniele Haynes, explores historic buildings and the impact fire damage can have in her latest blog.

Sites for Sore Eyes: Fire damage and prevention for historic buildings

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Image of PXL_20220317_083232275 Insights 26.06.23

Heritage Consultant, Holly Rowland, talks us through the new Listed Buildings Order introduced in Kensington and Chelsea, and what this means for the retrofit of listed buildings in London and nationwide.

New Consent Orders for the Retrofit of Listed Buildings

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Image of King's Insights 13.02.23

Cambridge has over the last week been at the centre of the tussle between protecting our historic environment and adapting our heritage assets to be best equipped to face the ever-worsening climate crisis. This debate has coincided with the formation of a new government department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Watt a conundrum: renewable energy and the historic environment

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It's in the numbers

2,000+

historic assets researched and significance assessed since 2022

c.15

estates reduced their carbon footprint due to our work on retrofit projects since 2022

100+

new build projects supported by our expertise in historic buildings and conservation areas since 2022

Meet our trusted experts

Image of Dianna Fletcher

Dianna Fletcher

Partner, Head of Heritage

Dianna is an architect by background with over 25 years experience of working on complex heritage projects across multiple sectors.

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Kate Hannelly-Brown

Kate Hannelly-Brown

Partner, Heritage and Design

A heritage consultant, architectural technician and conservation officer all rolled in to one.

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Daniele Haynes

Associate, Heritage & Conservation

A heritage consultant with a passion for setting.

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Katherine Harrison

Katherine Harrison

Associate, Heritage & Conservation

An experienced conservation officer turned principal heritage consultant.

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Heritage building
Project

Arundel Street, Portsmouth

A project that perfectly aligns with Portsmouth's future-proof masterplan, we helped to achieve planning for brand new student halls and facilities. The 28-storey building will include housing for almost 600 individuals, communal spaces and a bar for students.

Arundel Street Portsmouth
Project

Comet Hotel, Hatfield

The proposed alterations and extension took this Grade II listed hotel to new heights with 65 rooms - 52 of which are in the new wing - and permission for 308 student rooms to the rear.

Comet Hotel, Hatfield
Project

Deansgate student accommodation

Transforming a vacant, derelict site, this new student living facility will revitalise an historic area of the city, provide vital housing for the university and improve the landscape of Manchester.

Deansgate student accommodation
Project

Diorama

After sitting empty for several years, the client needed to revitalise this London landmark and achieve planning permission for modern-day office space. As the last surviving Diorama in the world, the heritage team navigated the complex planning process of restoring a prestigious building.

Diorama Front view
Project

Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Acting as both property advisor and consultant, our multi-faceted work for Emmanuel has led to a financially sound and high returning investment. Emmanuel need quality, value for money and long-term impact – we’ve been on hand from inception to ensure we deliver on their vision.

Emmanuel College, Cambridge 3
Project

Exeter College, University of Oxford

The fourth oldest college at the University of Oxford has been constrained by its small site in the city centre and was searching for a new quadrangle. 

Exeter - Ruskin 2
Project

Gradel Quadrangles

The comprehensive redevelopment of the College’s Savile Road site saw proposals for an innovative curved quad building that shapes three south facing quads.

New College - East Quad
Project

Lucy Cavendish College

The pioneering Lucy Cavendish College needed to instigate fundamental change to ensure that it would continue to attract students and flourish for years to come.

Image of SDC_LucyCavendish_Externals_F (18)
Project

Highgate School

Established in 1565, the award-winning Highgate School has seen significant change. Committed to delivering the very best education environment possible, the school is embarking upon the next programme of investment and renewal across its estate.

Highgate-Senior-School-Library-Chapel
Project

Hurlingham Road, Fulham

Following a refusal by the local authority for the client’s scheme, Bidwells was instructed to carry out an appeal in a bid to overturn the original decision.

Hurlingham_As Proposed_Street View_high res
Project

North Uttlesford Garden Community

Appointed as the heritage consultant, Bidwells relished the challenge of completing significance assessments on over 40 Grade I, II* and II listed heritage assets, several conservation areas and a registered deer park and garden, either directly on the site or located in close proximity.

North Uttlesford
Project

Kings High School

Transforming this complex site in the heart of Warwick came with its challenges. Converting listed buildings, including some demolition, and adding 118 new residential units in a way that would be approved by Warwick District Council, Historic England and the local community - was a challenge our heritage experts could deliver on.

The Butts - Kings High School.JPG
Project

Master Shipwright's House

The Grade II* house is the only remaining above ground structure at the Royal Dockyard. With a large development approved next door – Convoys Wharf, the owners wanted to understand the feasibility, constraints and opportunities of their site and how it might be linked to the new development.

Master Shipwrights House
Project

Lord’s Cricket Ground

Lord’s Cricket Ground is the Home of Cricket and an iconic venue famous the world over, but the Marylebone Cricket Club needed to invest in its floodlighting system to keep pace with a fast-changing game.

Cricket 1

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