Working on Heritage projects requires a detailed design approach which is sensitive to the building form. Our Cambridge, London and Edinburgh offices are regularly involved in Heritage projects involving buildings which are either listed or located in conservation areas.
Our role
These projects typically require time to be allocated for detailed site surveys to understand site restrictions and controlled opening up due to the high likelihood of concealed services. Unforeseen issues arise on these types of projects and so the more problems which can be resolved in advance, the less unforeseen works will arise.
There is often a conflict between Heritage and low energy, or even compliant energy design. The Conservation and the Compliance Officers will generally not compromise on their stance and we frequently have to work around how energy compliance can be achieved.
A residential development on the south side of St Andrew Square which formed part of a mixed-use development including offices, restaurants and retail units.
KJ Tait have been appointed to carry out the engineering services design for the refurbishment of the Invercauld Hotel in Braemar in the Scottish Highlands.
Heritage or historic buildings typically will not meet modern design standards. The new London Plan requires all new build and refurbished buildings of 1,000m2 or higher to be zero carbon.