Photo opportunity: Wednesday 19 January at 1pm at the West Front, Bury St Edmunds - Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, Cabinet member for Resources and Leader of the Council, Cllr John Griffiths, will be joined by representatives from Hawes and Southgate Development team to announce the development agreement for the restoration of grade 1 listed West Front building in Bury St Edmunds.
A renovation programme for the West Front, an important grade 1 listed building in the historic centre of Bury St Edmunds, will soon be under way. A panel which included representatives from St Edmundsbury, English Heritage and the Bury St Edmunds Town Trust has decided to appoint East Anglian developer Hawes and Southgate.
Hawes and Southgate will be responsible for converting the West Front into homes fit for the 21st century whilst preserving the unique qualities of the building. This includes the medieval flint core remains of an 11th century Benedictine Abbey into which the 17th and 18th century timber-framed houses and some early 19th century structures have been built into the fabric, creating some unusual homes. Hawes and Southgate will restore the building whilst preserving its special architectural and historic interest.
The appointment panel interviewed prospective applicants for the building work, after a previous development agreement ended.
In addition to the contractor, architect and engineer from Hawes and Southgate having a proven track record of historic renovation work of this type, the panel made their decision after a comprehensive screening process that involved a demonstration of conservation credentials and a statement of their intended conservation practices which satisfied St Edmundsbury and its partners.
Leader of St Edmundsbury, Cllr John Griffiths, said:
“I am delighted that we shall be working with an East Anglian firm, Hawes and Southgate and the distinguished team they have put together, to restore and preserve the unique qualities of the West Front, while creating homes fit for the 21st century. This is an excellent example of celebrating our rich heritage while moving forward, for this and future generations.”
Walter Hawes from Hawes and Southgate said:
“It is a most worthwhile project and one that we are delighted to be associated with.”
Scaffolding which protected the building from the weather will start to come down as soon as possible and it is hoped that work may be able to start on site as early as spring/early summer 2005.
ENDS
Notes to editors
There will be a limited opportunity to take photos and film inside the building as part of supervised visits. Those doing so will be required to wear hard hats/appropriate foot wear.
The Hawes and Southgate team is made up of:
- Walter Hawes and Philip Southgate
-The Morton Partnership, specialists in structural, civil and structural engineering and historic building consultants. Brian Morton is engineer for St Edmundsbury Cathedral tower, Canterbury Cathedral and the fabric committee of Westminster Abbey. Brian was recently awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to conservation. They have offices in Suffolk, Essex and London.
-Nicholas Jacob Architects based in Ipswich. They have worked on a number of projects involving liaison with English Heritage, amenities societies and local authorities and includes the repair and conversion of grade II listed Water Mill in Pakenham and structural repair of St AndrewsChurch in Suffolk, a Grade 1 redundant medieval building
-R&J Hogg Builders, historic building specialists based in Coney Weston, Suffolk.
Contacts:
Walter Hawes of Hawes and Southgate Developers, on 01379 687771 or 07788 563894.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Resources, on 01359 270580.
ISSUED BY MARIA STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURYBOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. maria.staff@stedsbc.gov.uk
