Property Development Project 

Grade 2 listed

The external wall has 7 different colours of bricks and can’t be rendered. So, we were advised to ‘match’ the colours as ‘best we could’. Matching obviously this took longer than envisaged. ‘I have learnt over the years that you cannot possibly account for an exact timescale as issues identify themselves once the work has commenced.’

Purchase power!

With the flats using the same fixtures, fittings and decorating material gave greater purchase power and greater savings.

'Thank you ...'

You never know how and what people are going to say and react when you are developing a property. There has been lots of great comments from people who live in the area. They are really pleased something is finally being undertaken to this building, which has otherwise looked an ‘eyesore’. Even a ‘thank you very much’ from one local person.

Fireplace before …

An old-fashioned fireplace had to be saved which makes a great feature in this flat.

Utilities

You would think that when there is already utilities of 3 phase electrics and water in the building that would be acceptable. NO! New utilities had to be undertaken based on the fact that the building had not been used for 15 years. The impact was a £50K spend which had not been in the budget.

Fireplace after ...

The old-fashioned fireplace has now been given a face lift to create a wonderful feature in the room. 

Rotten windows

With single glaze  windows, sash style and a few round windows, the wood was rotten in many instances. As replacement was not allowed the challenge was ‘how best to repair’. The repair was undertaken to a high standard but has cost more money than it would have done just to simply ‘replace’ with double glazing. 

Lessons learnt ...

‘you cannot possibly account for everything when setting a budget but it is never good when you find out what unplanned costs unravel’.

‘you cannot possibly account for an exact timescale as issues identify themselves once the work has commenced.’