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CHALLENGE
The site had been the subject of proposals for years, with ongoing dispute about the future of the unlisted Georgian terrace on Sun Street and various less coherent heritage buildings to the north. The city block itself formed a distinct conservation area. A previously approved scheme had already been granted for an inelegant ground-scraper office building, which retained only half the terrace.
The challenge was to resolve long-standing tensions around the site. This meant balancing the retention of heritage, introducing new uses and delivering a viable scheme, all within a highly sensitive conservation area. Put simply: how do you keep more of what matters, while still making the development work?
SOLUTION
A new client team recognised the merit of retaining more heritage by diversifying uses, reducing office space, and recasting the project as a residential-led mixed-use development. Partnering closely with KPF Architects, we collaborated on the design to develop a more balanced approach. This featured restoring the full Georgian terrace for hotel use, introducing a podium with offices above retail, and constructing two residential towers.
Townscape views were central to the strategy. We used them to show that no heritage assets would be harmed by visibility, and that the proposed towers would feature high-quality design and remain elegant in context. The wider scheme included significant design interventions. The listed pub and locally listed chapel were retained. A five-storey office building beyond the chapel was refurbished and re-clad, with additional setback floors opening onto a landscaped terrace.
As part of the terrace restoration, an added dormered level and a new route from Sun Street established a distinct separation between the terrace and the taller elements of the scheme. The selected materials complement the retained historic elements, ensuring a consistent and harmonious architectural language throughout the development.
RESULTS
The final scheme achieves a balanced approach between heritage retention and new development, supported by a mix of uses and high-quality architecture. Through careful assessment and design collaboration, we demonstrated that the development would not harm heritage assets and would instead enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.
This led to the clear conclusion that the scheme, now complete, has enhanced heritage and provided a more coherent, thoughtful outcome for the site.