(Lister Mills, Copyright Purcell)

Ahead of the Mills Development Conference – supported by Historic England and Homes England we quizzed heritage built environment experts Purcell on regenerating derelict mills, preserving historic and the opportunities heritage buildings present…

 

Q. Purcell specialise in restoring heritage, what are some major examples of your work?

A. We are driven by our clients, who come to us for our expertise to unlock and add value to complex, multi-asset places. We consider ourselves to be privileged custodians of both the places we are asked to study, repair, design and repurpose, and the practice, with its long history, that continues to develop in exciting ways. The sites that continue to unify and inspire us can range from 19th century industrial warehouses to medieval churches.

Today, we are working on two of the biggest heritage construction projects in the UK. We are carrying out conservation repairs and refurbishment works at the iconic Elizabeth Tower – the most easily recognisable part of the Palace of Westminster. We are also leading the restoration and refurbishment of Alfred Waterhouse’s Manchester Town Hall on behalf of Manchester City Council. Our innovative use of Heritage BIM, collaborative stakeholder working and solutions to complex heritage problems have placed us at the fore of conservation work in the UK and overseas.

 

Q. Why is preserving our heritage within the built environment so important?

A. The UK’s collective heritage provides a sense of place and distinctiveness that forms part of people’s identity and wellbeing. Heritage assets in a state of decay, decline and vacancy can negatively impact on the prosperity of an area, but can equally form a focus and a catalyst for socio-economic regeneration.

We believe that breathing new life back into industrial buildings in places like Lancashire and West Yorkshire through refurbishment and multi-use schemes can support healthier, more vibrant placemaking and offer high-quality homes and workspaces for local people. This approach is one we have taken at Cromford Mills in Derbyshire, Brierfield Mill in Lancashire and Alston Mill in Cumbria, and an approach that we are currently taking a Bradford’s Lister Mills.

 

Q. What do you believe is key to making an effective restoration?

A. For us, the key is to gain a full understanding of the heritage asset at the outset, as this allows informed decisions to be made when considering change, leading to successful and sustainable projects. We interrogate the building and its users to understand its heritage significance, its condition, its market viability and its capacity to accommodate intervention.  The constraints of an historic building should be seen not as barriers to regeneration, but as parameters to better shape a bolder, more creative scheme that responds to its context and user’s needs.

We then use this understanding as an integral tool throughout the design process and continuously analyse the design development against these parameters. This also supports a smooth journey through the planning system, by identifying and mitigating risk. Early stage consultation with the local community and statutory bodies is also important, as is the need to consider any heritage asset as part of a masterplanning vision for a site, allowing development to be phased and funding unlocked.

 

Q. Where do you think there are missed opportunities within preservation?

The traditional approach to conservation has historically been focused on outcomes for the built fabric; an architectural approach that can sometimes persist today. We believe that conservation should be for people, not buildings. Historic places are only of significance for the value humans place upon them.

We try to create spaces and places designed for people – not based on a design or assumptions – but with an understanding of how people use and move though space, including landscapes, circulation and light. It can no longer just be about repairing a historic building, but about what value that brings to people. If we can better respond to surroundings such as the historic environment, we can create a place that people will engage with and enjoy on a deeper level.

 

Q. What could the current construction industry learn from historical examples?

High-quality design and innovative solutions are vital to achieving schemes that successfully respond to human needs. By taking cues and responding to context, new-build construction can better add to a place’s sense of identity. Bold, contemporary design that seeks to contextualise itself in the existing scale, form, materials or style will always succeed.

 

Q. You’re exhibiting at the upcoming Mills Development Conference, what do you feel is next for that sector of preservation?

There are vast numbers of vacant mill buildings in the north of England that have the potential to respond to residential and commercial workspace needs. However, there are often issues to overcome first, such as low values, contamination, large floor plates, poor condition, market uncertainty and negative perceptions of our industrial past.

Greater flexibility in planning policy would be beneficial to support the reuse of these structures, or greater understanding of existing tools, such as compulsory purchase orders. Close working with councils would benefit all involved, supporting regeneration in areas of economic deprivation. The demand for a more ambitious climate change agenda will also impact on the sector. These buildings hold embodied energy that can be harnesses and reused, avoiding high-carbon new development. We will seek innovative solutions to reduce our carbon footprint, whilst also providing for people’s needs.

 

Q. What’s the best heritage building project you’ve worked on?

We take great pride in each project with which we are involved, whether it be initial advice or full Design Team services to complex historic buildings and sites. One such multi-asset project is the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project which forms Hull’s flagship and significant regeneration of its historic maritime assets following the city’s success as UK City of Culture 2017.

The project encompasses the redevelopment of the Grade II* Listed Hull Maritime Museum, the creation of a new collections store at the adjacent Dock Office Chambers, a new Passivhaus visitor orientation centre at a redundant dry-dock site and the improvement of the expansive Queen’s Gardens. The project also includes the conservation of two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair fishing trawler and the Spurn Lightship. The breadth of expertise required to deliver a project of this scale and encompassing such varied building types gives us great satisfaction and we take particular joy from the regenerative catalyst that projects such as this initiate.