Introduction
“The judges said this entry was a breath of fresh air to read. Iceni stood out as different, creative, colourful and innovative. They’ve not been afraid to break away from the mould and be themselves, having developed their own successful and imaginative approach to clients and staff offering above and beyond what is expected from a large consultancy.
“The judges were especially impressed by Iceni’s tribal ethos, in the sense that they have created a culture which is staff focused and highlights the importance of their wellbeing above all else.”
RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2021
An Introduction to Iceni Projects
A Multi-skilled Consultancy
Formed in 2005, Iceni is now the market leader and preferred consultancy for a fast-growing number of clients. From our offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Manchester, we deliver on a variety of schemes across the UK.
We have always sought to provide the “skills of a planner with the instincts of a developer”. The technical specialisms that the company hold have widened, but this fundamental objective remains the same. We are committed to putting our client’s interests first – and providing them with the tools to significantly improve their performance.
We achieve this by knowing our tradecraft – the technical skills that come through years of education and onthe- job experience that is recognised by professional accreditation. But it is also daring to be different; being proactive and thinking strategically. Our client relationships are built on trust, togetherness, enthusiasm, and a courage to challenge, where appropriate.
We are able to provide specialist advice in the fields of archaeology; built heritage and townscape; delivery; design; EIA management; engagement; landscape; planning; sustainable development and transport. Our team are talented, relentless, intelligent, bold and experienced. Individually or collectively, you’ll know when you’re with Iceni Projects.
To Iceni, thinking strategically is what we fundamentally believe to be the right way of doing things; to assess needs, evaluate constraints and maximise opportunities. It’s about having a strategic vision for a site, often looking beyond the immediate constraint of development management policies, and utilising a diverse range of skills to deliver large scale infrastructure and development projects.
We have the expertise to deliver strategic planning at a sub-regional and local level, advising local authorities on evidence and strategy development across England. Our services include advising local authorities on aligning their evidence on housing need and economic growth, to deliver a collaborative approach to strategic planning.
Ian Anderson Chief Executive
Your Strategic Adviser
Birmingham
The Colmore Building 20 Colmore Circus Birmingham, B4 6AT T: 0121 262 4148
Edinburgh 14-18 Hill Street
Edinburgh, EH2 3JZ T: 0131 370 3486
Glasgow
201 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 2LW T: 0141 465 4996
London Da Vinci House 44 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH T: 020 3640 8508
Manchester Dalton Place 29 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6FW T: 0161 509 2840
The Team Structure of Iceni
Ian Anderson Chief Executive
Andrew Gale Chief Operating Officer
James Bompas Director | Business Devt. & Strategic Planning
ARCHAEOLOGY
Paul McColgan Director
ENGAGEMENT & PLACE
Gemma Gallant Director
Philippa Curran Director
IMPACT MANAGEMENT
James Waterhouse Director
Jamie Sullivan Director
John Mumby Director
Kieron Hodgson Director
DESIGN
Claire Cogar Director Laurie Handcock Director
BUILT HERITAGE & TOWNSCAPE
LANDSCAPE
Nick Walker Director
PLANNING
Jonathan Stewart Director
Paul Drew Director
ECONOMICS
Danny Collins Director
Nick Ireland Director
Matt Kinghan Director
James Jaulim Director
Sam Griffiths Director
Silke Gruner Director Callum Fraser Director
Chris Jones Director
Gary Mappin Director
Ian Gallacher Director
Ian Mayhead Director
TRANSPORT
Leona Hannify Director
Lewis Westhoff Director
Lorna O’Carroll Director
Nick Grant Director
Simon Fowler Director
Clive Burbridge Director
Fred Peters Director
Rob Amey Director
The Team
An Introduction to Iceni Projects Built Heritage & Townscape
Iceni are an award-winning consultancy with a positive and creative mindset and are registered under IHBC’s Historic Environment Service Provider Recognition (HESPR).
As a multi-disciplinary organisation, Iceni provides specialist advice on design, heritage, townscape, planning and sustainable development. The Heritage and Townscape team advise on the historic and built environment at all stages of the development process, from project inception to completion. The team supports Iceni’s planning teams and works collaboratively with various in-house specialisms, notably Design and Archaeology, in order to provide a comprehensive service to clients.
The team believes that heritage assets and townscape are opportunities to be embraced; and that change, adaptation or development will often be the key to securing their future. Alongside the sensitivities, the team also understands how current policy and practice address potential tensions between development needs and giving weight to conserving the special qualities of historic environment. The team has successfully supported the delivery of complex schemes by forging relationships with landowners, developers, delivery agencies, authorities and national and local stakeholders.
The team prides itself on having a reputation for being a trusted advisor to all sides of the industry, working to support developers, site owners and commercial design teams, as well as local authorities, charities and public bodies, taking into account their corporate aspirations and behaviours.
This approach is also reflected in its membership of the IHBC’s HESPR programme, which requires businesses to adhere to a clear Code of Conduct. Additionally, team members are accredited through various professional bodies such as the IHBC, RTPI and ARB.
The team aims to achieve the best possible results for their clients and stakeholders, giving realistic and pragmatic, yet creative and commercial guidance that will stand the test of time. We are experienced in providing:
Strategic assessment of sites to highlight heritage and townscape constraints and opportunities;
In depth research, allowing an informed approach to site use and design;
Detailed Assessments of Significance;
Townscape assessment and Visual Impact Assessments;
Heritage Statements and Assessments;
Heritage management of historic buildings and sites;
Historic Building Recording; and
Stakeholder engagement and negotiation.
This document provides a useful insight into our approach and team.
The Team
The Built Heritage and Townscape Team operates out of our London, Glasgow and Edinburgh offices, which allows us to cover the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
Georgia Foy Associate Director | London
• Townscape Character
• Tall Buildings & Large-Scale Regeneration
• Office Retrofit and Strategic Land Heritage and Townscape EIA
• Advice on design and strategy
Esmé Coppock Consultant | Edinburgh
• Assessments of Significance
• Heritage Impact Assessments
• Townscape Character Analysis
• Archival research
• Digital Analyst (including QGIS & VuCity)
Rebecca Mason Associate Director | London
• Adaptive reuse of historic buildings
• Tall buildings and Townscape
• Integration of architecture into heritage settings London (following career at Westminster)
Lucy Nicholson Associate | London
• Townscape Character Assessments and Tall Buildings (including VuCity)
• Strategic land and setting of heritage assets HTVIA & EIA Heritage/Townscape chapters
Edward Wollaston Senior Consultant | London
• Evolution of Urban Environments
• 19th - 20th Century building types
• Contextual design solutions to new buildings in historic locations
• Largescale residential development
Georgina Mark Senior Consultant | London
• Historic fabric analysis
• Archival research
• Building recording services
• Heritage Statements & LBC management
• Vernacular buildings & the Country House
Aidan Ball Albessard Senior Consultant | Glasgow
• Built heritage and townscape of Scotland
• Retrofit and reuse
• Alteration and extension within a historic context Promoting heritage to enable development
Grace Kinnersley Graduate Consultant | London
• Archival research
• Building recording services
• Heritage statements & HTVIAs
• 20th century architectural history
• Heritage strategies
Hugo Tomassi Senior Consultant | London
• Building Investigation and fabric analysis
• Architectural Photography
• Archival research
• Early Modern urban architecture
• Mid-century Municipal architecture
Rebecca Davy Consultant | London
• Digital Analysis (Including VuCity & GIS)
• Conservation philosophies
• Systematic research and archival analysis
• London and the South West
• Community spaces (e.g., museums)
Poppy Malcomson Consultant | London
• Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Assets
• Architectural Background
• Historic and Archival Research
• Heritage Statements & Building Recordings
• Historic Interiors (specifically Georgian and Victorian)
Laurie Handcock Director | London
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• Heritage EIA;
Laurie has been Director of Iceni’s Heritage Team since January 2016, following five years of consultancy experience at RPS CgMs, and leads the firm’s Townscape specialism, formally launched in 2018. He is an experienced, commercially minded heritage and townscape professional, whose focus and expertise lies in negotiating complex consents across a variety of scales.
Clients value Laurie’s ability to dissect complex heritage arguments, and build a strong and comprehensive case in favour of development. He has a particularly detailed knowledge of policy and legislation and its application, gleaned and kept keen by significant and on-going public inquiry experience, and is also adept at inputting into the design process.
His experience ranges from urban, mixed use heritage-led regeneration schemes to strategic housing and infrastructure projects, and detailed work with sensitive, highly graded buildings and landscapes. He cut his teeth working on the redevelopment of London Bridge Station and leading on heritage matters in the delivery of an Outline Consent for Alconbury Weald, a major employment and residential development of the airfield of RAF Alconbury.
Glasgow
A long career as a practising architect allows Nick to work collaboratively across many disciplines as a ‘critical friend’. Nick is Iceni’s Built Heritage and Townscape Director in Scotland. He has a passion for making our cities more sustainable and more enjoyable to live in, whilst tackling inequalities within our built environment, the spaces between buildings and the infrastructure that makes cities function.
Nick joined Iceni to lead and grow the firm’s Built Heritage and Townscape team north of the border, bringing his comprehensive local knowledge of Scotland’s central belt cities, an understanding of statutory authorities within Scotland, and a wealth of experience of working with complex stakeholder groups, a variety of clients including many housing associations, and contractors. Nick is a team player and enjoys working collaboratively to help design teams find the best outcomes for all projects, supporting and guiding the design process in relation to heritage & townscape.
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• Urban Regeneration
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Nick Walker Director |
• Advice on strategy and scheme development;
Expert Witness services;
Promotion of urban regeneration schemes;
Tall buildings and townscape;
Strategic land, and setting of heritage assets;
Experienced architect Design guidance
Our Experience
Historic Buildings & Areas
Heritage is all around us, and the chances are that if you have a site, it will be within a historic environment. The cobblestones of heritage may sometimes feel like they are there to cause a trip, but good advice can help a project to proceed on smooth York stone paving.
We provide advice on the historic and built environment at all stages, from project inception to completion. Our aim is to get the best possible results for our clients and stakeholders, giving realistic and pragmatic, yet creative and commercial, guidance, that will stand the test of time.
Our Built Heritage services include:
First-pass strategic assessment of your site to highlight heritage and townscape constraints and opportunities;
In depth research, allowing an informed approach to site use and design;
Detailed Assessments of Significance;
Listed Building Consent advice at all stages – from first plans to discharge of conditions;
Heritage Statements and Assessments to accompany applications;
Designation advice: Certificate of Immunity evidence and support through the enhanced listing services;
Heritage management planning, the belt and braces solution to managing your historic buildings and sites;
Heritage impact assessment for consent applications and Environmental Impact Assessment;
Historic Building Recording; and
Advocacy for well-designed intervention in historic contexts with Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, local authority Conservation Officers, and other stakeholders.
Townscape & Urban Design
Iceni Townscape provide robust support in assessing the existing townscape environment and exploring opportunities for development within this context.
How new development can appropriately contribute to the existing urban form is an exciting aspect of how our cities and places evolve, becoming part of the future townscape in which we explore, work, live and enjoy.
Our experienced team hold a broad range of specialisms including architecture and urban design, and we have forged strong relationships with local planning authorities, visualisations specialists, architects and statutory organisations.
These strengths have resulted in us helping to identify and deliver creative design solutions, which integrate new design within a site’s existing composition most appropriately, while also adding value to the site. Townscape is a specialism within its own right, but by its nature benefits from an understanding of the layering of heritage which is intrinsic to understanding its characteristics.
The collaborative approach of our townscape and heritage team, is advantageous in gaining expert insight into the complexity of a scheme.
Our Townscape services Include:
Strategic advice on design and planning issues related to the townscape environment;
Townscape, Heritage and Visual Assessment;
Townscape Visual Impact Assessment;
Environmental Impact Assessment (Townscape);
Site Appraisals, and Assessment of Sensitivity/ Opportunities; and
Viewpoint Study and Assessment of Urban Environment.
Appeals & Expert Witness
Iceni Projects has extensive experience of the appeal process, and in Director Laurie Handcock, an experienced and well-regarded expert witness.
The team have undertaken a large number of appeals by written representations, as well as having regularly supported clients through the hearing process. Through regular involvement in the appeal process, relating to both refused planning and listed building consent applications and enforcement action, the team have a strong understanding of policy and legislative issues, and their relevance to historic environment planning. Recent cases include a successful appeal against a refusal for the London Borough of Hackney for a roof extension to a pair of buildings in the Conservation Area, and a successful appeal through the hearing process for the residential redevelopment of the Mansfield Bowling Club Site, in Camden.
Laurie Handcock’s expert witness experience includes work for Local Authorities, Amenity Societies and developers, relating to both urban and rural Sites. He has most recently been involved in supporting Gladman Developments on a number of development Sites in sensitive historic settings in the open countryside, including a recently granted appeal in Barnack, Cambridgeshire, for 80 new homes next to a Conservation Area.
Designation & Listing
The team have particularly strong experience in gaining certainty for clients through the designation process. Taking advantage of Historic England’s streamlined Enhanced Advisory Service, the team’s in-depth knowledge of the listing process allows them to remove the uncertainty provided by the risk of listing.
Iceni frequently find that the risk of listing can cause significant uncertainty for clients; given that listing applications can be brought forward at any time, and no cost by objectors to schemes, listing applications can come forward at any time, and lead to delays in process and uncertain outcomes.
Accordingly, the team are frequently involved in seeking Certificates of Immunity from Listing, which prevent listing applications from coming forward for periods of five years, and rebuttals of applications to list buildings. Using the Enhanced Advisory Service, a decision can now be delivered within a matter of weeks.
The team’s recent experience includes:
Successfully amending the list description for buildings within the North London Collegiate School’s Site in Canons Park, to make clear what building are and are not included in the listing, and excluding the main school buildings;
Gaining a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for a 1960s house in Wimbledon by former RIBA President David Rock, to allow a high-quality new home to be developed in its place;
Delivery of a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for Sovereign House, a 1960s office building within the Anglia Square development,in Norwich;
Delivery of Certificates of Immunity and Listing rebuttals for a number of significant power station sites for RWE npower, including Didcot A, Fawley and Tilbury B.
Our Projects
Govan Graving Docks
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Masterplan for the conservation retention and reuse of former graving docks as part of a wider landscape and housing led regeneration Services: Provision of 2 HTVIAs and input into 1 EIAR, to support various phases of a masterplan, Planning Status: Planning Approved
The masterplan for Govan Graving Docks included a conservation plan across all 3 historical graving docks, bringing Dock 1 back into working use. The development included the construction of a residential block along the southern quay of dock 3, as well as two more new build housing blocks just outside of the boundary of the listed building.
Circa. 300 new homes are proposed, alongside the redevelopment of Dock 1 for ship repair and maintenance, with the use of the historic pumphouse as an events space. An active travel route and Riverside Park will also be delivered by the team in conjunction with SUSTRANS, Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council. Each element of the masterplan moved at different paces as separate projects. Therefore, Iceni Built Heritage and Townscape provided two sets of reports – one to support the conservation and bringing Dock 1 back into working use and one to support the residential development. For Dock 1 a Heritage Impact Assessment and an EIAR Chapter on Heritage was provided to assess the significance of the docks and the impact of the proposals on the historical fabric of the listed building. For the residential project and Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment as well as two EIAR Chapters on Heritage and Townscape were provided to assess the impact of the proposals on the docks themselves, but also to assess the wider visual impact on the surrounding townscape and heritage assets.
We worked closely with our colleagues in Iceni Planning on all aspects of this commission. In addition, we collaborated with ZM Architecture who were the appointed conservation architects for the project, and who provided an in-depth and detailed Conservation Plan, as well as their own separate Heritage Impact Assessment. We also worked closely with O’Donnell Brown Architects for the whole site, and specifically in terms of our input, for the residential elements of the masterplan. A model of the development was inserted into VuCity to allow us to agree upon key views based on the surrounding historical townscape. The application was approved unanimously by committee in March 2025.
35a St Vincent Crescent
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: New build Residential Flats on the site of a former bowling green Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Status: Planning submitted
The Site is just to south of St Vincent Crescent in the Finnieston area of the West End of Glasgow. St Vincent Crescent is a designated Conservation Area within which the site, a former bowling green, is located.
Working with the client and the Design Team, including Page/Park Architects, we provided support and a full HTVIA for the site, which had been previously submitted twice, but had garnered significant local opposition. The third iteration reduces the number of flats and pushes the footprint of the building closer to the southern site boundary, introducing a large communal green space to the front of the development, providing amenity space for residents and neighbours alike.
292 – 332 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Purpose Built Student Accommodation above Publicly
Accessible Food Court
Services: Built Heritage and Townscape, Planning
Status: Planning Submitted
Following the 2018 second fire at The Glasgow School of Art, which spread to the neighbouring ABC music venue, the project involves the demolition of two existing fire and water damaged buildings that make up entire city block facing Sauchiehall Street. These buildings are the Category C listed building to the east of the site, together with the former non designated heritage asset, an extension to the former ABC cinema. The proposal is to build Purpose Built Student Accommodation directly in front of the currently fire damaged Glasgow School of Art, at a height greater than the buildings that it replaces.
As part of the process, we uncovered the extraordinary history of the site, home in the later years to a music venue, which had been a Panorama, a Diorama, a Circus, an Ice-skating rink, a dance hall, and a cinema.
The project also involved extensive townscape work using VuCity to assess and manage all of the important views to and from the many significant buildings in the area as well as the important impact on Sauchiehall Street.
The final design by Haus Collective Architects and the wider design team creates a strong addition to the townscape. The uniform block is an enhancement to the derelict condition, and the inconsistency of the buildings that were there before. Furthermore, the design opens up new views of The Glasgow School of Art and creates new publicly accessible spaces in the townscape. Overall, the project has resulted in an enhancement to the Glasgow Central Conservation Area.
285 Bath Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Purpose Built Student Accommodation
Services: Built Heritage and Townscape, Planning
Status: Planning Submitted
Iceni’s Built Heritage and Townscape Team provided start to finish input in the design and submission of McLaren’s Purpose Built Student Accomodation on Glasgow’s Bath Street. Sat within the Central Glasgow Conservation Area and designed by Manson Architects, the proposals is for 231 student rooms arranged over 18 storeys, on the site of a empty late 20th office building.
The Site has a rich history and formerly was the location of a dance hall, with churches to either side. This rich fabric was lost around the time of the clearance of the neighbouring area, for the construction of the M8 motorway. This led to considerable change and a loss of identity on this once fine section of Bath Street.
The proposed building is close to a number of Category A, B and C buildings including the King’s Theatre and the former Glasgow Academy school complex to the rear of the Site. Iceni worked closely with the design team to hone and test proposals using VuCity, to explore the massing and how the proposed building would be viewed from across the city.
Collegelands Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Purpose Built Student Accommodation & Built to Rent Proposals Services: Heritage and Townscape VIsual Impact Assessment, Planning Status: Planning Approved
Within the Heritage Assessment the complex history of the site as back-yard to the ancient university of Glasgow, as well as an area associated with industrial development and slums, provided the narrative for the site. The townscape was also assessed and provided arguments to supportthe site’s appropriateness for taller buildings. Additionally, VuCity was utilised to assess the Visual Impact of the development across an extremely broad area that contained highly significant heritage assets including the Necropolis and a range of Category A and B listed buildings. All impacts were mitigated and a positive scheme was achieved.
The Site lies just outside of the Glasgow Central Conservation Area, and is also immediately to the South of the Necropolis, which forms a registered Garden and Designed Landscape.
The Site sits approximately three hundred meters from the eastern edge of Glasgow Central Conservation Area, specifically the Cathedral Character Area and the Merchant City Character Area.
The Collegelands masterplan was first brought into being twenty years ago and extends from the High Street across the old High Street depot. So far seven blocks have been constructed. The ambition of the proposals is not only to deliver a development of the highest standards and complete to masterplan, so that the area can contribute purposefully to the city centre and the District of Calton.
138 Hydepark Streeet
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: 25 storey tower Purpose Built Student Accommodation
Services: Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Status: Planning submitted
The proposed development site is located to the west of Glasgow City Centre. The site is currently occupied by a dilapidated office building which lies redundant. Iceni Projects Planning and Built Heritage Team supported our client and the design team with the application for a 25 storey building close to the M8 and the Kingston Bridge, in the rapidly evolving Anderston Quay area of Glasgow.
The TVIA analysed the surrounding context of the site with particular focus on the cumulative development of taller buildings in the area. The assessment helped to sensitively integrate the building, designed by Cooper Cromar Architects, whilst adhering with all relevant policy and guidance on city design and the emerging tall buildings guidance.
India Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: 591 Purpose Built Student Accommodation Units and 20 Affordable Flats
Services: Heritage, Townscape Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
The Built Heritage and Townscape team, along with our Planning colleagues, supported the planning application for a mixed use development on India Street close to the M8. Our client, Vita River Ltd, together with Sheppard Robson Architects and the design team, submitted proposals to create a vibrant living environment and public realm to house much needed accommodation in the city centre.
The proposals that have been submitted to Glasgow City Council for Planning Consent consist of purpose build student residences, affordable apartments for social rent, commercial space and extensive landscaping. The proposal comprises a 591 studio purpose built student housing development to India Street and a 20 home apartment block for social rent fronting on to Elmbank Crescent. The student housing is conceived as a family of buildings staggered in form, with the tallest element aligning with the height of the adjacent Scottish Power Headquarters.
The area was assessed for surrounding heritage assets and 8 listed buildings were identified to be potentially impacted, as well as 2 conservation areas. Each of the 8 listed buildings were described and their significance outlined. It was concluded that the presence of the proposed development would not detract from any of special architectural or historic interest of any of the listed buildings. This was further corroborated by the visual impact assessment which assessed the impact on architectural features that contribute to the skyline.
249 West George Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: New Build Student Accommodation
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
The Site is located on the corner of West George Street and Blythswood Street, at the south-east corner of Blythswood Square, a square that is almost entirely surrounded by Georgian townhouses that are all Category B listed. The Site also falls within the Business District and Blythswood Character Area of the Glasgow Central Conservation Area. Therefore, although the building is not listed, its location within the conservation area will require Conservation Area Consent to allow for its demolition. During initial preapplication discussions, Glasgow City Council said that they believe that the building made “a positive contribution to the surrounding Glasgow Central Conservation Area and its loss has not been justified relative to Historic Environment Policy for Scotland”.
Iceni Projects’ Built Heritage and Townscape Team carried out heritage research into the development of the Site. In addition, we worked closely with our Iceni Planning colleagues and Mosaic Architecture and Design through multiple pre-applications with Glasgow City Council to design proposals for new Purpose Built Studnet Accommodation at this significant corner of the Site. Discussions led to proposals which were considered to be of suitable scale, height and massing, and in keeping with the surrounding listed square. The final proposals were inserted into VuCity and a full assessment was carried out into the potential visual impact on the surrounding context. The proposals will bring forward 147 studio apartments suitable for a wide range of letting options for students, supported by a range of other facilities and amenities.
123 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Redevelopment of former disused Category B Listed tearooms above commercial ground floor into short stay residential accommodation Services: Heritage Impact Assessment, Planning Status: Planning Approved
The building is a large 4-storey building which, like so many other buildings along Sauchiehall Street, had been lying empty for a number of years. Within the feasibility study the team uncovered the fascinating history of the building and its place in the development of tearooms in Glasgow (where the concept of the British tearoom was invented). This particular tearoom also had ties with the 20th century art scene in Glasgow as it doubled up as a gallery space. This historical development provided the narrative for the project. The challenge was then to find a way to redevelop and subdivide the spaces without having a negative impact on the special significance of the building.
After working with the architect, a sensitive redevelopment was achieved which not subdivided the original spaces in a sympathetic manner, which providing numerous enhancements to the building through conservation and the reinstatement of lost and damaged features.
The proposals provide a positive insertion into the centre of Glasgow, bringing a redundant building back to life whilst celebrating its fascinating history.
100 Osborne Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: New Build Purpose Built Student Accommdation Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning Status: Planning Approved
Iceni Built Heritage and Townscape were taken on to provide advice for new Purpose Built Student Accommodation in the heart of the city centre The Site is situated on the corner of Osborne Street and Old Wynd. Whilst Old Wynd connects to The Trongate, one of the oldest streets in Glasgow, Osborne Street faces a car park on the site of former railway infrastructure associated with the St Enoch Station, which was demolished in the 1980s. The area now has Planning Permission in Principle for a large mixed-use development of scale. This PBSA project therefore will contribute towards the wider rejuvenation of this part of the centre.
Working alongside our colleagues in Planning Scotland, Iceni Project’s Built Heritage and Townscape team provided the historical research into the Site, which was part of a wynd that previously extended from to the riverfront. The wynd was an area of great poverty and eventually became a slum, cut off from the river by the arrival of the railways. Thereafter the proposals were assessed by way of a full Visual Impact Assessment, to ensure the scale and massing worked in harmony with the historic context.
The new building designed by TP Bennett Architects, has been designed to bring back the former density of the Site, to respond to the consented proposals for a another PBSA development to the other side of the wynd, and to facilite a wider reconnection into the emerging context around the Site.
Inverlair Avenue
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: 254 New Build Flats
Services: Heritage Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
The Site at Inverlair Avenue sits between the Celeros Office Building on Newlands Road to the south and Cathcart House to the north. The Site runs the length of Inverlair Avenue and was designed for Cala Group Limited by 7N Architects. Along with our fantastic colleagues in Planning, the Built Heritage and Townscape team were brought on board to research the historical townscape development of this area of Glasgow’s southside.
The consented proposals for Inverlair Avenue deal with the change in scale, from 2 storey housing, to the taller heights of the listed Wallace-Scott Institution Offices and the Weir Pumps, both of scale. We successfully argued that the submitted proposals responded to the scale of the listed offices, whilst also opening up Inverlair Avenue, creating a more open aspect, by introducing green spaces along the avenue, referencing the green spaces that used to be part of the townscape context to this location. Our research evidenced that The Wallace-Scott Institution was a ‘Garden Factory’ meaning it involved extensive landscaping in its design to create recreational grounds for the workers. The Cathcart Nurseries were also on the other side of Newlands Road as the growing of plants within a nursery naturally required a lot of green space.
The nurseries and the Wallace-Scott Institution have long since disappeared, but the proposed project will bring 254 new homes to this brownfield site, with significant green amenity space, biodiversity and sustainability at its heart.
150 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Retrofit and Roof Extension
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
Iceni’s Built Heritage & Townscape Team assisted in securing planning permission for the for the refurbishment (internal and external), retrofit and roof extension of a 1970s office block in the middle of Glasgow Central Conservation Area. The Team produced a detailed Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (HTVIA) and led on discussions with Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow City Council on heritage matters.
150 St Vincent Street is an office block conveniently situated in the centre of the Business District of Glasgow on the slopes of Blythswood Hill. The block was constructed in the 1970s, clearing away the traditional stone terraced plots that fronted this section of St Vincent Street. The style of this building was very much of its time with reflective glass panelling and black granite cladding. The materials together with the staggered massing of the building was not well integrated within the townscape of the conservation area. Additionally the energy performance of the building was relatively poor and they layout was no longer fit for modern standards of working spaces.
The proposal was to refurbish the interior and exterior as well as to retrofit it to a standard making it the “greenest office space in Glasgow”. The heritage team advised on the design of the new proposal to make it fit better in the townscape in regards to massing and materials. The 3D modelling software was also used to mitigate the impact of the increased massing on the surrounding listed buildings and Conservation Area. Approval was given in December 2022. .
144 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: 16 storey residential development
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
In order to secure permission, Iceni Built Heritage & Townscape Scotland were approached to assess the impact of the proposed development on the surrounding townscape and listed buildings.
The site was not far from the Glasgow Central Conservation Area and is in an important transitioning zone between the city centre and the north of the city. The area has become depleted in recent years with demolitions, with the proposed development providing an opportunity to revitalise this once significant industrial area. As well as the conservation area, there were several listed buildings within the vicinity of the site. Using the 3D modelling software VuCity, the IcenI Built Heritage and Townscape team undertook a visual impact assessment and concluded that the impact on the surrounding heritage assets would be minimal. Furthermore, thorough design mitigation ensured that the proposed development would have a positive impact on the townscape and be in line with Policy SG1 Placemaking in relation to Tall Buildings.
St Enoch Centre
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Demolition and Redevelopment of City Centre Shopping Centre Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, as part of Environmental Impact Assessment, Planning Status: Planning Permission in Principle for Masterplan Approved
Iceni’s Built Heritage and Townscape Team produced a combined Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment and EIAR Heritage Chapter to support the proposed redevelopment of an important part of Glasgow’s historic City Centre.
Whilst most of the Site falls outwith the Glasgow Central Conservation Area, it is surrounded by the conservation area along with over 70 listed buildings within 500 metres of the Site boundary and two listed buildings within the Site.
The proposals would see the recreation of the historic grid pattern of streets and mixed uses that were lost with the construction on the Site of the St Enoch Railway Station in the 1870s. The Station was demolished in the 1970s with the St Enoch Shopping Centre being built in the 1980s.
The development proposals also include a marker building, significantly taller than the surrounding built form. Iceni undertook extensive townscape analysis using 3D modelling software and AVRs to demonstrate where visual and townscape impact is likely to exist. Engagement with Historic Environment Scotland has been key, with some challenges arising from the level of detail provided for ‘in principle’ applications, where the ‘worst case’ scenario and maximum parameters are assessed.
Our HTIVA and EIA assessment was able to define the heritage significance of the surrounding heritage and townscape assets comprehensively, providing a robust justification for the proposed demolition of the existing shopping centre and the positive, transformative and beneficial contribution the new scheme would make to improving and enhancing Glasgow City Centre.
131 Minerva Street, Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: 59 New Build Flats
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
Iceni Projects’ Built Heritage and Townscape team played a vital part in securing a successful Planning Consent for their clients, on the site of a heavily altered former brass foundry building which had been converted into offices.
The building was not considered to be a heritage asset, having had all its original fixtures and fittings removed internally some time ago. In addition, the building no longer sat within a legible townscape context, with the area having changed substantially over the 20th century. The existing building, which was to make way for a new development of flats, sat within a modern business park development and adjacent to brownfield land that had previously been occupied by car show rooms. The development site is to the south of the St Vincent Crescent Conservation Area, north of the category A Finnieston Crane, and part of the wider townscape as seen from Kelvingrove Park, and the river Clyde.
Given that the existing building did not contribute to the setting of the identified heritage assets, due to its lack of heritage value, Iceni demonstrated that its demolition would not affect the setting or significance of the area. Despite the lack of a listing, political pressure led Historic Environment Scotland to become involved in the overall process, with Iceni submitting a Certificate of Intention not to List (COINTL). As a result of Iceni Projects Built Heritage and Townscape team’s robust HTVIA and the work of the Planning team, HES confirmed that the building was not suitable for listing.
The consented proposals consist of an 8-storey L-shaped building accommodating fifty-nine apartments, each with a private external terrace or balcony. The building’s location gives a unique opportunity to deliver a dynamic development that will make a positive contribution to the ongoing regeneration of Glasgow’s city centre.
North Rotunda
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Retrofit and Refurbishment of Listed Building for use as a Music Venue
Services: Heritage Impact Assessment
Status: Planning Approved
Iceni Projects Built Heritage and Townscape Scotland team worked alongside Ica Architecture and Interiors for our client, Forrest Group, whose purchase of the North Rotunda bolsters the company’s presence within the SEC Campus. Forrest Hotels, the owners of the neighbouring Radisson Red hotel, bought the building in June 2023 and intend to invest £15million in the Category B Listed North Rotunda, to transform the building into a live music, entertainment and events venue.
Iceni Projects carried out a Heritage Impact Assessment in relation to the proposed internal alterations, as well as the two proposed external extensions, to assess the impact on the building itself, as well as a number of the surrounding listed assets, including the Category A listed Finnieston (Stobcross) Crane. The North Rotunda is an important and much loved part of Glasgow’s Industrial heritage and it was a real privilege to be involved with these exciting proposals to bring it back to life.
Debenhams, Argyle Street
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Refurbishment of Former Department Store into Offices / Restaurant
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
Iceni’s Built Heritage & Townscape Team assisted in securing planning permission and listed building consent for the refurbishment (internal and external) of the iconic Category B listed building, built as the Lewis’s Department Store in 1932 including a significant roof top extension. The Team produced a detailed Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (HTVIA) and led on discussions with Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow City Council on heritage matters.
The former Lewis’s Department Store was most recently in use as a Debenhams Store, which closed in 2020. The building was designed by G de Courcy Fraser and Clarke in an extensive 1930s classical design and is Category B listed. Iceni’s Built Heritage & Townscape Team carried out extensive research into the building’s history so that a fully informed and robust justification would be made for the removal of several internal elements of the listed building to accommodate the new proposal, as well as townscape analysis to justify and support the creation of a significant roof top extension to the building, taking into consideration the significance of the Category B listed building and the character of the Glasgow Central Conservation Area.
This approval will result in a historic building being brought back into use through a sensitive and pragmatic redevelopment to enable future use whilst respecting both the characteristics of the listed building and the wider conservation area. Where loss of fabric was required, this was fully justified by Iceni through negotiation and justification backed up by research and analysis of the building and its significance. Planning permission and listed building consent were granted in July 2022.
Oswald Chambers
Glasgow
Authority: Glasgow City Council
Proposal: Refurbishment and Restoration of Existing Building for New Hotel
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning Status: Planning Approved
The Built Heritage & Townscape Team advised in support of restoration of Category B listed building within the Glasgow Central Conservation Area to deliver a change of use application, new build element and additional massing, both adjacent and within the setting of the listed buildings, for hotel accommodation along the River Clyde in Glasgow.
The site is located within the Glasgow Central Conservation Area and is in a sensitive heritage location adjacent to the Category A listed Clyde Navigation Trust building. The Category B listed building on Site was built originally for the shipowners J&P Hutchison and it is of significance for its historical use and form as a building associated with ports and trade of the Broomielaw. The historic arrangement of the building is partly intact as a part bonded warehouse and part office, although the building had been subdivided. The external features of the building are of most significance. Proposals included the conversion of the existing vacant building and the erection of a new build aparthotel.
Iceni Built Heritage and Townscape produced a Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment which involved historical research of the building and wider site to develop an understanding of the building’s significance and to support the justification for a significant element of new build adjoining the listed building, which respects the character and significance of the heritage asset, whilst delivering a commercially viable new use as an aparthotel for the Site. Consent was granted in August 2022.
11-15 Thistle Street
Edinburgh
Authority: Edinburgh City Council
Proposal: Redevelopment of internal spaces including replacement and alteration of windows, insertion of rooflights
Services: Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning
Status: Planning Approved
11-15 Thistle Street was originally built as a printing works in the 18th century for the prestigious entrepreneur family Chambers who published the famous Chambers
Encyclopaedia and the Chambers Dictionary. The building was converted into offices in the 1980s which included a number of alterations and an entire refurbishment of the building.
The project was to convert the building into an apart-hotel whilst fully updating the performance of the building. The built heritage and townscape team helped to identify the significant sections of the building. Internally cast iron columns were retained from the old printing works floor and brick vaults were left exposed in the basement area.
The main façade was retained as-is, however, the rear façade included alterations to the fenestration in order to restore the original more symmetrical layout. Alterations also included replacement and updating of all of the sash windows which were non-original and replaced in the 1980s. There was also the insertion of a number of rooflights.
The impact of the external alterations on the Conservation Area and World Heritage Site were mitigated through imagery generated on the 3D modelling software VuCity managed by Scotland’s Built Heritage and Townscape Team.
Cumbernauld Town Centre
Cumbernauld
Authority: North Lanarkshire
Proposal: Supporting HES in their Assessment to List Services: Heritage Services, COINTL
Status: Decision Not to List Confirmed
In March 2022, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) announced that they were to undertake an assessment of Cumbernauld Town Centre to establish if it met the criteria for listing. Iceni Built Heritage & Townscape Scotland were commissioned by the owners of the Town Centre to produce a report to assist HES in their assessment of the site by presenting as much relevant information as possible for consideration about the building. Along side the report a Certificate Of Intention Not To List (COINTL) was also submitted due to the findings of the report.
Cumbernauld Town Centre is a notorious site and is deemed as one of Britain’s most hated buildings by most but loved as academic exercise in town planning and post-war design by some. The findings of our research was that the Town Centre had huge amounts of significance due to its individuality. It broke away from the Garden City format of post-war town planning and experimented with a clustered layout and the Town Centre as a megastructure in the middle. Its design was New Brutalism and included a number of innovations such as segregated pedestrians from traffic throughout the entire new town.
The report also found that everything that had made the Town Centre significant was now lost due many alterations and developments following the original design. These developments happened partly due to bad decisions regarding the Town Centre’s development but also because the original design was fundamentally flawed in a number of ways. The result was that Town Centre became a jumbled mess of tacked-on corridors and halls with badly executed safety updates and neglected areas of maintenance and repairs.
HES decided not to list the Town Centre and issued a Certificate of Intention not to List (COINTL) for part of the Town Centre.
The Pineapple
Falkirk
Authority: Falkirk Council
Proposal: New Build Visitors’ Centre as part of proposed Housing Development
Services: Heritage Impact Assessment
Status: Planning Submitted
The focus of Iceni Projects involvement was around a visitors’ centre for The Pineapple, a category A listed building within a designated Garden and Designed Landscape, that was to be built as part of a residential development proposed on a strip of land to the south of The Pineapple, Airth. The proposed housing development is located to the immediate west of another consented residential development, part of wider change in the immediate area which borders the Airth Conservation Area.
Iceni Projects’ Built Heritage and Townscape team provided the applicant with an overview of the historical development of the Site and the surrounding area, completed an identification of heritage assets and an assessment of their significance, and carried out an impact assessment of the proposed development on the relevant heritage assets.
This HIA noted that the visitors’ centre would enhance the GDL by acting as an extension of the gatehouse, and by providing an entry point as well as the dramatic reveal to the wider views. It will also bring back context to the area which has since been lost to agricultural developments. The assessment outlined how the proposed development would have no impact on the Airth Conservation Area or remaining listed buildings due to the screening provided by the existing topography, trees, and buildings.
Collaborations
Planning | Scotland
The team have worked closely with both our Glasgow and Edinburgh regional offices. Along with an understanding of the Scottish legal and planning framework, the team are conversant with the guidance and best practices followed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Past projects our team members have worked on also include:
GLASGOW CITY CENTRE
Working closely with the Design team and Glasgow regional team, Iceni Heritage advised on the refurbishment and extension of a large 1920s department store on Argyle Street, listed at category B. The proposal looked into the refurbishment of the building alongside the conversion of the upper floors into alternative uses such as residential or hotel use. The scheme also looked at a roof extension which required the team to undertake additional townscape assessment to understand the impact of the such development within the Merchant City Conservation Area.
ABC2, SAUCHIEHALL STREET, GLASGOW
Iceni Heritage supported the regional team on an application for a student housing development on Sauchiehall Street, adjacent to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Grade A listed Glasgow School of Art. Following concerns being raised by Historic Environment Scotland and the School, the team provided a robust assessment of the impact of the scheme on the setting and significance of the listed building.
TA CENTRE, PAISLEY
Collaborating with the regional team alongside Renfrewshire Council and Carson & Partners, the Heritage team advised on the façade retention and restoration of this Category B listed building. The TA Centre had been vandalised repeatedly including an arson incident in March 2020. The proposal was to the retention and repair of the front and flank elevations along with the and roof; alongside an integrated rear extension replacing the disused Drill Hall to be used as students accommodation.
Gary Mappin Director | Glasgow
E: Gmappin@iceniprojects.com
T: 07798 708 549
Ian Gallacher Director | Glasgow
E: Igallacher@iceniprojects.com
T: 07868 730 512
Callum Fraser Director | Edinburgh
E: Cfraser@iceniprojects.com
T: 07399 179 945
Planning | Strategic Land & Site Promotion
We have worked with strategic sites across the country, providing built heritage services to robustly support sites through to allocation and permission.
Our strategic land work is varied, dependent on the site and its requirements, and we work with both private developers and local authorities. The breadth of experience in our team – including backgrounds in architecture, planning, urban design and law – means we take a creative, commercially-minded and collaborative approach to advising on development potential, strategy, design, and mitigation.
Our particular expertise lies in:
Feasibility appraisals to inform site capacity studies
Advice for masterplanning
Heritage Impact Assessments to support Call for Sites, Site Allocations and Evidence Base
Representations to Local Plan Consultations
Expert Witness and Appeal Work
Environmental Impact Assessment
Heritage inputs to pre-application discussions, application submissions and responding to post-submission queries
Our recent experience includes:
Iceni Heritage supported a cross-discipline Iceni team in successfully achieving site allocation and planning permission for the extension of the Business Park at Highland Court Farm, sitting partially within a Conservation Area and in the setting of a Grade II* listed former manor house
We also supported a cross-discipline Iceni team in achieving planning permission and listed building consent for the conversion of a listed former railway works – Newtown Works – to a film studios with residential and commercial hubs alongside
Working for Northampton Borough Council, we prepared a Heritage Impact Assessment for their allocated sites as part of the evidence base for their new Local Plan
Laurie Handcock provided heritage expert witness at appeal to successfully support an outline scheme of 2,800 homes in Kelvedon, Essex
James Waterhouse Director | Strategic Planning
E: Jwaterhouse@iceniprojects.com
T: 07798 708 549
Leona Hannify Director | Strategic Planning
E: Lhannify@iceniprojects.com
T: 07868 730 512
Planning | Central London
Working with our planning colleagues, we regularly advise clients with high value projects in Central London, smoothing the waters for ambitious developments in highly sensitive historic contexts. These often include new basements and roof extensions in order to maximise the potential value of a site and are subject to particular scrutiny from heritage bodies and local stakeholders.
The team are currently working on two high profile projects close to Kensington Palace, involving listed houses within a Conservation Area. These have included, in one instance, justifying the demolition of a 1950s extension to a Grade II* listed Philip Webb house, and providing a new, high-quality extension in its place, as well as the internal refurbishment and reordering of the listed building.
Past projects our team members have worked on also include:
THE ORANGERY, KENSINGTON PALACE
Support to a now-consented application for a new extension and basement addition to the Grade I listed Orangery within the Scheduled Monument of Kensington Palace.
BLENHEIM ROAD, WESTMINSTER
Successful application, at appeal, for a contra-policy side extension, contemporary rear extension, additional basement and internal re-ordering of a Grade II listed house in a conservation area.
GROSVENOR SQUARE, WESTMINSTER
The redevelopment and partial demolition of a Grade II Edwardian mansion as a 33-room luxury boutique hotel and private members’ club.
HOLLAND PARK, KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
The remodelling of a Grade II Victorian villa as a single-family home with major basement development.
NORFOLK ROAD, ST JOHN’S WOOD
The internal refurbishment and reordering of accommodation to a Grade II listed semi-detached Villa built in the 1840s. This included the introduction of a basement, garden room and loft conversion which provided an additional three bedrooms.
CAMPDEN HILL SQUARE, KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Demolition and reconstruction of a rear extension to the Grade II listed Georgian townhouse with interventions to the principal façade.
Simon Fowler Director
E: Sfowler@iceniprojects.com
T: 07831 820 634
Kieron Hodgson
Director
E: Khodgson@iceniprojects.com
T: 07807 264 704
Planning | Manchester
We regularly collaborate with our regional team based in Manchester and advise on projects in the North of England. These often range from regeneration projects to large scale redevelopment in extremely sensitive settings. With the underlying economics and challenging commercial viabilities, these projects require the team to adapt their knowledge and understanding to maximise the potential value of the site whilst balancing the sensitivity of the historic environment.
Past projects our team members have worked on also include:
THE BEEHIVE MILL
Iceni worked with Urban Splash and the Prince’s Trust to deliver a new mixture of uses to the Grade II* listed Beehive Mill, an Ancoats landmark best known as the location of the legendary Sankeys nightclub. Located within one of Central Manchester’s most historic industrial areas, this Site included one of the earliest mill buildings within this part of the City. Alongside Manchester regional team, Iceni Heritage advised on the significance and sensitivities held by this listed building. Working closely with Shapero Architects, the team advised on appropriate design solutions to ensure creative modern design could successfully integrate.
OXFORD ROAD, MANCHESTER
Following a pre-application with Manchester City Council (MCC), Twenty First Architects, have developed a scheme that utilises the existing building envelope and proposes a two storey roof extension. The team are working with their planning colleagues in Manchester to provide heritage and townscape advice collaborating with the architects as well as relevant Council officers, with the intention of achieving planning permission later this year.
STANLEY PARK GOLF COURSE, BLACKPOOL
Iceni are advising on the redevelopment of a Site close to the Grade II* listed Registered Park, designed by the famous Golf Course designer, Alister MacKenzie. The team are working closely with Ryder Architecture who are proposing an Adventure Park [Adrenaline World] along with related hospitality and leisure uses such as residential lodges, gardens and zoo areas. The team are advising on the proposal within the sensitive landscape context whilst looking to optimise the use of the Site.
Chris Jones Director
E: Cjones@iceniprojects.com
T: 07384 543 690
Archaeology | Nationwide
The team pro-actively collaborate with their Archaeology colleagues to undertake integrated assessments on strategic sites, providing a much more comprehensive heritage assessment, above and below ground.
Together the team assess the built and archaeological matters, addressing potential sensitivities, identifying risks, and providing an indication of where potential harms might be mitigated by design. This helps informing master planning stages, and de-risking clients in any particular future ‘surprises’.
Past projects our team members have worked on also include:
78C HIGH STREET, TORNBRIDGE
Iceni Projects were appointed by Jasper to provide combined Archaeological, Heritage, and Townscape Assessment services in support of applications for a mixed-use development within Tonbridge town centre. The new development falls within an area of archaeological importance, and within the immediate setting a number of highly significant heritage assets including the Grade I listed and Scheduled Ancient Monument Tonbridge Castle. This integrated approach outlined in detail the impacts of the proposal on any surviving archaeology alongside heritage assets; sufficient satisfying the Archaeological Advisor and Conservation Officer to in support of the planning application.
ALFOLD CROSSWAYS, SURREY
Iceni Projects were appointed by W.E Black Ltd to provide archaeological and heritage advice in support of a residential development at the Site of Horsham Rd, Alfold Crossways, Surrey. The teams worked together in order to assess the archaeological survival potential of the Site; alongside providing a comprehensive review of the heritage assets within the wider area. An assessment of the impact arising through the development to the setting and significance of sensitive heritage assets was also undertaken.
BETTERSHANGER PARK, DEAL, KENT
Iceni Projects were appointed by Quinn Estates to provide a combined Archaeological and Built Heritage Assessment of the historic environment in support of a mixed-use development at the Site of Betteshanger Park, Deal, Kent.
The Site formed part of the landscaped remains of a demolished 20th Century coal mine. The report outlined in detail the impacts of the proposal on any surviving archaeology and provided sufficient information in support of the planning application. This was complemented with the team’s Heritage expertise advising on the setting of sensitive heritage assets.
Claire Cogar Director
E: Ccogar@iceniprojects.com
T: 07799 369 997
Added Value
Added Value
iSite
iSite pulls together a number of services to enable the promoter of a project – but equally the respective consultant, local authority, consultee, local community and wider interested party – to gain the knowledge and understanding of a site or location that historically has only been possible from an in-depth site visit. Moreover, many projects are of the size and scale that even a physical site visit renders difficult to comprehend.
The key focus of iSite is to provide an intelligent digital design and consultation tool. This incorporates the use of drone photography, 360° camerawork (think Google Street View for buildings), interactive, virtual consultation halls and project web sites that can pool together all of the information for effective file management and sharing. So, whether you need to initiate an initial site survey appraisal, team site visit, pre-application meeting, public consultation event or committee presentation, iSite can help.
iSite won’t be for everyone. We understand that. But if you are looking for cost-effective ways to progress with your proposals, it could be the answer.
Digital Spatial Analysis
We often think of GIS (Geographical Information System)as tools for the tech-savvy. With the new ways of living and working, Iceni has been fast developing its spatial analysis capabilities combining them with their in-house technologies such as 3D Modelling, drones and 360deg photography.
Iceni have always used large scale data mapping and 3D modelling to advise Clients at an early stage of feasibility, and are now working with partners to digitise the plan-making system in England and Wales. The digitisation of these planning datasets makes it possible to run multiple queries and, when layered with other datasets, can truly provide a competitive advantage. By applying a variety of search criteria the possibilities are endless, in terms of site identification; site sifting and site-specific constraint analysis.
Iceni is uniquely placed to interpret this information through its various specialist teams, including archaeology; delivery; design; EIA management; engagement; heritage; planning; sustainable development, townscape and transport. This, combined with our in-house 3D modelling capabilities puts us in an envious position against our competitors, giving Clients the rare opportunity to unmask potential risks and plausible development impacts right at the feasibility stages.
Whether it be testing the height, scale and massing of a building, our team can speed up the design process; help clients as well as sharing the information reliably with key decision makers.
We are also bringing mapping data to life with drone technology. Providing up-to-date imagery has very obvious benefits as the planning system grapples with the impact of Covid-19. Highresolution images can be obtained quickly and can be layered with GIS data to inform the project team; members of the public and decision-makers.
Added Value
Iceni Place
Sites don’t start with, and aren’t defined by, planning policy. They’re defined by people. And people bring a melting pot of ideas and opinions.
Not everyone will necessarily share the view that a site needs developing, regenerating or renewal, especially in areas undergoing massive amounts of change or those where nothing has happened despite the will to see it happen.
They are sites that often mean more to people than an abstract red line on an OS plan, where physical and social barriers override site boundaries. Where people have a connection to their incidental bit of city they call home.
They have a past, they have a present and a future. Just like people.
Iceni Place delivers an approach that welcomes all of these views, fears, hopes and dreams into a collaborative process built on listening. It starts with people, asking “What does success look like to you?” and ends with a legacy of better places.
Thought Leadership
Leadership
NPF4: Heritage Considerations
What Does NPF4 Mean for Heritage?
Historic Assets and Places are covered by the first section of Policy 7 of NPF4. This states that development proposals with a potentially significant impact on historic assets or places must be accompanied by an assessment which is based on an understanding of cultural significance of the historic asset and/place.
This assessment of cultural significance already takes places in Scotland, as it forms part of HES policy guidance, and stems back to the ICOMOS Burra Charter. NPF4 is further emphasising the importance of this process to inform decision making using terminology already seen in heritage and environmental impact assessments.
In terms of policy requirements such as alterations to listed buildings, demolition, developments affecting the setting of conservation areas, scheduled monuments and designed landscapes for example, this is in the main a reiteration of current best practice and existing Local Development Plan approaches to the historic environment. The main difference being these policy requirements are now explicitly set out in national policy.
Key Considerations for Future Development
There is greater emphasis given to non-designated historic environment assets; this can be taken to mean undiscovered archaeological remains, but the meaning is broader; the opening sentence of paragraph o) states that “Non-designated historic environment assets, places and their setting should be protected and preserved in situ wherever feasible”.
NPF4 infers that historic assets that are not already recognised through designation may be harder to demolish although further guidance would need to follow on this.
NPF4: Reuse & Retrofit
What Does
NPF4
Mean for Reuse & Retrofit?
Whilst there is no specific policy within NPF4, the term ‘reuse’ is widely referred to throughout the document, in relation to promotion of the reuse of buildings generally. Given the need to conserve embodied carbon, the reuse of existing buildings, in lieu of demolition and subsequent new build, is the preferred option.
Within the section of NPF4 related to ‘Brownfield, vacant and derelict land, and empty buildings’, the policy intent is to encourage, promote and facilitate the reuse of empty buildings, and to help reduce the need for greenfield development. The policy outcome looks to ensure that derelict buildings and spaces are regenerated to improve wellbeing and transform places.
Historic Assets and Places are covered by the first section of Policy 7 (Historic Assets and Places) of NPF4. Within this section it is stated that development proposals for the demolition of listed buildings will not be supported unless it has been demonstrated that there are exceptional circumstances and that all reasonable efforts have been made to retain, reuse and/or adapt the listed building.
Development proposals for the reuse, alteration or extension of a listed building will only be supported where they will preserve its character, special architectural or historic interest and setting. Development proposals affecting the setting of a listed building should preserve its character, and its special architectural or historic interest.
In terms of the policy requirements such as alterations to listed buildings, demolition, developments affecting the setting of conservation areas, scheduled monuments and designed landscapes for example, this is in the main a reiteration of current best practice and existing local development plan approaches to the historic environment. NPF4 aligns with current policy and best practice guidance in Scotland.
Within the Six Qualities of Successful Place set out within NPF4, Quality 5 relating to sustainability and the efficient use of resources acknowledges the transition to net zero and the inclusion of energy / carbon efficient solutions, retrofitting, reuse and repurposing.
Key Considerations for Future Development
Policy 2 within NPF4 confirms that retrofit measures to existing development that reduce emissions or support adaptation to climate change will be supported.
NPF4 also notes that Local Development Plans should set out opportunities for the sustainable reuse of empty buildings. Development proposals for the reuse of existing buildings will be supported, taking into account their suitability for conversion to other uses.
Built Heritage and Townscape An Architect’s View
As a new member of Iceni Project’s Built Heritage and Townscape team in Scotland, I have been catching up with contacts made over many years of working as an architect in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Together we have been discussing our cities and their development, and our attitudes towards heritage and a changing townscape. These conversations have also given me the opportunity to describe our expertise, particularly north of the border, where our Built Heritage and Townscape consultancy is new.
So, what do Built Heritage and Townscape consultants bring to the table in terms of the design and construction of our built environment? We provide advice on the historic and built environment at all stages, from project inception to completion. As an architect, I have first-hand experience of trying to do everything all at once. As a result, I have been spending time telling my architectural peers that Built Heritage and Townscape consultants are here to help! Our aim is to get the best possible results for our clients and stakeholders, giving realistic and pragmatic guidance in relation to development, that will stand the test of time and help achieve consensus.
How new development can appropriately contribute to the existing urban fabric is an exciting aspect of how our cities and places evolve, becoming part of the future townscape. We work alongside architects, clients, and the whole design team to ensure proposals are contextually appropriate, while also adding value to the site. Townscape is a specialism within its own right, but by its nature benefits from an understanding of the layering of heritage.
Key to any successful planning application process is an understanding of context and place. How proposals fit into the townscape of our cities, how they bring new contemporary development to streets within our conservation areas, and how they respond to the many listed buildings and scheduled monuments, is a measure of their success. We are equally at home in
more rural settings and provide advice ranging from the extension of listed mills, through to the impact on heritage assets related to proposed new solar farms.
Appointed early within the design process, we can offer advice on how to maximise the potential of sites, working with sensitive historic contexts to build for the future. We are pro-development and interested in supporting our clients and consultants in delivering new buildings and of increasing relevance, reusing existing buildings. Retrofit has a vital part to play in our sustainable future and we are experts on advising architects how they can adapt, extend and reuse existing buildings of significance, or buildings within sensitive areas.
We are not conservative in our attitudes, indeed, many of my colleagues have an interest in tall buildings and how these are to be built within our cities! With good knowledge of how to successfully deSsign for our Scottish cities, I am hoping to bring something extra and complimentary to our Built Heritage and Townscape team’s considerable existing expertise on both sides of the border.
Nick Walker Director, Built Heritage & Townscape
The Sustainable Development Scorecard
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has running throughout it the ‘golden thread of sustainable development’. In spite of this, there is no clear-cut, NPPF-based assessment criteria to consider a site or project’s sustainable development credentials, making current assessment processes both tricky and subjective.
The Sustainable Development Commission was established to address this recognised issue with our planning system. Made up of a balanced cross-section of industry professionals, the Commission has debated the issues and found solutions, culminating in the creation of the Sustainable Development Scorecard.
The Scorecard website is free to use and accessible to anyone with a vested interest in development, including developers, architects, planners, community groups and members of the public. By crystallising the NPPF’s guidance into a simple, online analysis tool, the Commission aims to provide a more consistent approach to sustainable development, leading to a more sustainable built environment.
www.thescorecard.org.uk
Birmingham: The Colmore Building, 20 Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham B4 6AT
Edinburgh: 14 -18 Hill Street, Edinburgh EH2 3JZ
Glasgow: 201 West George Street, Glasgow G2 2LW
London: Da Vinci House, 44 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8FH
Manchester: WeWork, Dalton Place, 29 John Dalton Street, Manchester M2 6FW www.iceniprojects.com iceni-projects iceniprojects
