RICS in the East of England - Conservation Projects

Overview

Adapting the project approach to work on historic buildings.

Join the East of England Board for a new event that considers works on historic buildings.

Many developers, contractors and designers may be put off by listed buildings because of the extra complexity. However, most issues can be resolved when they are assessed, identified and managed at the right time. In fact, the process of understanding a historic building and its needs can give greater insight into how to develop it. 

This seminar is aimed at anyone involved in projects involving historic buildings, and will consider some of the issues that may arise, what can be done to manage them and when they should be considered in the project timeline.  

The day will include morning and afternoon tea, coffee and pastries, and a buffet lunch.

In addition, the seminar includes a tour of the Great Hospital, which was established in 1249 as accommodation for retired priests and still operates as a sheltered housing complex.  

The site incorporates a number of Grade I and II listed buildings, including the smallest cloister in England.  

The Hospital is a registered charity and the ticket price is to reimburse the hospital for the room, refreshments and tour.

Topics

Speakers

John Allison is a Conservation Accredited Chartered Building Surveyor and runs his own heritage consultancy in Norfolk in partnership with his wife who is a building historian. He has worked on a range of listed buildings and scheduled monuments from a Norman bishop’s palace to manor houses, farmhouses, cottages, churches and schools. John is also a member of the RICS East of England Board and a judge for the annual RICS Awards.

Patricia Forero is an AABC-accredited Conservation Architect and Director of The Architect Studio, a RIBA Chartered Practice based in Cambridgeshire. With over 20 years' experience in the conservation and adaptation of historic buildings, Patricia specialises in complex heritage projects, including churches and at-risk buildings. Her work covers projects from early condition assessment and feasibility through design, statutory approvals and construction. Her work at the Grade I listed Becket's Chapel in Wymondham was recognised with the 2025 Civic Trust Award in the AABC Conservation Category. Patricia is also an AABC Expert Assessor and has lectured in historic building conservation.

Hannah Wooller is a conservation architect and the founder of Matter of Place Architects (MOPA), a Community Interest Company dedicated to sustainable design and heritage-based placemaking. With over two decades of experience and AABC accreditation, Hannah specialises in designing innovative, environmentally conscious solutions for the built environment. Her expertise spans technical retrofit advisory roles for local authorities, commercial projects, and third-sector organisations, with a focus on delivering practical pathways to Net Zero. Hannah’s passion for the holistic sustainability of historic estates has led to collaborations with the National Trust, The Salvation Army, and other key stakeholders. In her practice, Hannah leads a team of experienced professionals dedicated to driving sustainable change in the built environment. Their groundbreaking Innovate UK-funded retrofit assessment tool leverages site-specific data and PHPP modelling to assess carbon expenditures and operational performance, advancing the field of retrofit design. By collaborating with local authorities, heritage bodies, and climate-conscious developers, MOPA strives to redefine how we care for and inhabit the places that matter most.

Kevin Clark is a conservation accredited engineer and Director of Heritage at Conisbee Structural & Civil Engineers. With over twenty years of experience in the profession he specialises in the inspection, appraisal, repair and conservation of all manner of historic structures and sites, including new construction in historic settings. Over the course of the last twenty years Kevin has worked on a wide variety of historic buildings and sites within London, the UK and overseas including many listed buildings and scheduled monuments. Notable projects include Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Palace of Westminster. Kevin engages in many heritage-related extracurricular activities including casework for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, serving as a member of the Fabric Advisory Committee at Peterborough Cathedral and working with the World Monuments Fund to help conserve war damaged historic sites.