2019 Project of the Year: RICS Awards, East of England

Building Conservation

Horsey Windpump, Norfolk

Horsey Windpump is a landmark Grade II listed building with a fascinating past. It stood still and silent for 75 years after being struck by lightning in 1943. However, in 2015 the windpump closed for extensive repairs and restoration and has now been brought back to life.

The judges were impressed by the care and attention, National Trust, Whitworth and Millwright paid to detail throughout the project. Wherever possible, original materials have been re-used. Where this has proven impossible traditional materials have been substituted.
To ensure visitors can understand the mill in operation, guarding has been carefully designed to minimise its impact. Unusually, the full height of the mill can be accessed by visitors including the platform around the cap. The extensive view helps visitors understand the mill in the context of fenland drainage.

Highly Commended: The Guildhall, Bury St Edmonds

Commercial

Essendonbury Farm, Hertfordshire

Essendonbury Farm is on the eastern edge of the Hatfield Park Core Estate. This unique heritage asset hosts a classic car showroom, workshops and offices. The Grade II listed seventeenth and eighteenth-century farm buildings were sensitively restored and brought back into use, and a new barn was built to reinstate the historic 1896 dual courtyard arrangement. As part of the work, the external finishes were removed, timber repairs carried out and the building fabric reinstated to meet 21st century standards.

Judges called Essendonbury Farm a fantastic commercial development located in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. The level of workmanship, attention to detail and consideration to the surrounding environment is impressive. The buildings have been used to facilitate the tenant's business in a highly successful way and the relationship between Landlord and Tenant is a modern customer service focused approach. This commercial property – delivered by Synergy Construction and Property Consultants, Brooks Murray Architects and Ekins Builders - leads the way by promoting collaborative relationships which are sustainable and beneficial to all involved.

Community Benefit

Extension & Redevelopment of Grade II Listed Wells Maltings, Norfolk

This future proofing project involved preserving the fabric of the Grade II-listed Maltings, a striking industrial building in the heart of Wells-next-the-Sea.

Retaining, integrating or restoring as much of the original material was at the forefront of Daniel Connal, Chaplin Farrant and Robson Construction Ltd's plan to protect the 19th century structure along with creating a sympathetic extension. This community-focused project allowed us to update, enlarge and improve the much-loved but time-worn historic asset for community use. And the result is a first-rate facility for the local population and visitors.

RICS judges described the project as a building about the community, for the community. Wells Maltings offers both the permanent residents and seasonal residents of Wells-next-the-Sea something, whether it's a insight into the towns heritage, local fine art, touring theatrical companies or the latest blockbuster film releases. This building is diverse, as is the ever-changing community and to the buildings credit, it keeps up, whilst also offering increased footfall into the High Street, where local retail benefits.

Design through Innovation

Chapel Green SEN School, Norfolk

Chapel Green is a new purpose built SEND school for physically disabled and complex needs pupils in Attleborough, Norfolk. Delivered by NPS Property Consultants and Morgan Sindall, the school can accommodate 110 pupils from Reception to 6th Form age range and includes an innovative environmental and building technologies solution which combines passive ventilation, thermal mass and natural daylighting to provide exemplar teaching and learning spaces. The school also includes innovation in the accommodation, layout and uses of space, to provide an efficiently designed SEND school.

RICS judges commended the project team behind Chapel Green SEN School. A building designed from first principles, challenging what has gone before and putting its students at the forefront. The building is designed for its students, offering life developing skills outside and around it's teaching rooms – the building is its own educational experience. As the students develop and grow, so does the building around them, taking them through various stages of life and the day-to-day skills required.

Regeneration

Hillington Square Estate, Norfolk

Hillington Square – delivered by G C Baxter & Associates, Feilden + Mawson LLP and Lovell Partnership - is an urban scheme built between 1967 and 1971. The refurbishment includes extensive internal and external renovation including the construction of new stair cores, extensions and balconies. The overall design ethos is to overcome existing social problems and improve the quality of life for the residents through improved security. Phases 2 - 4 of the project delivers 144 newly refurbished units, 6 new stair and lift cores, selective demolition to open up the enclosed courtyards and landscaping works.

RICS judges commended the team behind this project as already at two thirds through its overall redevelopment, the benefits to the local residents and surrounding community can be seen already. Taking what was a deprived and what appeared forgotten part of Kings Lynn, bringing it into the twentieth century, has not only improved the standard of living for its residents, but improved their sense of belonging, safety and community. Local businesses are investing in the surrounding area again and a real tangible difference has been achieved. The next phases will only take this further.

Residential

Goldsmith Street, Norfolk

Goldsmith Street is an exemplar development by Norwich City Council that reimagines the Victorian terraced street for the twenty-first century and sets new standards for social housing in the UK. This pioneering scheme forms part of the Council's city-wide investment in modern, affordable homes for the people of Norwich. Designed by Mikhail Riches Architects and constructed by RG Carter, Goldsmith Street is one of the UK's largest Passivhaus developments, offering sustainable urban living within 15 minutes' walk of central Norwich.

RICS judges saw a development unlike any other in Norwich. A scheme where social responsibility, community and energy efficient homes come together. Pushing the boundaries of social landlord developments, by not just looking at the developments profit levels, but how with good design and investment in highly efficient homes the end user will benefit from a sense of belonging, placemaking and cost efficient living.

Highly Commended – Conversion of Nissen Huts, Essex

Tourism & Leisure

Hyde Hall, Rettendon

Dudley Smith Partnership, Concertus Design & Property Consultants Ltd and Brooks & Wood worked closely to realise a concept design with a high level of detailing. Two striking buildings were designed and built on the site of redundant farm buildings - one to house the learning centre and the other to be the main restaurant and activity barn. The learning centre was to provide a location for the RHS to provide horticulture lessons. Both buildings are located in a prominent location with sweeping views of the Essex countryside and RHS gardens.

RICS judges were amazed by Hyde Hall and deemed it a successful RHS garden but needed improved facilities. The new Hill Top centre is a stunning building overlooking the gardens. It contains a restaurant, multi-use spaces and education rooms. Since opening the new facilities have been very busy, with the educational resource booked a year in advance. The scheme has been a great success leading to increased visitor numbers and provision of new resources for the benefit of the local and regional community.