Project
Master’s House
Location
Ledbury, Herefordshire
Client
Herefordshire Council
Architect
Butler Hegarty
Sector
Heritage
Project Completion
2015
Value
£3.2M
Speller Metcalfe was appointed to deliver a highly detailed restoration of the Grade II* listed Master’s House, a structure dating back to medieval times which had undergone many unsympathetic refurbishment attempts over the years.
In a £3.2m scheme with client Herefordshire County Council (HCC), Speller Metcalfe took the contract under the West Midlands Contractor Framework to deliver a historic and highly detailed restoration of the Grade II* listed building, with the project delivered across 2 phases. A key part of Herefordshire Council’s brief was to decarbonise the building, making it more energy efficient while using methods appropriate to the historic nature of the building.
Various techniques were applied including use of an innovative, hydroscopic insulation product – Hempcrete – an alternative to traditional insulation, allowing the building to breathe and further preserve the timber while providing the additional insulation required for thermal comfort and subsequently reducing the building’s carbon footprint. This was complemented by the installation of efficient mechanical and electrical installation and heating systems.
Working within a limited budget, it was integral to engage with specialist suppliers early to model cost options for carbonisation measures which would provide the greatest return on investment. This ensured money was directed at the most important areas, finding the ‘sweet spot’ that balanced conservation and environmental demands with what could be done practically, ensuring intelligent use of the budget to make the most significant impact.
For Speller Metcalfe, this was an opportunity to work on a local, one-of-a-kind landmark that delivers outside of the traditional and allowed us to put quality and historical accuracy above bottom line. Unique projects often call for a flexible approach; at pricing stage the building hadn’t been fully opened up, so a collaborative approach was taken with Herefordshire Council – talking through costs and challenges as they arose.
