Bauman Lyons were invited by a newly formed Kirkstall Valley Development Trust (KVDT) to carry out a feasibility study to convert a cluster of semi-derelict Grade-II listed buildings in the ownership of the council into a community hub. KVDT were successful in securing a Homes England revenue grant which then presented the opportunity to develop a community led affordable housing scheme with integrated community facilities.
Highlights
- The revenue funding enabled us to work on outline design to RIBA Stage 2. The site is complex with industrial archaeology, a Mill Race feeding the mills which is still in evidence, and an appealing formation of courtyards defined by the water and the listed buildings. There is a distinct group heritage value to the site.
- We assisted the client in tendering and appointing an excellent team of consultants: Arup as Structural Engineers and Ramboll as Services Engineers. We also carried out a range of surveys to help to de-risk the project at an early stage.
- We developed an understanding of the heritage value and significance of the site and buildings and proposed a series of targeted interventions across the site to remove insensitive modern additions and reveal the qualities of the buildings and spaces between.
- We undertook a series of consultations including with the local community, and with the Local Authority including early stage planning pre-application consultations to explore the key challenges and opportunities of the site.