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This project involved the comprehensive refurbishment and transformation of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse into high-quality student accommodation for the University of London. The works required a delicate balance between preserving historic features and upgrading the property to meet modern building regulations, fire safety, and accessibility standards.
The programme was driven by a strict handover deadline of 15th September, ensuring the building was ready for incoming students ahead of the new academic year. Achieving this on time demanded precise coordination, proactive problem-solving, and seamless stakeholder communication — particularly with Camden Council, given the listed status of the property.
The project encompassed a full internal and external refurbishment, including extensive mechanical and electrical upgrades, layout reconfiguration, and sensitive heritage restoration works.
• Removal of all non-historic internal partitions to accommodate the new layout, including works within the basement and rear ground-floor extensions.
• Careful retention and protection of all historic frames, architraves, and cornices, with new fire-rated doors and frames installed to achieve full compartmentation without compromising period detail.
• Replacement of damaged plaster, anaglypta wall and ceiling linings, and restoration of existing finishes.
• Full strip-out of kitchens, bathrooms, sanitaryware, non-original joinery, and internal floor coverings, exposing and restoring the original floorboards, basement screed, and stone staircases.
• Removal of all obsolete insulation, services, and debris from the roof space with robust protection measures applied to historic fabric throughout.
• Careful removal and refurbishment of existing sash windows and glazed doors, reinstating them into preserved historic frames.
• Strip-out and replacement of external doors and window bars at lower ground floor level.
• Renewal of lead flashings, gutters, and rainwater goods, with adapted falls to new rainwater outlet positions.
• Coordination with the roofing contractor to inspect and repair the slate roof, with future provision for a terrace-wide re-roofing strategy.
• Formation of new openings in basement masonry walls to improve access and flow between rooms.
• Installation of new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout all floors, bringing the building up to current compliance standards.
• Replacement of all existing heating, water, electrical, and ventilation systems, including tanks, boilers, and ductwork.
Working on a Grade II listed building in the heart of Bloomsbury presented several challenges. Coordination with Camden Council’s Conservation Officers was essential to secure approvals for every element of the refurbishment. This required precise method statements, detailed protection strategies for heritage fabric, and close collaboration with the structural engineer to safeguard original staircases and features.
Despite these complexities, the team successfully delivered the project on time and to specification, ensuring that the property was fully compliant, energy-efficient, and ready for occupation by students at the start of the academic year.
The refurbishment successfully blended historic character with modern functionality, breathing new life into a Georgian townhouse while preserving its architectural integrity. The result is a safe, compliant, and inspiring environment for students, demonstrating best practice in listed building restoration and education sector delivery under a tight urban programme.
