Heritage Unlimited were engaged to write a Heritage Statement in support of the residential conversion of a grade II listed historic hotel in the heart of Buxton, Derbyshire. The Grove Hotel is situated in a prominent position in the town, opposite the former thermal baths and a number of other striking heritage assets such as grade I listed Buxton Crescent and The Slopes park and garden.
The density and quality of the historic environment and the role The Grove played in the development and morphology of the iconic spa town from the late 1700s onwards required a comprehensive assessment of the site and its environs. A site visit was undertaken to inform the understanding of the fabric of the building, its setting, and special interest, which was in turn used to provide heritage advice and guidance to assist in the design and planning process. This culminated in a proposal which was sympathetic to the layout and significance of the existing building, preserving special interest in the listed building as required by the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, whilst also meeting the requirements of 21st century living standards.
Creative and adaptive reuse of historic buildings is key to their conservation and longevity when prior uses are no longer viable, threatening disuse and disrepair. Heritage Unlimited are firm believers in creative reuse and proud to be involved in such projects, which also feed into sustainability and improving the carbon footprint of existing buildings. Upon learning of the recent success of the applications at The Grove Hotel, HUL now look towards the next phase in which we were involved; a similar conversion of offices in the adjoining building in the listed Grove Parade.
