Fire-ravaged building set to rise from the ashes under new scheme by Birmingham property group

A Birmingham property developer is set to breathe new life into an historic site in the centre of Hereford.

Elevate Property Group has purchased 16-18 High Town and plans to bring it back to life as a mixed-use development incorporating residential and retail accommodation.

The two Grade II listed buildings that occupy the site were devastated by a major fire in 2010. Since then the site has lain derelict.

The Jewellery Quarter-based firm is responsible for some of Birmingham’s most exclusive residential schemes. It has already completed and sold Concord House, Queensway House and St Paul’s House in the city and is now set to develop 40 luxury, loft-style, two bed apartments in Tennant Street, near to Brindleyplace.

It is bringing this experience to the Hereford project and is intending to submit a detailed planning application to Herefordshire Council shortly.

The site has the benefit of conditional planning consent but if detailed consent is granted then work could start as soon as this summer.

The original buildings can trace their history back to the 15th century, although they were subject to 18th and 20th century renovations.

Over the last six years attempts to re-develop the site have been blighted for various reasons including previous owners failing to start restoration work, enforcement notices, owners going into administration and preservation concerns.

One major obstacle to overcome is a sufficient power supply to the area. When the fire gutted the site, an electricity sub-station that supplied that area of Hereford was removed.

Existing power provision in the area is insufficient and the council is currently pressing Western Power Distribution to agree an early solution and the provision of a sub-station to complete the proposed package.

Steve Dodd, managing director, Elevate Property Group, said a detailed application was being prepared by local architects Hook Mason and would include the construction of two retail units and a combination of 20 apartments, penthouses and townhouses with associated parking.

“The project will be managed and overseen by our development managers BACE Construction Consultants,” he said.
Philip Belchere, of Hook Mason, has produced a heritage appraisal of the project.

The damage to Alban House in Hereford

In a report first produced in October 2015 and revised in May 2016, he secured agreement with Historic England that, in effect, the damage to the buildings was too serious to warrant extensive retention of the existing fabric of the buildings.

He wrote: “16-18 High Town have undergone significant alterations and adaptations since their original medieval construction with much of the fabric having been re-used from elsewhere.

He added that “the historic relevance of most of the remaining structures is lost and retention or reintegration is of limited significance”.

The proposals are to re-use a limited portion of the original structure, in agreement with Historic England.

The project is Elevate’s first in the cathedral city.

“Many saw a problem. We see an opportunity and we are delighted to have secured this site, we plan to use a local contractor to complete the works on our behalf,” said Mr Dodd.

“We believe the scheme we will be proposing addresses local concerns and combines an attractive blend of old and new in a part new build, part restoration project.”