The size and scope of our construction clients’ developments vary hugely. One thing a lot of them have in common is that they bring old buildings back to life – and we are with them every step of the way.
It’s something Capital&Centric is famous for. They turn unloved land and buildings into vibrant community spaces. The team there loves great architecture, offbeat designs and seeks to be as environmentally friendly as possible. In the last 10 years, they’ve completed over 2,000,000 sq ft of development.
One of the most recent projects we’ve worked with them on is the restoration of Eyewitness Works – one of Sheffield’s most iconic listed buildings.
For 150 years this building was home to Taylor’s Eye Witness Ltd, a Sheffield success story producing pocket and kitchen knives in industrial pre-war Britain. But as the space was no longer fit for a modern workplace, Capital&Centric looked to recreate it into a residential community, ensuring that its preserved original features will be celebrated for generations to come.
The £28m project restored the iconic Eyewitness Works and Ceylon Works, and also included construction of a six-storey building on the site that was formerly home to the Brunswick Hotel. It created 97 loft apartments and town houses centred around four verdant, landscaped courtyards. The whole neglected area has been rejuvenated and is now a high quality, design-led space, unlike anything currently on the Sheffield market, packed with original features, lush green hidden gardens and striking street art. With this specific project, Capital&Centric was determined to maintain the charm of the two Grade II listed buildings which included centuries-old features such as a 40ft chimney, 150-year-old pressing machines, Victorian safes, exposed brickwork, and large timber roof structure.
Listed buildings can cause a few headaches. For example, if a building contains timber (like this project did), enabling works will need to include invasive surveys to try and establish the condition of timbers using core drilled samples. However this is not definitive. If there are issues with the timber frame when works commence and remediation is required, this can put a project back substantially. All of this could hit the estimated project value, which then impacts the funding dynamics.
Complications can also involve unknown damage in a site if it has stood empty for so long. This is tricky when insurers need to know the risks and get on board with future plans. It may also be difficult to predict and ascertain damage to a pre-existing building, or damage which resulted from the original build itself.
It can also take a long time to get everybody on board with such a project. Not everyone has the same vision. It needs tenacity, perseverance, and passion to drive something like this. Plans for Eyewitness Works were approved in 2019, with the first phase just launching at the end of 2023 (of course, there was the slight issue of a global pandemic in that time!).
For Capital&Centric, the focus was also on involving the community at every level, right from the start. They opened up spaces pre-construction for events, get togethers and art commissions, many of which are continuing now. The local council was very positive about the development and community groups were consulted and respected along the way.
Tim Heatley, founder of Capital&Centric emphasised the importance of community when he said: “For us, it’s about building a community not a development. We want to create a place that people can feel an emotional attachment to, that makes them feel proud. We take iconic buildings with history, like Eyewitness Works, and make them into homes with loads of character.”
By working with us, all the potential complications and risks were covered, meaning the Capital&Centric team was able to build that emotional attachment and focus on the task at hand. Carrie Arnold, Director of Client Services at Bridge, says: “Our role was to ensure every element of the project had the most thorough and appropriate cover, whether it was a new build on older land, or a listed building being brought back to life. By working closely with Capital&Centric and advising them from the very start of the project, we alleviated the stress of insurance, meaning the client’s focus could be on successfully restoring and repurposing this wonderful heritage asset.”
It been a pleasure to support and advise Capital&Centric throughout this process, and to work with a team of such creative and visionary professionals. A fantastic part of Sheffield’s history has been preserved for future generations, with little expense to the environment but with huge benefit to the city and region.
