Projects
Grantley Hall Hotel and Wellness Retreat – Ripon
The magnificent Grantley Hall opened in the summer of 2019 as one of the UK’s most luxurious hotels and spas in the UK. This five-star country retreat is the only member of Relais & Châteaux in Yorkshire, was named ‘Best Newcomer 2020’ by Conde Nast and labelled the second-best new luxury hotel in the world by Luxury Travel Intelligence.
Bowman Riley delivered the transformation of the elegant Grade II* listed Grantley Hall into one of the UK’s finest country hotels and wellness retreats.
Surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside, the magnificently imposing Grantley Hall is set on an artificial island created by the canalisation of the River Skell in Ripon.
The 17th century classically styled property was built as a private residence for the Grantley family. Extensions in the 18th and 19th centuries followed leaving a principally Georgian elevation. The building has enjoyed a colourful history which includes its use as a shooting lodge, convalescent home during the Second World War and an adult education college.
Inspired by its grandeur, the renovation of Grantley Hall accentuates the historic details of the imposing property featuring a magnificent dual height presidential suite, signature restaurant, brasserie and cocktail bar set in exquisite formal gardens.
To complement the historic Hall, a new spa building and bedroom wing have been created in a modern Georgian style. Four months after opening, the Three Graces Spa was awarded 5 Bubble Luxury status by the Good Spa Guide.
A new subterranean Garden Pavilion building featuring a bar, private lounge, an exclusive after-hours club and restaurant has been integrated within the 1910 listed Japanese garden restored to become one of the most important of its type in the country.
The renovation of the historic hall alongside the creation of two new bespoke buildings allows hotel guests to experience a five-star luxury getaway in opulent surroundings.
We worked with a Yorkshire based consultant team including project managers and surveyors, Lucas Lee, engineers GHD and the interiors were delivered in conjunction with JMDA. The two main contractors were locally based, RN Wooler & Co and HACS. This team along with numerous other consultants and subcontractors made the Grantley Hall vision a reality.
Grantley Hall won the Heritage Award at the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards Yorkshire and Humber and has reached the national finals.
RICS Head Judge Mark Rugg said:
“Grantley Hall oozes historic character and quality. After decades of inappropriate uses and vacancy the multi-phase Grade II* listed mansion dating back to the 17th century, has been lovingly transformed into a five-star hotel and wellness retreat. The painstaking restoration programme included extensions and new buildings designed to enhance the character and use of the site. The Japanese Garden is a jewel in the crown and was designated a Grade II Registered Park and Garden during the course of the project.”
The George Hotel Repair and Conservation Works – Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Bowman Riley provided conservation architecture to Kirklees Council on the George Hotel, an elegant Grade II* listed 1851 landmark with an Italianate façade designed by William Walker next to the railway station to meet the needs of the Victorian traveller.
The industrial revolution brought the arrival of the railway and increased wealth, resulting in the development of Huddersfield town centre, including the George. The building is famous as the birthplace of rugby league in 1895 when 21 rugby clubs met in the hotel and voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union to set up the Rugby Football League.
In 2013 the 60-bed hotel closed due to competition from chain budget hotels. An essential part of Huddersfield’s history, the Council purchased the George.
Our role was to help bring this listed building back into use, prolong the life of the building fabric and enhance the significance of the external façade by replacing inappropriate interventions and advice on the re-purposing to ensure no harm to the buildings’ heritage significance.
Working with the Council and Historic England, we identified the significance of the George to inform the strategy for repairing the building’s fabric. We assessed the general condition of the building to identify critical issues both internally and externally. We prepared a comprehensive repair strategy, considering the significance of the various elements of the building fabric and the cause of the defects, and the likelihood for future degeneration and proposing the appropriate repair solution.
The work predominantly involved stonework repairs, window replacement and roof repairs. We worked with the scaffolding company to determine methods for erecting the scaffold to ensure minimal harm to the building and a CARE-accredited Structural Engineer.
With the repair works now complete, our team is currently working on the next phase of the George Hotel project be transform it into a Radisson Red hotel ready to welcome guests to an experience that seamlessly blends history with modern luxury.
“We want to give a massive shoutout to our amazing project team… Their expertise and attention to detail have been instrumental in the successful completion of the work. Hats off to them —they’ve given The George Hotel a well-deserved makeover! The building has been meticulously restored, retaining its historical significance while embracing modernity, and has given the hotel a new lease of life.”
Kirklees Council
Read more about the project in the media with articles in the Insider, Yorkshire Live and Huddersfield Unlimited.
See more of our heritage projects here.
The George Hotel Redevelopment – Huddersfield
Kirklees Council
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley has provided architecture, conservation architecture, interior design and the roles of lead consultant and principal designer on the George Hotel redevelopment for Kirklees Council.
The George is an elegant Grade II* listed 1851 landmark next to the railway station in Huddersfield to meet the needs of the Victorian traveller. In 2013, the 60-bed hotel closed due to competition from budget hotels.
Following our project to provide conservation architecture on the repair and conservation of the façade of the George, we prepared a feasibility study to consider the alterations necessary to create a 90+ bedroom hotel. Development partner Queensberry undertook a preliminary assessment of the George. The findings were that the building would need substantial changes to attract a hotel chain to secure its long-term future. Our designs helped attract Radisson to operate the building as a Radisson Red Hotel.
Following a review of the heritage significance of the building, we identified the 1930s wing as having the most capacity for change, followed by the east wing. We developed plans to demolish the 1930s wing and substantially alter the east wing to achieve 90+ bedrooms. Historic England understands the need for change and is keen to see this heritage asset brought back into viable reuse, which supported the planning approval application.
We are leading a multi-disciplined team bringing external consultants and specialists for quantity surveying provided by Turner & Townsend, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering provided by Ramboll, and fire, BREEAM and acoustics by Mott MacDonald, combining expertise and resources to ensure a seamless project execution.
“We have been impressed with Bowman Riley’s pragmatic approach and knowledge to overcome some tricky issues, especially regarding planning/Listed Building Consent. We look forward to carrying the scheme forward with them.”
Jack Pasley, Queensberry
Greenholme Mills Residential Development – Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley
Bowman Riley has provided architecture and principal designer services on the redevelopment of Greenholme Mills, a historic Yorkshire mill site, into a major riverside residential scheme.
Once a booming textiles mill powered by water fed through the River Wharfe, Greenholme Mills employed hundreds of people during the industrial revolution. In recent years, the site had been used for a variety of commercial and industrial purposes but was underused and unsustainable in its existing form.
Developer MMR purchased the site with planning consent for a residential development of circa 90 homes. With a strong track record in mill developments, Bowman Riley was approached to redesign the scheme to help MMR achieve maximum value from their investment.
Our design of the new houses increases the eaves and ridge heights of the new build houses to form new porches and rear box extensions. Additionally, we are designing six new bespoke townhouses maximising views across the valley.
We redesigned the two multi-storey mills to increase the unit numbers. The larger of the two mills lent itself to conversion because the windows and column positions are ideally placed. However, the smaller of the two mills is shallow in plan, presenting the opportunity to duplicate its depth by forming a new build extension to it.
To complete the development, we created a commercial element by reusing and extending the existing workshop buildings to provide unrivalled fitness and recreation facilities comprising a swimming pool, gym, café, and crèche with an outdoor play area. The building conversion retains as much as possible of the structure of the existing buildings and locates key areas at the higher level out of the flood risk zone, whilst maintaining views out to the riverside.
Read more about this prestigious development in the Yorkshire Post.
This project was Highly Commended at Insider Property Awards 2023 in the category of Residential Development of the Year (fewer than 100 homes).
For sales enquiries please contact the agent, Dacre Son & Hartley at their offices: ilkley@dacres.co.uk or 01943 600655 option 1 for residential sales.
Explore our other residential projects
Manor House, Red Lion Hotel – Yorkshire Dales
Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales
Daniel Thwaites
Bowman Riley designed the renovation of the 1883 Manor House, part of the 16th-century inn, The Red Lion in Burnsall on the banks of the River Wharfe.
Daniel Thwaites purchased the Red Lion in 2021. Following several successful renovation projects for Daniel Thwaites across their inn portfolio, our team was brought on board to support the refurbishment of the Red Lion.
Our brief was to preserve the historic building whilst enhancing the guest experience. We converted the manor house’s former 11 bedrooms into eight larger spaces in line with guest expectations. The rooms available include three family rooms – each with two bedrooms – four signature doubles and one large feature room. Working collaboratively with the interior designers, Sacha Interiors and contractor, Wilkinson Group to deliver the project; sensitive to the history of the building incorporating a modern countryside aesthetic with a hint of Scandi.
We designed the external works, including new windows, doors, rainwater goods, roof and chimney repairs, repointing, and façade improvements.
Our team remodelled the interior of the building, which was stripped back to the bare bones except for the masonry walls, upper floors and roof. We arranged for structural improvements and timber treatment to be carried out. We developed improved fire protection, thermal and acoustic improvements with new finishes, sanitary ware, fixtures and fittings.
Steve Martin, operations director at Daniel Thwaites, commented:
“We are thrilled to have reinvested back into the manor house and see this project come to life.”
The project has been shortlisted for Insider Property Awards Refurbishment and Renovation Project of the Year 2023.
Photo credit Daniel Thwaites.
Estates Building – Huddersfield
Bowman Riley has been working with Kirklees Council providing conservation architecture on the Estates Building, a Victorian landmark in Huddersfield town centre. The Grade II listed building is part of the Huddersfield Station Gateway project, which also includes the George Hotel, partially funded by Historic England as part of their Heritage Action Zones initiative.
Designed in a gothic revival style by renowned Victorian architect William Henry Crossland, the 1874 Estates Building is one of Huddersfield’s finest listed buildings. It was originally used as the estates’ office for the locally important Ramsden family, who were responsible for much of Huddersfield’s development during the industrial revolution.
Owned by Kirklees Council, the Estates Building has been empty since 2002; a portion of the building was converted from outdated offices into 15 affordable apartments.
The remainder of the building remained vacant and required repair and restoration work, including the renewal of windows and stained glass, repairs to ironwork and masonry, the restoration of missing weather vanes and the replacement of slate roof tiles.
Working with Kirklees Council’s conservation team and Historic England, our role is to prepare an external repair strategy to determine the approach to the external works identifying the significance of the building to inform the plan for the repairs to the building’s fabric.
We oversaw the preparation of documents by the building surveyors regarding their suitability for a listed building. We also reviewed the schedule of works prepared by the heritage consultant and held discussions and site meetings with Burlington slate to provide slate and suitability of materials to use on the building.
Our work is helping to bring a local landmark back into use by prolonging the life of the building fabric and enhancing the significance of the external façade and by replacing inappropriate modern interventions.
Read more about the future of the building in local media articles.
Bootham Park – York
Enterprise Retirement Living
York
Bowman Riley has been providing masterplanning and architecture on the re-purposing of Bootham Park, a series of historic listed buildings with extensive open grounds in York into a new retirement community.
Our brief was to create a cohesive development of 120 homes across the site. During the design process, it became apparent that we needed additional apartments for the scheme’s financial viability. We worked closely with Historic England to produce the masterplan with the sympathetic renovation of the heritage buildings to create engaging and appropriate designs for the new build elements resulting in a 172-unit residential care community with substantial public benefits.
Central to the project’s success in conservation terms is the renovation of the 18th-century Grade I listed landmark designed by acclaimed architect John Carr. The site also includes four Grade II listed heritage assets built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which will be repurposed to host the communal facilities of the new community. Four complementary new wings will accommodate the new homes.
Built as a lunatic asylum in 1777, Bootham Park became a psychiatric hospital in 1904 before closing in 2015. In addition to the site’s iconic architecture, its historic significance is that Bootham Park has provided continuous care since its construction, recognising its contribution to society. The redevelopment of the site into a retirement community was granted planning consent in 2023 and classed as C2 use class, the provision of care in a residential setting, which is a first for City of York Council.
The public benefits of the redeveloped site weigh in favour of the scheme, as does the enhancement of the existing landscape regarding its recreational value and provision of public access, including sports facilities to Bootham School and a hospital helipad.
The redevelopment will bring this critical York brownfield site back into viable reuse as a beautiful and functional retirement community, with onsite care 24/hours a day and extensive grounds accessible to the public.
Kerry Babbington, Historic England, praised our “thoughtful approach” and lauded our “retention of the open nature of the site and creation of formalised rights of public access”.
See our other project for Enterprise Retirement Living, The Red House.
See our other Heritage projects.
See more of our retirement communities.
New Briggate Heritage Action Zone – Leeds
Bowman Riley has been providing architectural services for two separate clients on adjacent properties on New Briggate in Leeds city centre, part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone.
New Briggate is within the Grand Quarter Conservation Area and has high-quality historic buildings. It has successful businesses and a vibrant cultural scene courtesy of the 19th-century Grand Theatre and Opera North headquarters but it suffers from traffic congestion, vacant space and decay to buildings.
The Heritage Action Zone project will transform New Briggate and the surrounding area, making it more pedestrian-friendly, investing in repairs to buildings to enhance their historic character and bringing new uses to St John’s Churchyard.
Our role has involved preparing grant applications for two separate buildings on the street known as The Grand Parade to secure funding for the repair of roofs, façades, brickwork and architectural features.
The former Central Hotel building application also involves the reinstatement of traditional shop fronts, timber and sash windows and doors and the refurbishment of vacant upper floors to bring them back into use for residential purposes. Once the grant has been approved, we will begin work on the scheme on site through to completion.
On the second property, our involvement is restricted to exterior improvements as the upper floors had already been converted into apartments.
We prepared our grant applications to strict deadlines and in liaison with Leeds City Council’s Senior Conservation Officer and the Heritage Action Zone team including Historic England.
Read more about the New Briggate Heritage Action Zone here.
Read more about our Heritage Projects here.
The Judge’s Lodging Hotel – York City Centre
Daniel Thwaites Plc
York (Central Conservation Area)
The Judge’s Lodging is a Grade I listed Georgian townhouse built in 1710 as a private home before becoming the official residence of the Assize Court Judges.
Supporting Daniel Thwaites from the project’s inception, Bowman Riley helped with the due diligence process prior to the hotel’s purchase by preparing designs to liaise with English Heritage, local authority conservation and historic building specialists, York Civic Society and Georgian Society.
Working with the heritage specialists, we designed the redevelopment of the property, which involved re-planning the flow of the building and demolition of 20th century ad-hoc extensions.
Specific challenges involved the co-ordination of demolition and building works without disturbing medieval human skeletal remains in the historic graveyard (in the rear hotel courtyard) or the Roman defences below the front courtyard.
We introduced a new main entrance directly into the bar and restaurant, new first-floor Cask Bar, new kitchen and new build courtyard bedrooms. As part of the atmospheric Cellar Bar, we designed a stunning glass box, where visitors can dine and get a feel of the outside inside and a new sun terrace for al fresco drinks and dining.
Since the relaunch of The Judge’s Lodging Hotel, it has become one of Thwaites’ prestigious Inns of Character, it has also been awarded a 5 star AA Inn Award, Best Small Commercial Building at the LABC Awards and was shortlisted for Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber Awards 2015 in the category of Heritage.
“…thank you for all the hard work that you and the team have put into The Judges’ Lodgings… seeing it complete I have to say that you have done an amazing job of addressing the issues and flow within the building and creating a stunning contrast between the new and old at the rear of the property. We are all absolutely delighted and very proud of what has been achieved by all involved.” – Rick Bailey CEO, Thwaites Brewery
“The Judges Lodging is a magnificent Building of the early 18th C with some exceptionally fine interiors. Thwaites and their design team are to be warmly congratulated for this very ambitious, wholesale development of the entire site – that combines comprehensive restoration of the historic fabric and interiors with an ingenious and delightful reworking of the rear courtyard – to provide outdoor eating areas and additional bedroom suites. It is very gratifying to see a important but very vulnerable historic building being given a new lease of life by a commercial enterprise – rather than having to turn for its survival to charity or public funds.” – York Design Awards
” It’s difficult to believe, looking back to the start of the project, but before Thwaites bought the Judges Lodging, it was a hotel that was struggling to survive.
Thwaites’ design brief was straight forward, “create the best Inn within York’s historic city centre” and to be fair, they let us have the time we needed to really get to know the building. Not just it’s structure, with its unique features and twists and turns, but it’s historic significance, set directly between a Roman fortification and the graveyard of pre-Norman St Wilfrid’s Church, with its large quantities of human skeletons to be retained intact. The entire site was of understandable interest to Historic England, York’s Conservation and Heritage officers, plus the city’s Georgian Society. There was a lot of enthusiasm to bring this Grade I Listed building back to life, but it needed doing in a measured and controlled manner.
The first stage was to make the building watertight and undertake repairs to the vulnerable structure. We were then able to explore how we might change the internal circulation of the building, by creating a new main entrance into the bar. During this period we struck lucky, by finding and then opening up, a previously hidden staircase that linked the two main public floors.
The rear of the building saw the most significant change, with us securing consent to demolish a number of recent extensions and out-buildings, to be replaced by dual level external terraces and five contemporary bedroom suites. Inside, the building was completely transformed with the restoration of period staircases, timber panelling and the bold use of period colours and vibrant modern fabrics. All of the dated mechanical and electrical systems were renewed throughout, to ensure full statutory compliance and meet the expectations of a worldwide customer group.
It’s fantastic to see a wonderful building restored and brought right back up to date, commercially earning its keep in a very competitive market place. It’s a great example of how an historic building can be opened to the public, whether that’s for tea and cakes, or a few nights in the comfort of an antique four-posted bed, with views over York Minster.”
John Coultas, Director Bowman Riley
View more of our hotel and restaurant experience here
The Beverley Arms – East Riding of Yorkshire
Daniel Thwaites
Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
Bowman Riley designed the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Georgian Beverley Arms located in a conservation area opposite the impressive 12th-century St Mary’s church in the town centre of Beverley.
The former coaching inn, the Beverley Arms, was built in 1794 with an older core. In 1967, the property underwent radical alterations, including a new five-storey flat-roofed block. The struggling 55-bedroom hotel fell into administration in 2016, leaving the property vacant and needing sympathetic renovation.
Daniel Thwaites acquired the property with plans to transform it into a five-star inn as part of its Inns of Character portfolio. The project involved the sympathetic renovation of the building, retaining significant features, including the famous ‘Old Inn Kitchen’ painted by Fredrick William Elwell in 1922 and making the most of the setting adjacent to the church.
Our design balanced the need to improve the spaces’ function whilst respecting the building’s fabric and historic significance. The inappropriate 20th-century extensions were demolished, including an overbearing 1960s block in the courtyard and a conservatory.
We designed a smaller, more sympathetic extension in keeping with the local context. The new building houses courtyard rooms overlooking the outdoor terrace. The new building allows sunlight to penetrate the external courtyard and dining areas creating appealing spaces for both hotel guests and attracting day visitors and the local community to enjoy dining and drinking.
We transformed The Beverley Arms into an AA Five-Star rated inn with 38 bedrooms with the entire ground floor devoted to great spaces for drinking and dining with a public bar, restaurant and external courtyard.
The development has brought vitality back to this important local landmark, which contributes to the growing success of Beverley’s visitor economy. The Beverley Arms was named one of the Times newspaper’s Top 10 British Hotels of 2018 and was crowned the winner of the Leisure and Tourism category at the RICS Awards 2019.
Due to the success of the food and beverage, we returned to the hotel in 2022 to enhance the external courtyard by adding glazing and new seating areas.
See The Guardian review of the Beverley Arms.
Images courtesy of Daniel Thwaites.
Middletons Hotel – York City Centre
The House of Daniel Thwaites
York, Inside York City Walls
Centred around a picturesque courtyard garden within York’s historic city walls and dating back to 1700s, Middletons Hotel comprises 56 bedrooms spread across eight different buildings – six of which are Grade II and Grade II* listed – together with restaurant and leisure facilities.
Middletons has been operating as a hotel since the 1970s. Daniel Thwaites acquired the property in 2017 and appointed Bowman Riley to support the phased redevelopment of the site. An initial review of the hotel revealed that many of the bedrooms were tired and in need of refurbishment, with aspects of acoustics and fire protection between bedrooms in need of updating.
The design concept at the Middletons Hotel is to celebrate the history of each building whilst adding elements of modern guest experience that people expect from a city centre hotel. This design plays on the unique characteristics related to the heritage of each part of the site.
The first phase of works started on site in January 2019 following lengthy negotiations with York City Council. It involved the refurbishment of 18 bedrooms within Cromwell House and Sir Joseph Terry Cottages, which comprises two guest suites. The Grade II 19th Century Cromwell House was originally a sawmill complex, and one of the walls at the far end of The Sawmill restaurant is actually part of an old city jail. Designed by the architect Walter G. Pentry in 1899, the Grade II Listed Sir Joseph Terry Cottages were former almshouses funded by public subscription in memory of Sir Joseph Terry, former mayor.
The hotel remained in operation throughout the works, but careful coordination between the hotel manager, client and contractor ensured that disruption to guests was kept to a minimum. The bedrooms and guest suites were handed over in April 2019 to the delight of the guests. Bowman Riley also acted as the principal designer during the works to ensure health and safety compliance.
In 2022, we returned to the project to begin designing the second phase of works involving the refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Lady Anne House over two floors with 19 rooms. This listed building takes its name from Dame Anne Middleton, who was the wife of the Sheriff of York in 1659 and funded the hospital. In 1829, the property was rebuilt and extended. By 1972 it was nearly derelict when it was purchased and incorporated into the hotel. In the centre of the front is a statue of a woman, which is believed to survive from the original building. At Lady Anne House, we are designing the refurbishment of the bedrooms, replacing ensuites and adding new secondary glazing and air conditioning along with external works involving resurfacing of footpaths including ramped access and railings .
Further phases at Middletons Hotel will comprise the conversion of function rooms within the Organ Factory into two guest suites, works to Chaplin House, no. 56 Skeldergate and Staff House.
See more of our hotel experience here or contact us to talk about your development ideas.
Swinton Park Country Club and Spa – near Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire
Swinton, near Masham, Ripon in North Yorkshire
The Swinton Estate, one of England’s largest privately owned estates, is set within 20,000 acres, much of which is designated as a Grade II* Registered Historic Park and Garden.
Bowman Riley supported the design delivery on the site of a new country club and destination spa inspired by the stunning countryside in which it lies.
Sitting right in the heart of the estate, adjacent to Grade II listed Swinton Park – a 32-bedroom hotel and cookery school – the design combines both existing estate buildings with new contemporary structures.
The new spa is home to nine treatment rooms, an 18-metre pool, a steam room and sauna, six treatment rooms, three heat experiences, a rasul, wellness pool and full fitness facilities. Outside there within a secluded spa garden is a herbal sauna and shower, a cedar hot tub plus a 10-metre natural water swimming pool.
The wider estate has been incorporated into the overall offering with the use of produce from the four-acre walled kitchen garden – the largest hotel kitchen garden in the UK – and using the outdoor space for activities such as walking, hiking, running, cycling or outdoor yoga.
Next to the spa, The Terrace restaurant serves dishes by Swinton’s Executive Chef, Simon Crannage. The restaurant, kitchen and lounge are accommodated in a converted and extended joinery shop building, which cleverly brings the outside in with light and airy rooms. A wood-panelled bar and coffee house adjoins The Terrace, housed in the former powerhouse, with its own courtyard garden. The large terrace garden provides space for alfresco dining.
In 2020, we were subsequently commissioned to design a new laundry building to sit unobtrusively within the estate grounds, which achieved planning consent.
First aired in 2021, the Swinton Estate was featured in the BBC Two TV Series, Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, catch it on BBC iPlayer.
View more of our hotel and spa experience
Wheelwright School Conversion to Residential
MMR Group
Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley was appointed to deliver the conversion of the former Wheelwright Grammar School into a high-quality residential development in Dewsbury.
The predominately 19th century Wheelwright Campus is a unique and substantial three-storey building that had been extended with a mixture of two and three-storey part-glazed buildings to the side and rear. Previously used for teaching and art facilities, the building contained a mixture of classrooms, libraries and galleries including a passenger lift.
The buildings are located in the Northfields conservation area but are not listed. The buildings were considered ideal for conversion into residential for rent by professionals.
The property occupies a prominent position set back from the main road and approximately one mile from Dewsbury town centre and just over half a mile to the train station in an attractive leafy residential area.
The conversion of the property is currently in the planning process to be transformed into 75 large luxury apartments ranging from 650 – 900ft2. All apartments will have parking spaces, there will be significant landscaping with an on-site gym and seating areas.
Upon completion, the result will be a high-specification apartment complex that retains and restores the existing heritage whilst providing a long-term viable occupancy for this important local landmark.
Please explore our other residential projects.
Skipton Baptist Church Extension
Skipton Baptist Church appointed Bowman Riley to deliver the post-planning stages of the renovation and refurbishment of a historic building within the central Skipton conservation area adjacent to the church building.
Built in 1888 as four cottages, the buildings were briefly converted into a doctor’s surgery in 1920 before the heritage asset fell into disuse. In 2015 Skipton Baptist Church purchased the building due to its proximity to the church’s existing site for conversion into a community space for anyone to enjoy and experience a welcoming environment.
Our brief was to create a mix of community-focused facilities on the ground floor and self-contained offices on the first and second floors. This allows the relocation of some functions from the adjoining church.
The first phase is now completed and comprised the ground-floor modifications involving a new side entrance, rear patio area, additional patio doors and roof lights to the rear extension. Internally, we created a new entrance and reception area, a kitchen and serving area, a seating area and lounge; meeting rooms, a prayer room, a crèche, a new lift and stairs; new and extended toilet facilities; and a food bank store.
The first phase of the project has been well received by the church and the wider community, provided much-needed community space in the heart of Skipton and brought a heritage building back into use. A further phase will consist of first and second-floor modifications.
“Just to say a huge thank you… for all your work on this project. I am extremely grateful that both of you have guided us through the design and then the build in such a professional manner and with good humour, making this one of the most stress-free building projects that I’ve worked on in 20 years in the job. As the Clients representative, I have enjoyed this project and it has been a rare pleasure to have had such a cohesive team throughout.”
Martyn Leigh, Building Project Manager, Skipton Baptist Church
Horace Mills Mixed Use Development – North Yorkshire
Cononley, North Yorkshire
Bowman Riley transformed a traditional 19th-century Horace Mills, a Yorkshire mill building and six-acre brownfield site into a mixed-use development in the North Yorkshire village of Cononley.
Our design retained the historic core of the heritage asset, including the iconic mill chimney. A sympathetic extension was created to double the size of the mill to accommodate circa 50 bespoke apartments with recessed balconies.
The original north light weaving sheds that occupied the site were removed to make way for 46 traditional houses. Each house was individually designed, 40% of which comprise affordable housing.
In addition, the site includes a 15,500ft2 commercial building to the rear of the mill to maintain an element of employment on the site.
The site is adjacent to the railway station, with direct commuter links into Leeds and Bradford and views over the picturesque Aire Valley. As part of the redevelopment, new pedestrian and cycle access links the village to the railway bridge. This provides a route to and from the village centre and rail passengers are able to bypass the often closed level crossing to catch a Leeds or Bradford-bound train.
Historic England said:
“We very much welcome the retention and conversion of the existing mill buildings and consider the design of the proposed extension is a clever and interesting, yet sympathetic, response to its historic context”
Since completion Horace Mills has won two accolades; the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2021 (North & West Yorkshire) for Best High Volume New Housing Development and the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards 2021 for Best Large Development of the Year.
Images courtesy of Candelisa.
Greenroyd Mill Residential Development – North Yorkshire
Yorkshire Housing, Jephson North, Barnfield Homes
Sutton in Craven, North Yorkshire
Bowman Riley designed the transformation of a 150-year-old derelict textile mill site into a mixture of 94 new homes comprising affordable homes, extra care houses/apartments and private homes.
Work on the scheme was originally started by a private developer, but the project stalled in 2008 due to the economic downturn. Working with the developer Barnfield Homes and two housing associations, Yorkshire Housing and Jephson Homes, we attracted an investment of £3.7 million from the Homes and Communities Agency to enable the development to complete.
The four-storey development retains the existing structure of the mill. Many of the mill’s original features were sympathetically incorporated into the design. The building achieved BREEAM Very Good.
The Greenroyd Mill development received a number of accolades including:
- Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative and Partnership Working – Making the Difference in Yorkshire and Humber Awards 2011
- High Commendation – RICS Pro-Yorkshire Awards 2012 for Residential
- Special Commendation – Yorkshire Business Insider Property Awards 2012 in the category of Restoration.
Wm Morrison Supermarkets – Kidderminster
Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc
Kidderminster, West Midlands
Bowman Riley designed the new Morrisons supermarket in Kidderminster. The supermarket was the first in the country to be awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating under the 2006 retail scheme, and provided the company with a greenprint for stores of the future.
The redevelopment of the historic former carpet factory includes a new 77,000ft2 (gross) supermarket, the refurbishment and extension of a Grade II Listed office building with a change of use to museum space, an associated 390 car parking spaces and environmental and infrastructure improvements.
Some of the sustainable features include:
- Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems to generate part of the store’s on-site electricity with the waste heat generated used to heat the store
- Heat reclaim from refrigeration equipment is to be used for water heating
- Solar panels on the roof will provide hot water
- Intelligent lighting control systems will minimise artificial lighting needs
Cavendish Pavilion – Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire
Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants
Bolton Abbey, Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales
Bowman Riley designed and project managed the major refurbishment of the Cavendish Pavilion, a historic tourist attraction in the heart of The Bolton Abbey Estate in the Yorkshire Dales, which was completed in Spring 2012.
The Pavilion is set within a conservation area and areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including an ancient woodland (mainly oak) and the length of the River Wharfe known as The Strid.
Originally built in 1898 to serve tea and cakes to the thousands of visitors who arrived by train, The Pavilion resembles a Victorian style station building.
Refurbished in the 1980s, the Cavendish Pavilion needed to be upgraded and renovated to meet the needs of modern visitors.
The refurbishment works comprised the removal of low height exterior sleeper walls, which had acted as a barrier to custom and separated the venue from its environment. Internally, new glazing for the doors and windows was installed to increase natural lighting, new café servery to upgrade and modernise the facility and refurbished WCs.
The Pavilion was reopened by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in May 2012 in time for the summer tourist season and was Highly Commended in the Tourism & Leisure category at the Pro-Yorkshire RICS Awards 2013.
The Red House Luxury Retirement Village – Ripon
Ripon, North Yorkshire (Ripon Conservation Area)
Bowman Riley provided architecture and the role of principal designer on the redevelopment of The Red House, an Edwardian property set within a conservation area and a protected landscape in Ripon.
Derelict for many years, the Red House was built in 1905 as a private residence before it became a Barnardo’s children’s home in the 1940s. The scheme comprised the refurbishment of the historic building and new build elements. The significant alterations to the original building had to remain in keeping with the character and sympathetic to the history of the site.
In consultation with the local community, we helped secure planning consent to transform the site into a retirement community of 59 properties. Delivered in two phases, the development provides one and two-bedroom private homes comprising apartments, cottages and two-storey houses. The Red House building was refurbished and extended to accommodate a range of communal facilities, including lounges, a bar, a library, a restaurant, consulting suite, a hair salon and a gym. The existing lodge, stable block and cottage were refurbished and extended to form apartments and cottage accommodation.
Working with an arboriculturist, we decided which trees remained on site, and this dictated the masterplan for the site layout and levels and new build elements. The landscaping preserved the protected trees and woodland zones, and further planting complemented and supplemented the mature landscape. A particular challenge was to design and install footings that could adequately contend with the rare local gypsum geology.
“Bowman Riley achieved an extremely successful outcome for a detailed planning submission… against a very difficult background both politically and in planning terms… They achieved maximum density to maintain the viability of the scheme and undertook extensive public and officer consultation to gain support for the scheme.”
Jim Pegg, Barnardo’s Developments Ltd.
Images credit RN Wooler and The Red House.
For further information, visit the website here
View more of our retirement living experience here
The Chocolate Works Mixed Use Development – York
York, North Yorkshire
The Chocolate Works won the Game Changer award at the Yorkshire Property Awards 2016.
Bowman Riley provided masterplanning and the role of principal designer on The Chocolate Works, a 14 acre development site adjacent to York racecourse.
The site was formerly Terry’s Chocolate Factory, which ceased operating in 2005 with the buildings remaining vacant until the site was purchased by Henry Boot Developments in 2013.
Bowman Riley supported Henry Boot Developments in the creation of a new sustainable and vibrant mixed use neighbourhood as an integral part of York.
The development includes the sensitive and active reuse and renovation of 250,000 ft² of Grade II 1920s Art Deco buildings: the Clock Tower and Boiler House, Fruit and Nut store, office headquarters building, Time Office and main factory building. The Grade II-listed factory building will be converted into 173 high quality apartments. Many of these luxury new homes overlook York Racecourse and the river Ouse. Springfield Healthcare Group is transforming the 4,000ft2 former headquarters building into a care village. The plans include 82 care bedrooms and eight luxury care apartments for residents.
Bowman Riley has undertaken feasibility studies for further developments on the site including a hotel, offices, convenience store and medical centre. In 2016, a public realm network was established including streets, squares, courtyards and green spaces to connect the site to adjacent urban districts.
View more of our masterplanning experience
The Great Hall, James Graham Building – Leeds Beckett University
Leeds
Bowman Riley successfully designed and delivered a £1.3 million refurbishment of The Great Hall within the landmark James Graham Building as part of the wider refurbishment of the Headingley Campus.
Built in 1912 as a purpose built training college, the Grade II James Graham Building is a large three storey redbrick building designed in the renaissance style presiding over three acres of parkland.
Bowman Riley designed the restoration of The Great Hall from the campus library back to its original purpose as a large flexible space.
The project entailed the removal and subsequent relocation of the campus library. The new library facility was designed to a smaller footprint with greatly improved functionality.
The restored Great Hall now seats 200 people for formal dinners and accommodates 350 for receptions and exhibitions. Our designs retained and restored the period features including the wood-paneling and grand windows whilst introducing state-of-the-art AV technologies.
View more of our education experience here
Brodrick Building Office Refurbishment – Leeds City Centre
Moorgarth
Leeds city centre
Bowman Riley provided the interior design on existing office accommodation within the Grade II listed Brodrick Building located directly to the north of Millennium Square in Leeds city centre.
Built in 1864, the three-storey building was designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, a leading Victorian architect, who transformed Leeds city centre with the design of the Town Hall, Corn Exchange and City Museum.
Renovated in 1988, the building interior needed a full facelift of the upper office floors to attract prospective commercial tenants.
Our design concept involved defurbishing the interiors by transforming the space based on the exposure and enhancement of the building’s original features rather than a standard refurbishment, which tends to add features such as additional walls and suspended ceilings.
We revealed the features of the building that had been covered up during its life as standard office configuration. Existing timber beams and Victorian brickwork were exposed and sand blasted to create dramatic interior spaces. Exposed services were installed with galvanised metal finishes to complete the industrial aesthetic and create visual features throughout the spaces.
New flooring and kitchens were added to provide an overall unique office space in a central location for prospective tenants.
Queensgate Market and the Piazza Shopping Centre – Huddersfield
CBRE
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley was appointed to undertake a feasibility study on the Queensgate Market Hall and the adjacent Piazza Shopping Centre in Huddersfield town centre.
The entrances to the Queensgate Market and exterior of the Piazza Shopping Centre were dated and in need of a refresh to continue to attract shoppers. The site is located adjacent to existing listed Town Hall and Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery buildings and as such our proposals need to be sympathetic to its neighbours.
The 1968-70 Queensgate Market Hall is a Grade II listed building. The market is architecturally unique made from reinforced concrete building partly clad in Elland Edge stone and innovative glazed ceramic panels by sculptor Fritz Steller. The roof is made up of 21 columns supporting asymmetrical hyperbolic paraboloid concrete shell umbrellas.
We undertook a feasibility study to upgrade all existing entrances to the thriving market hall. The focus of our design proposals was to improve accessibility to all users at the front of the bui0lding. Additionally, we improved connectivity to a new development at the rear to encourage greater footfall.
On the adjacent Piazza, we prepared a full planning application for external façade alterations and internal retail unit layout rationalisation. Our designs involved the upgrade of the façades to unify the retailers’ shop fronts and entrances to form a contemporary outdoor shopping centre. We introduced localised canopies over the shop entrances for each retailer to individually brand.
The overall objective of the project was to create a contemporary retail experience with improved entrances and exteriors for better accessibility and increased footfall.
Skipton Town Hall Refurbishment – North Yorkshire
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Bowman Riley provided strategic master planning on the Skipton Town Hall complex of buildings located on the High Street . The Grade II listed Town Hall was built in 1862 and today is home to Craven Museum & Gallery, Tourist Information and Skipton Concert Hall.
Working closely with Craven District Council, the masterplan was developed into a series of phased projects that could be delivered according to the client’s programme and allocation of funding.
On the first phase of the strategic masterplan, Bowman Riley provided full architectural design, project management, CDM coordination and cost advice from inception to completion. Phase One created a striking contemporary extension providing a new accessible entrance to the side and reinstated the original entrance to the front, replaced the public facilities, created a commercial unit on the ground floor to let and refurbished office spaces.
The demolition of an existing building close to a busy public highway required coordination with the local highways authority, the contractor and the client team and resulted in public safety at all times.
Careful planning between the contractor and the client team enabled the works to be undertaken while parliamentary elections were taking place within the building.
Now complete, the Skipton Town Hall project has restored the building as a key civic asset by providing an active frontage and vibrant street scene. The project sees the sustainable re-use of a public building improving the public realm and community facilities, whilst also providing a source of revenue from the refurbished lettable space.
Kirkstall Brewery Student Accommodation – Leeds Beckett University
Kirkstall, Leeds
Bowman Riley transformed the derelict Kirkstall Brewery in Leeds into award-winning accommodation for over 1000 students.
This significant education project entailed the design of a new building and the re-use of a series of substantial 19th century listed buildings adjacent to the Leeds – Liverpool canal forming part of the regeneration of this area of Leeds.
The development involved the adaption and re-use of listed buildings with a massing of new build forms that maintain the strength and stature of the original brewery.
A safe and accessible student village was created, which is an imaginative social use for the site and an opportunity to conserve and enhance the character and identity of this area.
Kirkstall Brewery Residences won the City of Leeds Award for Architecture, was praised by Professor Derek Linstrum FSA architectural historian and featured in the RIBA publication: Leeds, Shaping the City.
Fruition IT Office Refurbishment – Leeds City Centre
Fruition IT
Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley Interiors designed the office space for Fruition IT, a specialist recruitment agency, based in the centre of Leeds’ central business district.
Fruition IT took tenancy of office accommodation within 1 York Place, a Grade II listed 19th century former textile building. Bowman Riley was commissioned to design the company’s office interiors and provide space planning following our successful completion of the building’s refurbishment for the landlord, Glenntrool Asset Management.
Creative and contemporary open plan office spaces were designed to complement this vibrant, young company. A unique breakout space and flexible meeting spaces were designed to meet the client’s needs. Light and airy spaces were created with a feature concrete ceiling and exposed services.
University of Leeds Refurbishment Programme – Leeds
University of Leeds
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Established in 1904, the University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university and a member of the Russell Group. The University has 1,230 acres of land compromising of a mixture of Gothic revival, art deco, brutalist and postmodern buildings, making it one of the most diverse university campuses in the country in terms of building styles and history.
Bowman Riley Building Consultancy has a long standing relationship with the University to support the long term upgrade of their varied and complex estate. We were commissioned to survey and design the upgrade of circa 50 University buildings including a number of listed, highly engineered and high serviced properties to ensure full access for all in compliance with the Equality Act. As part of the programme, we worked a number of listed buildings including:
- Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall Grade II listed, formerly a Presbyterian church built in 1878-79
- E C Stoner (1968), five storey Grade II listed building designed by Chamberlin Powell and Bon
- The Brotherton Library (1936) – Grade II listed Beaux-Arts brick building
- The Great Hall 1894 – The Great Hall is a grade II listed Gothic Revival building
- Michael Sadler Building (1939) – one of the largest facilities on-campus with the 340 seat Rupert Becket Lecture Theatre
- The Garstang Building (1968) is a Grade II L shaped building designed by Chamberlin Powell and Bon
Brotherton Library External Lift – University of Leeds
University of Leeds
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley Building Consultancy was commissioned to provide architecture, project management and the role of principal designer on a new lift for the unique Brotherton Library on the main campus at the University of Leeds.The Brotherton Library is a 1936 Grade II listed Beaux-Arts brick building with art deco fittings. The original lift was designed to transport books between floors and cannot be modified to accommodate wheelchair users. The University needed a new lift to provide full wheelchair access to the library in line with the Equality Act Bowman Riley’s solution was to create a new external lift shaft and walkway. Centrally located, the lift provides access for all library users and improves the fire evacuation process for disabled users Initially the planners insisted on a traditional brick construction for the new lift, which is
The Brotherton Library is a 1936 Grade II listed Beaux-Arts brick building with art deco fittings. The original lift was designed to transport books between floors and cannot be modified to accommodate wheelchair users. The University needed a new lift to provide full wheelchair access to the library in line with the Equality Act.Bowman Riley’s solution was to create a new external lift shaft and walkway. Centrally located, the lift provides access for all library users and improves the fire evacuation process for disabled users Initially the planners insisted on a traditional brick construction for the new lift, which is
Bowman Riley’s solution was to create a new external lift shaft and walkway. Centrally located, the lift provides access for all library users and improves the fire evacuation process for disabled users.
Initially the planners insisted on a traditional brick construction for the new lift, which is labour intensive, costly and has increased health and safety risks. We actively engaged with the planners in the design process through early and continued consultation, which resulted in the agreement to install a steel frame lift shaft with a robust high performance cladding system. This reduced the construction programme on site, provided a financial cost saving and reduced disruption to the day to day activities of the highly utilised library facilities.
The design enables wheelchair users to obtain access to all floors of the Brotherton Library independently and with assistance if required.
Listed Georgian Townhouse Refurbishment – Bloomsbury, London
Private Client
Bloomsbury, London
Bowman Riley was appointed to design the refurbishment of a Grade II listed Georgian town house at John Street in the Bloomsbury Conservation Area.
Built between 1799 and 1824, 15 John Street is a four storey property including a basement and the centre house of 11 terraced houses. Originally designed and used as a residential property, it had been converted into offices in later years.
With planning permission for a change of use secured in 2013, Bowman Riley’s design proposals are to remove a number of added features that remain from its previous office use and to restore it to its original function as a five bedroom family home.
The design proposal is to extend the property at the rear and enlarge a light-well, internal alterations, light refurbishment to the elevations and retain key historical features.
The character and appearance of the listed building will be maintained and any repairs carried out with the utmost care to maintain any distinctive features. The proposals of the internal layout is to make minor amendments to the house to ensure its suitability for today’s and future use.
Drill Hall – Minnie Street, Haworth
Candelisa Ltd
Haworth, West Yorkshire
Bowman Riley was commissioned by award-winning developer Candelisa to transform a vacant 19th century Drill Hall and adjoining land into seven bespoke homes in the heart of the picturesque Yorkshire village of Haworth famed for the Bronte sisters.
Identified as a key unlisted building within the conservation area, the Drill Hall had been vacant for a number of years. The adjacent outbuildings and remainder of the land were no longer in use and unkempt providing a negative impact to the area.
The development involves the conversion of Drill Hall into four 2 bedroom houses and the development of three 3 bedroom individually styled terraced homes on adjoining land with off-street parking.
The design seeks to enhance the character of conservation area, by restoring and converting the existing Drill Hall for residential use, retaining the history of the area and bringing it to modern day use. The development of the new dwellings on the adjacent land are needed to facilitate the viability of conversion and long-term retention of the drill hall. Each of the new three bedroom properties are to be built in stone with variations in window detailing to reflect the best examples of neighbouring properties. The new residences will respond to the local vernacular and sensitively integrate within their surroundings.
In October 2015, planning approval was obtained for the development and construction is planned for 2016.
Images courtesy of Candelisa. To register your interest in the development please email: sales@candelisa.com.
Queen’s Hall Renovation – Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire
Burley Parish Council
Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire
Won via a design competition, Bowman Riley designed, project managed and provided health and safety advice on the full renovation of the Queen’s Hall, a grand Victorian building situated in the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale near Ilkley.
Dating back to 1868, the building has had several uses over the years from a cinema to a lecture hall. Most recently the Queen’s Hall was owned and operated by Bradford Metropolitan District Council until it was transferred to Burley Parish Council. At this stage, the building needed a programme of refurbishment from roof repairs to window replacement and internally the spaces were inefficient and decoration dated.
Burley Parish Council’s ambition was to develop the building into a vibrant community hub with different sized multi-purpose spaces for regular and occasional hire by local groups and clubs with catering facilities and bar.
Initially, we explored how each space could be used for various functions to maximise the efficiency of the building whilst meeting the needs of the various user groups with differing requirements. We produced a 3D model and animation of the design concept for public viewing for the local community to review the designs to gauge feedback to enable the project to progress.
In addition to the refurbishment of the existing property, we designed a single storey linear extension to the rear of the building providing a large multi-functional space.
We specified the works and managed a competitive tender process to procure the works. Our role involved providing project management, contract administration and principal designer duties throughout the project.
Holding regular meetings with stakeholders, we managed the flow of information and brought the project to successful completion on time and budget.
Now reopened, the Queen’s Hall is a modern flexible building that acts as a hub for village life and is a real asset for the local community.
Take a look at our community experience here.