Situated in the picturesque Manchester suburb of Monton, Stableford Hall, which was built in 1888, is a former school and headquarters of local engineering firm, the Morson Group.
Priestley Construction’s sister company, Priestley Homes, entered a joint venture with original owners, Morson Group, with planning in place to develop the Grade-II listed building into luxury apartments.
In January 2016, Priestley Construction set to work on a £1.2million, year-long renovation programme to convert the functional offices into 12 high-specification apartments for sale.
During the initial build process, the team apportioned the structure to create a dozen apartments, configured with one to three-bedrooms and ranging in size from 546 to 1,571 sq. ft.
Nathan Priestley, chief executive of Priestley Construction, said: “When carrying out structural work ahead of any internal fit-out, we always value-engineer in order to save on cost for our clients where possible.
“For example, rather than ripping up the original flooring at Stableford Hall, we levelled what was already there and overlaid the new, high quality acoustic flooring. We also refurbished windows and used a separating floor and wall detail that we designed and refined in-house.
“We’ve perfected these methods over many years of converting and refurbishing buildings across the north of England. As such, we can help find the quickest and easiest solutions to the exacting structural modifications that often need to be completed on historic buildings – without sacrificing quality.
“In this case, we generated time and financial savings that were invested in the bespoke fittings and fixtures, enabling us to honour the building’s Grade-II status while retaining its existing elements.”
Sympathetic design
Throughout the internal renovation of Stableford Hall, the interiors embrace natural light and the modern design detailing is fully complemented by the careful preservation of the idiosyncratic features of the original building.
Nathan explained: “As with all listed buildings, it was imperative for the work to be sympathetic – not just preserving the structural elements during the construction phase, but finding the right design also.
“We took our time and carefully addressed every minute detail to ensure the end result brought together the old and new cohesively, reusing elements wherever we could and introducing twenty first century detailing that appeals to today’s homeowners.
“We used a bespoke profile of woodwork for the architrave and skirting to complement the heritage of the building; as well as solid oak flooring, American walnut cabinets, and other natural materials, including travertine stone tiling in the bathrooms. All of which combines to give a rustic feel, that sits alongside the modern décor and integrated smart home technology.”
Work on Stableford Hall was completed in January 2017 and the scheme was named as the best Manchester residential development at the International Property Awards in the same year.
By focusing on making construction cost effective, while channelling that financial benefit into achieving a high specification, Priestley Construction was able to bring the listed building into the modern era, carefully preserving it for generations to come.
For more information on the development or to make an enquiry, please visit: www.priestleyconstruction.co.uk
