SOCOTEC UK & Ireland was appointed to provide multidisciplinary services for a development at 10 & 11 Lancaster Gate
This residential refurbishment project involves a material change-of-use, converting a former hotel into a six-storey block with basement (B, G+5).
Located in a prestigious residential area in central London, this Grade II listed building conversion will deliver 11 luxury apartments in the affluent City of Westminster, positioned north of Hyde Park.
Built in 1865 and designed by John Johnson, the grand terraced houses feature iconic facades and decorative crown mouldings.
Key project elements included:
- Heritage building conservation and structural restoration.
- Removal from the heritage at risk register.
- Fire safety compliance for listed building conversion.
- Balancing modern safety requirements with conservation constraints.
Comprehensive technical support for historic building conversion
SOCOTEC partnered with Heriot UK and Prest Vale Architects to deliver integrated building pathology and fire engineering services. Our mission was to restore structural integrity while ensuring regulatory compliance and preserving historical significance.
Our work included:
- Building pathology investigations quantifying decay extent from roof drainage failure and dry rot.
- Remedial strategy development for external masonry, internal finishes, and timber structures.
- Fire safety strategy addressing unique Grade II listed building challenges.
- Stay-put evacuation strategy for residential dwellings with simultaneous evacuation for ancillary areas.
- Hybrid lift system design functioning as evacuation lift when smoke or fire detected.
- External wall compliance meeting Regulation 6(3) non-combustible façade requirements.
- Historic timber stair preservation with fire retardant treatment for central escape
route.
The detailed investigations provided robust risk management advice for refurbishment
works needed to save the building from collapse and restore it to its original
grandeur, while the fire safety strategy ensured full regulatory compliance.
The team delivered:
- Structural restoration guidance preventing building collapse.
- Heritage register removal through comprehensive remedial works.
- Innovative fire safety solutions balancing conservation with modern requirements.
- Regulatory compliance assurance enabling construction commencement.
Construction works are ongoing and expected to be completed in 2026. This project reinforces SOCOTEC’s position as a trusted partner for complex heritage building conversions, offering multidisciplinary expertise in building pathology and fire
engineering.
Tabea Uhr, principal fire engineer for SOCOTEC and project manager, stated: “While challenging, the project allowed us to develop a number of creative options for the flat and the core layouts in order to ensure that the historic elements, such as the historic stair, existing lift core and crown moulding were maintained, all while ensuring the design meets the modern standards required when it comes to safety.”
**Please note that this is a commercial profile
The post Fire safety and building pathology for 10 & 11 Lancaster Gate appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
