“Grade 1 listed Regency Terraced flat, in need of modernising with potential”
Modern conversions of large period property to multiple dwellings is an essential requirement as the need for more housing (as so eloquently described by Kate Barker in her Housing Review of 2004) remains a significantly important factor. Whilst it would be marvellous to see planning restrictions lifted and house builders forced to use the land they squat on the pressure on the housing market is unlikely to recede so we continue to carve up large buildings into smaller units to meet the demand.
Brighton is significantly blessed with London-style Regency terraces created by the likes of Cubbit, Wren and Hawksmoor and they are ferociously protected (as well they should be) from development vandalism by modern property investors. Well, at least, that’s we all hope.
Some conversions done in the past twenty years have been horrendous. The need to squeeze as many bedrooms into new flats as the curtilage can contain has resulted in some pretty awful arrangements more suitable to HMOs than desirable housing.
The Regency Terraces on Brighton seafront have mostly avoided this fate due to the listed status granted to them over the years. Brighton has hundreds of Grade Two listed buildings but less than hundred Grade One (being the more precious and historically the most important). Grade One buildings are notoriously hard to convert as the rules protecting almost all aspects of the property (both externally and internally, unlike Grade Two which usually only refers to external details) including skirting, architrave, cornicing, covings, banisters, handrails, sliding-sash windows make it extremely tricky to adapt rooms, introduce more light and air and generally improve the living experience for occupiers.
A new client of mine is taking on one of these apartments and we’ve relished the challenge to turn the grandly opulent but cavernously unfriendly flat into a beautiful and cosy home.
It’s surprising what you are allowed to do but I’ll leave that for another post. In the meantime here’s what our new clients have said thus far about our consultation:
“After years of renting, we were finally able to buy our first home – Dominic and his team were able to help us visualise the potential that our apartment has. With practical and helpful advice around costing, access to the Clover directory, plus planning drawings – the two hour consultancy session was inspiring and exciting”. LMC, October 2020
Get in touch with us at Clover to see how we can transform your property into the beautiful home you deserve it to be.
01273 769282
0800 612 8382
