Bow Garratt

SWF Consulting were engaged to assist with the conversion of this historic public house to create 8 apartments and associated car parking. The public house dates back to 1774 although the existing structure was rebuilt in 1898 and had closed to the public in 2008 and lying empty for a decade prior to the redevelopment.

The works involved undertaking a structural survey of the property to assess the suitability of the building to accommodate the modifications required to create the apartments and also constructing a rear extension which gave space for further apartments. Given the site topography the extension floor levels were different to those of the original pub with access being from half landings of the existing stairs.

Water ingress had caused significant damage due to the theft of lead from the roof and broken windows had allowed pigeons to make the abandoned pub their home. A major strip out was required with clean up of the hazardous waste required before full design work could be completed.

SWF co-ordinated drainage surveys, timber surveys to assess rot, and ground investigation works. At the time of works commencing there was significant water ingress from the roof, vegetation, including buddleia, growing through the brick and stonework.

The structural works saw the removal of existing fire places, repairs to rafters and floor joists and steel lintels to allow the internal layout to be opened up. Part of the rear elevation was also removed to allow the construction of the new extension which had retaining walls, precast concrete floors and timber trussed rafters.

The car parking area was constructed using permeable paving to reduce the flows to the sewer network and all drainage re-used the existing connections to the adopted sewer.

Given the complexities of the site, regular site visits were required together with close co-ordination with both the architect and main contractor to ultimately, deliver a successful project for the client.