Project:
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust requires £650,000 worth of funding to refurbish Spurn Lighthouse. Originally built in 1893, it has been out-of-use since 1985.
DMP were commissioned to complete a condition survey of the lighthouse and gun emplacement, to enable Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to put a funding application together.
The gun emplacement required a level survey to assess potential access for all visitors to the raised level which provides a view of the mouth of the Humber and the forts. Levels were also carried out to assess the verticality of the lighthouse.
Areas of consultancy included:
DMP provided a structural and conditions survey, also cost estimates for building works for the restoration of the Grade II listed Lighthouse and the WWII Twin Six Pounder Gun Battery at Spurn Point.
These were challenging buildings to assess, as they were designed and built for very specific purposes and to very demanding specifications: as such, any faults detected in the buildings could have potentially significant implications.
The Spurn peninsular is an international Site of Special Scientific Interest and was, at the time of the commission affected by high tides washing over the road. These conditions made the arranging and undertaking of the surveys a significant challenge.
Stages:
DMP’s report has been used by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to tender for conservation architectural practices to take the project to the planning and funding stage. This is now in progress and the detailed assessment has been useful in planning the extents of the work required.
Partners:
DMP carried out a detailed condition survey and structural and levels survey together with our structural engineering partner.
Happy client:
“Simon and Kevin from DMP were professional, rigorous and measured in their approach. They brought a refreshing sense of perspective to the project and were able to comment not only on the previous uses and maintenance requirements of the buildings, but also on the wider impacts of their restoration on the Nature Reserve. Spurn is protected by legislation at a range of scales from the local to the international, so managing the construction work and future building works sensitively is critical.
I’d certainly recommend them to others looking to restore historic buildings.”
Harry Watkins from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
A boost for the Humber Region:
Spurn Lighthouse is an important Victorian example of maritime engineering and helps protect the landscape habitats and character of the nature reserve. By carrying out essential restoration work, Spurn Lighthouse will be renovated and reopened to become one of the region’s most recognisable buildings, offering a boost to the Humber Region.