Development
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Reviving the charm of early 1900s...
The property in Boston is located within walking distance to the town centre and opposite the Boston Marina. It was built around the early 1900s, its previous usage had been flats but the building had not been occupied for around fifteen years.
We are developing 14 x 1 bedroom flats, 6 x 2 bedroom flats and a 1 bedroom studio.
A grade 2 listed building which of course brings ‘challenges’ along the way and restrictions on some of the features which can’t be changed. Planning permission for conversation was sold with the property. This helped with starting the development work earlier rather than having to go through a planning application process.
Grade 2 listed
The external wall has 7 different colours of bricks and can’t be rendered. So, we were advised to ‘match’ the colours as ‘best we could’. Matching obviously this took longer than envisaged. ‘I have learnt over the years that you cannot possibly account for an exact timescale as issues identify themselves once the work has commenced.’
Purchase power!
With the flats using the same fixtures, fittings and decorating material gave greater purchase power and greater savings.
Fireplace [before]
Fireplace [after]
Lessons learnt ...
‘you cannot possibly account for everything when setting a budget but it is never good when you find out what unplanned costs unravel’.
‘you cannot possibly account for an exact timescale as issues identify themselves once the work has commenced.’
Utilities
You would think that when there is already utilities of 3 phase electrics and water in the building that would be acceptable. NO! New utilities had to be undertaken based on the fact that the building had not been used for 15 years. The impact was a £50K spend which had not been in the budget.
