Heritage Options Appraisal: The Repair and Re-use of Brambridge House, Colden Common

Tender description

Brambridge House is listed at Grade II*. It is included on the HE Heritage at Risk Register at Priority C (slow decay, no solution agreed). An C18 house with earlier origins, it was extensively remodelled by the architect, Matthew Digby-Wyatt in 1872, following fire damage. It is constructed of brick under stucco, with a slated roof and comprises a three storey, nine bay, double-pile H-shaped central block with single storey pavilions to east and west. The overall purpose of this study is to consider how best Brambridge House might be repaired and its future secured. This should chart a path by which risk to the site (or loss of its significance) will be reduced to such an extent that it can be removed from the HE Heritage at Risk Register. It is possible that an acceptable solution might create additional value at the site with which to pay for repairs, but any such approach should not be considered unless it can be shown to avoid notable harmful impacts upon the significance of the site’s heritage values. The conclusions drawn by this study will be used by all parties to define an agreed way forward, even if this may require successive phases and several years to implement. By understanding the full picture, it is anticipated that incremental steps may be implemented as part of an agreed strategy. It is important that the study reaches conclusions as to how future maintenance and repairs may be realistically funded. Arriving at acceptable solutions to the problems of this site will require the consultant understand the significance, character, condition and adaptability of Brambridge House. Once these aspects have been fully explored the consultant must draw sensible conclusions how each consideration is balanced with the others in order to set up parameters for use of the site to secure its sustainable future.