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In the name of the King
August 23rd, 2024
T&G reflects on being part of a team responsible for renovating the Crown property at 12 Belmont Road and returning it to a welcoming family home once more.
Local demand for decent homes means growing available housing stock at every opportunity. Renovating existing suitable properties alongside building new developments has an important part to play in achieving this.
As many people as possible must step up to play their part in the turning of old into new. A fine example of this was recently demonstrated by His Majesty, King Charles III – or rather His Majesty’s Receiver General and administrator of Crown property in Jersey, Alan Blair.
Mr Blair’s diligent efforts resulted in a St Helier property belonging to the Crown being identified and made available for renovation.
The talented efforts of a construction industry team, including Socrates Architects, T&G structural engineers, contractors Building Renovations Limited and health and safety specialists Riff Projects Limited, means a dilapidated town centre property is now a welcoming family home once more.
Renovation experience and specialisms
Helping breathe new life into old buildings is a specialism for T&G, which has operated in Jersey since 1990 and in Guernsey for the past 14 years.
Experience in this area comes from designing innovative engineering solutions for the most complex of renovation and conversion projects. Standout examples include redeveloping the former St Martin’s School into a commercial / community centre, and creating an arts and entertainment venue from the former St James’ Church.
This meant work on renovating 12 Belmont Road could be treated in a business-as-usual fashion, although appointment as structural engineers for a Crown property was a welcome honour nonetheless.
Grade Three listed building
The property being renovated dates back to a time when St Helier was expanding in the early 19th century and Belmont Road being developed to create a useful town thoroughfare. The building constructed at Number 12 was originally a family townhouse that was later adapted into a commercial property by adding a ground floor shop front.
The exciting redevelopment plan would remove all trace of retail space to create a spacious four bedroom home. Achieving this required engineering solutions to take down walls, eliminate staircases, move pillars and block up openings.
The project manager entrusted with this potentially challenging job was T&G’s Associate Director, Lee Saxon.
Understandable challenges
‘Engineering principles may be similar when broadly applied to both renovations and new builds,’ explains Lee who has worked on numerous client projects with T&G, from small house extensions to multi-million pound developments, ‘but working with older properties always presents extra challenges.’
‘You can never be sure what’s beneath the surface when designing engineering solutions for building renovations. Properties like 12 Belmont Road went up at a time before standardised building controls existed – individual contractors decided how best to approach construction and which building techniques to use.
‘Experience helps – you are able to incorporate learning from previous projects and anticipate potential engineering design challenges. There’s no guarantees, of course, but reassurance you are working with engineers that have done something similar before.’
Crowning moment
Opening the renovated building was the crowning moment in this important project to breathe modern life into a valuable old property. The Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE, performed the ceremony at the end of July in his role of representing the King’s interests in Jersey.
Now complete, the property will be let, with priority given to key workers.
Thanks to the Crown, and contractors including T&G Structural Engineers, families can enjoy living in 12 Belmont Road once again.
For further information on engineering solutions used in 12 Belmont Road or other T&G projects contact Lee Saxon on [email protected], call 01534 867070 or visit www.tag.je.
Why choose T & G?
Over more than 30 years in business, we have been involved in projects across the Channel Islands, spanning every type of construction, working on large commissions and small, encompassing the requirements of private and public sector clients. Each has been approached with the same determined, creative professionalism that drives everything T&G does.
Choosing to work with T&G in Guernsey or Jersey provides assurance of the same high quality approach. We take pride in understanding and meeting client requirements, in finding solutions to engineering challenges and ensuring satisfaction at the completion of every project or piece of work.