Iceni’s heritage team supported proposals for conversion of the building to residential use in 2016 and then to a nursery in 2019; both of which were granted consent by the local authority.

The Hollybush is a Grade II* listed building dating to the late medieval period (c.1450), with heavy alterations and extensions dating from the 17th century. Working closely with the architects, Iceni advised on the internal alterations and adaptations necessary for the conversion, ensuring that these remained sensitive to the original layout and fabric of the building.

Iceni advised on the building’s conversion to residential use in 2016. Later in 2019, the scheme was revised to convert the ground floor to a day care nursery with one residential flat on the first floor. This required the reconfiguration of principal rooms and refurbishing an existing ancillary structure.

In order to achieve this, the team addressed the Site’s complex history, examining the building’s original plan form and fabric with a forensic eye. This helped to advice the client on opportunities to enhance the building’s significance, while creating a viable community use and allowing its sustainable future use. Given layers of history, the impact was assessed in terms of the external appearance, followed by an assessment of the internal alterations, and then impact of the proposed new build element on the setting of the Hollybush and other heritage assets in the vicinity.