A project to renovate a listed building using eco-friendly technologies is aiming to become unique tourist accommodation for activity-loving groups and families.
Grove Place, Vale Street, is a Grade II listed townhouse dating from the mid-18th century in the former professional and gentry quarter of Denbigh, and until 2001 was the town’s police station.
It is currently undergoing a programme of renovation and repairs as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative, with the end result aiming to bring high quality, tourist accommodation to Denbigh that is suitable for families and groups taking activity holidays and heritage breaks popular in the area.
The project has been designed to be as energy-efficient as is practical given its listed status, and will include green technologies wherever possible. The accommodation will have several unique selling points including being a listed building fitted and furnished in period style, having flexible arrangements that favour large groups, with appropriate facilities for a variety of activity holiday needs, and being attractive to people interested in ‘green tourism’- which is predicted to be one of the growth areas for holiday and leisure breaks over the coming decade.
It is hoped that the end project will be one of the first of its kind in Wales to achieve coveted gold award standards and accreditations from the “GREEN TOURISM BUSINESS SCHEME”- the benchmark award for holiday accommodation in Great Britain.
The project will combine authentic traditional conservation work and 21st century energy and water conservation and environmental principals that will extend the building’s life cycle for several generations to come.
The owner, Mr Jason Webber, said, “The principal guiding vision was to create a renovation project of a listed building that could incorporate modern efficiencies in the design and move the building towards carbon neutrality in the process.
“We hope that the ultimate end use as tourist accommodation to eco tourism standards will succeed in generating year round inward investment into Denbigh and the greater Vale of Clwyd area.
“I feel that Denbigh and its rich heritage, of which Grove Place is a part, is perfect as a base for potential guests to explore the rich natural and cultural heritage of North Wales.”
Mr Webber considers owning the building to be a custodianship and has sought advice from various sources to ensure the project will be carried out to the highest conservation and environmental standards. He is grateful for the assistance and proud that local craftsmen and authentic sourcing of local materials were used.
Funding through the Townscape Heritage Initiative has been provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Welsh Assembly Government, Cadw: Historic Buildings and Monuments, and Denbighshire County Council.
Consultants for the scheme are Adrian Jones Associates (Specialist Conservation Architect), Tier Consulting (Structural Engineers) and Whealing, Horton and Toms (Quantity Suveyors). Russell Geomatics ( Suveyors) used advanced digital and laser equipment to accurately detail the historic fabric of the building. The repair works have been carried out by local craftsmen under the supervision of Grosvenor Construction Ltd who have many years experience of conservation standard renovation.
