Supporting a sensitive redevelopment through clear, strategic heritage advice
The project
Orion Heritage supported proposals for the redevelopment of Beech Court, Rectory Road, Kent, where a non-designated heritage asset was proposed for demolition to enable a new assisted living and care home development.
The project required a careful and balanced approach. Alongside the need to address heritage considerations sensitively, the scheme also needed to navigate evolving local authority expectations and demonstrate a clear justification for change.
Our approach
Working closely with the client throughout both the pre-application and full application stages, Orion Heritage provided strategic heritage advice tailored to each phase of the planning process. Our role was not simply to produce reports, but to help shape a proportionate and robust heritage strategy that would support the wider ambitions of the scheme.
We engaged directly with the local authority’s Conservation Officer to strengthen and refine the Statement of Significance, ensuring the heritage value of the building was properly understood and clearly articulated. Through ongoing dialogue and negotiation, we also identified the need for historic building recording and helped agree an appropriate and proportionate scope of investigation with the local authority.
Orion Heritage prepared the full suite of supporting heritage documentation, including a Statement of Significance, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Heritage Statement and Level 3 Historic Building Record.
By combining rigorous heritage analysis with pragmatic planning support, Orion Heritage helped guide the scheme through a sensitive planning process and secure a successful outcome for the client.
Planning consent was subsequently granted, with Level 3 building recording secured as a condition of approval.
Key outcomes
- Strategic heritage advice throughout pre-application and planning stages
- Direct negotiation with the local authority Conservation Officer
- Proportionate approach to heritage investigation and recording
- Comprehensive heritage documentation prepared in support of the application
- Planning consent successfully secured for the redevelopment scheme
