We were at Capesthorne Hall in Macclesfield to do more than admire the surroundings – though we made sure we found a few minutes to do just this. 

We were attending an event run by the HHA entitled ‘How historic houses can meet the challenges of repairs, alterations and development’.  This is obviously another subject very close to our heart, as the glazing we produce is all about preserving the original character of buildings whilst helping to make them fit for 21st century living.

The seminar examined how owners of historic houses share a challenge, finding how to navigate the complex rules and regulations that govern what changes are possible to listed buildings.

Sometimes these changes are simply repairs, on other occasions, owners need to make further alterations or invest in bigger developments on their properties – all of which have to be within certain boundaries.  

Using the right companies to do this is essential – we have more than 15 years’ experience working side by side with owners and planning regulators to ensure a finished product which everyone is delighted with.

Guest speaker on the day was the Earl of Shaftesbury, who talked about the  prize-winning restoration of St Giles House in Dorset along with Duncan McCallum, from Historic England, who spoke on the principles that inform their approach to the conservation of historic buildings. 

Our technical manager, Mitchell Reece and estimator, Guy Griffiths, both found the event enlightening, and shared the details of it with the rest of our team when they returned to HQ, giving us all some food for thought for future projects!