St Martins Lodge required the sensitive refurbishment and extension of two Grade II Listed buildings in Greyfriars conservation area in Leicester city centre, into a 28-bed boutique hotel for the Diocese of Leicester.

The project was secured at RIBA Stage 3 drawings, with many original features – internal cornices, ceilings and floors – needing to be retained  and protected. 

The City Council were a key stakeholder recognising the investment would provide much needed high quality city accommodation. The hotel would provide accommodation for the adjacent conference centre, visitors to the cathedral and hotel venue for weddings. This would generate revenue for local retail and catering. 

With the Diocese retaining the building on completion we suggested improving sustainability credentials to reduce running costs. We worked with the Diocese and the Heritage Officer to apply three key Step to Zero principles to maximise sustainable outcomes on the project:  

• Reduce carbon generated in construction activities by

Consolidated works on hotel and adjacent carpark to reduce carbon in construction 

Used public transport to bring operatives to site reducing carbon in construction further

• We reduce embodied carbon in materials specified

Made the penthouse extension in timber (low embodied carbon) offsite reducing embodied carbon 

Repaired rather than replaced timber joists, beams, doors and windows and flooring 

Retained original fireplaces 

Repairing rather than renewed timber windows and improving performance with thin double glazing within existing windows designed for single glazing 

• Reduce operational carbon of the asset we are constructing by 

Increased the performance standard of insulation to reduce energy 

Installed low energy heating system – the existing cast iron boilers (installed in the 1960’s) were replaced with high efficiency condenser boilers, controlled by a new BMS which reduced the energy consumption of the property by 48% and enhanced the level of control for the individual bedrooms and preferences of the hotel customers.

Provided slim high performing insulated plasterboard to non-sensitive external walls / roof / cellar areas (floor space critical) 

Manufactured ‘super-thin’ double glazing in our joiners shop for heritage windows to retain look of 1800’s glazing but provide improved thermal capacity 

Through the above the client was able to see the energy performance of their asset improve from an E rated EPC to a B.