• The Conservation Consultant
  • Experience
  • Client List
  • Projects and Commissions
  • Services
  • Contact Details
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The Conservation Consultant

It has been estimated that something between 10 and 15% of the buildings in England enjoy some form of legal protection, and the number of protected buildings is constantly increasing as we re-assess our heritage and respond to the demands of society in general.

Many buildings are protected by being 'Listed' or by being Scheduled as Ancient Monuments, but many others are included in 'Local Lists' or Conservation Areas, or included in National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty etc.

This protection is not intended to prevent change to our heritage, or to impede development and economic prosperity, but is intended to ensure that the best decisions are made and that change is properly directed. It therefore requires specialist knowledge of historic buildings and areas - their historic importance, appropriate uses, suitable repairs, philosophical principles - and skill in steering schemes through the complex planning and grant aid processes.

The conservation consultant has emerged in recent years to provide the advice needed by building owners, professionals, local authorities and grant-aiding bodies etc in order to help the right decisions to be made, and to reduce frustrating disputes, delays and high costs.

The conservation consultant is not just an architect, planner or surveyor but is a specialist trained in the historic environment who is able to exercise independent professional judgement based on experience. He can also draw on a range of other conservation specialists (archaeologists, surveyors, engineers and craftsmen etc) where required.

Experience

Lindsay Cowle has more than 35 years of experience in the assessment and management of historic buildings and areas, gained from working in large and small local authorities and private practice. He was formerly Head of Conservation at Woodhall Planning and Conservation in Leeds, one of the largest specialist conservation consultancies in the country.

His experience covers:

  • Scheduled Ancient Monuments (including the repair of several Monuments for English Heritage)
  • Listed Buildings of all grades (including the repair of several National Trust properties)
  • Unlisted buildings in Conservation Areas and other special areas
  • Conservation Areas and Registered Historic Parks

Previous and present roles include:

  • Expert Adviser to the Heritage Lottery Fund
  • Assessor for Europa Nostra Awards
  • Consultant architect to Building Preservation Trust
  • Member of Diocesan Advisory Committee
  • Surveyor to several churches
  • Occasional lecturer to university courses
  • Author of several urban heritage trails
  • Member and fieldworker for The Victorian Society and Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Select Client List

  • Acanthus Lawrence and Wrightson, Chelsea
  • Airedale NHS Trust, Keighley
  • Antony Aspbury Associates, Nottingham
  • Arrowcroft Group plc, London
  • Austin Smith Lord Architects, London
  • Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Bradford City Metropolitan Council
  • Bradford Building Preservation Trust
  • British Waterways, Manchester
  • Bruntwood Estates, Manchester
  • Carter Jonas, Harrogate
  • CB Richard Ellis
  • Colchester Borough Council
  • Crosby Homes Midlands Ltd
  • Cumbria County Council
  • Derby College
  • Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust
  • Dunlop Heywood Lorenz, Leeds
  • English Heritage, London
  • Eversheds Solicitors, Manchester
  • Focus Consultants UK, Nottingham
  • Heritage Lottery Fund
  • Knight Frank, Leeds
  • Lace Market Heritage Trust, Nottingham
  • Land Use Consultants, London
  • Leeds NHS Trust
  • Leicester City Council
  • Infraco JNP (London Underground)
  • Maber Associates, Nottingham
  • Manchester City Airport
  • Morrison Construction, Birmingham
  • Museum of Law Trust Company, Nottingham
  • Nabarro Nathanson Solicitors, London
  • National Trust Yorkshire and North East Region
  • Nottingham City Council
  • Nottinghamshire County Council
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Persimmon Homes, Yorkshire
  • Property Services Agency, Leeds
  • Rafael Vignoly Architects, London, New York
  • Rolls Royce plc, Derby
  • Sainsbury's Supermarkets Lt
  • Savills, Nottingham and Lincoln
  • Strutt and Parker, Northallerton
  • Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd, Leicester
  • Tesco Stores Ltd
  • Turley Associates, Leeds, Manchester, London
  • Turner and Townsend, London
  • Walker Morris Solicitors, Leeds
  • Wardell Armstrong Engs, Newcastle u Lyme
  • White Young Green Planning
  • York City Council
  • York Health Authority
  • Yorkshire Electricity
  • Yorkshire Water

Scroll down to see more clients

Download client list (pdf)

Sample Projects and Commissions

Condition Surveys

  • Numerous quinquennial inspections and condition surveys of country houses etc for
    the National Trust Yorkshire Region (Beningbrough Hall, East Riddlesden Hall,
    Nostell Priory, Ormesby Hall, Treasurer's House, York), listed Grades l and ll*
  • MoD properties, Yorkshire - quadrennial inspections of numerous
    Georgian and Victorian law courts etc, listed at various Grades.
  • Wentworth Castle / Stainborough Park, Barnsley - condition surveys of
    twenty five 18th and 19th century parkland buildings, listed Grades ll* and ll.
  • Wollaton Hall, Nottingham - condition surveys of 16th century mansion,
    Grade l, and Registered Historic Park and stables etc, Grade ll.
  • St Mary’s Church, Atherstone – quinquennial survey of 18th century church, listed Grade ll*
  • Barnwell Castle, Oundle – condition survey of 13th century ruined castle,
    Grade l Listed Building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, for private owner.

Repair / conversion projects

  • Numerous repair projects on Scheduled Monuments etc for English Heritage
    Yorkshire Region (Brodsworth Hall, Hardwick Old Hall, Helmsley Castle,
    Howden Minster, St Peters Church Barton on Humber).
  • Numerous repair projects on country houses etc for the National Trust Yorkshire Region (Beningbrough Hall, Nostell Priory, Ormesby Hall) listed Grades l and ll*.
  • Bootham Park Hospital, York - restoration of masonry and Victorian tiled floors.
  • Frieston's Hospital, Wakefield - restoration and conversion of late
    16th century timber-framed almshouse, listed Grade l, as private house.
  • Steeton Hall, South Yorkshire - rebuilding / conversion of mediaeval manor house to
    form three houses, Grade I listed, Ancient Monument and registered historic garden.
  • Brew House, Whitby Headland – feasibility study for conversion / rebuilding of mediaeval former brew house to new dwelling, for English Heritage. World Heritage Site / SAM.

Support to major conservation projects and new developments

  • Adams Building, Nottingham – conservation plan, design and technical advice on repair
    of Grade II* listed lace warehouse and conversion to college of education, and project
    monitoring for Heritage Lottery Fund. Pioneering government project funded by PFI.
  • Galleries of Justice, Nottingham – conservation plan, design and
    technical advice on repair and conversion of Grade II* listed law
    courts, prisons and offices, to become national museum of law.
  • Liverpool docks – conservation guidance on extension of Leeds - Liverpool Canal through
    north docks and across Pier Head to Albert Dock. Conservation Area / World Heritage Site.
  • Roundhouse, Derby – design and technical advice on conversion of Grade ll*
    complex of mid 19th century railway buildings to college of education.
  • Scarborough – design advice on conversion of Scarborough Spa entertainment complex
    and South Bay area generally, as part of overall strategy to revitalise tourist resort.

Historical Research and Evaluation

  • Bradford, West Yorkshire - design of city centre heritage trail and written guide.
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals - evaluations and conservation
    statements for four Victorian hospitals, listed Grades l and ll.
  • Piccadilly Line, London - architectural appraisal of twenty
    Modern Movement railway stations of the 1930’s, listed Grade ll.
  • St James Building, Manchester - historical research and appraisal
    of early 20th century city centre office / workshop, listed Grade ll.
  • East Rounton, North Yorks – historical research and evaluation of
    Grade ll* coach house by Philip Webb, and guidance on conversion.
  • Ropewalks, Liverpool - historical research and evaluation of Grade ll Georgian and
    later townhouses, watch-making factory etc, and assessments for further Listings.

Conservation Plans / Management Plans

  • Wollaton Hall, Nottingham – conservation plan for 16th century mansion,
    Grade l, and Registered Historic Park and stables etc, Grade ll.
  • Wentworth Castle / Stainborough Park, Barnsley – input to conservation / restoration plan for Grade I registered historic park including numerous Grade II* / Grade II listed buildings.
  • King Edward Vl School, Retford - conservation plan and planning
    brief for redevelopment of mid 19th century school, listed Grade ll.
  • St James Building, Manchester – conservation / management principles for early 20th
    century city centre office / workshop, listed Grade ll, converted to lettable office suites.
  • Ledston Hall, S Yorkshire - condition survey and input to conservation
    plan for Grade l listed 13th, 16th and 17th century large country house.
  • Stonecross Mansion, Ulverston - conservation statement and guiding policies for
    conversion to flats of late Victorian Gothic mansion, listed Grade ll and in conservation area.

PPG15 Justification Statements / Impact Assessments

  • Newstead Abbey, Nottingham – assessment of mining impact on Grade I listed building, Scheduled Ancient Monument, and other historic structures in registered historic park
  • Manchester City Airport – appraisals and impact assessments of
    various unlisted and Grade ll listed buildings affected by new runway
  • Curve Performing Arts Centre, Leicester - impact assessment
    of proposed new theatre complex in city centre conservation area.
  • Roundhouse, Derby - PPG15 Justification Statement for conversion of
    Grade ll* complex of mid 19th century railway buildings to college of education.
  • Visual Arts Centre, Colchester - PPG 15 Justification Statement and Impact Assessment
    for proposed new arts centre in conservation area and archaeologically sensitive area.

Conservation Area Designations and Appraisals

  • Rowntrees Factory, York - designation of new Conservation Area.
  • Fulford Village, York – Conservation Area Appraisal and boundary changes
  • Fulford Road, York – Conservation Area boundary review.
  • Kimberley, Nottinghamshire – appraisal of brewery complex within conservation area.
  • Westnewton, Cumbria – Conservation Area Appraisal of rural village.

Appeals / Expert Witness

  • Royal William Yard, Plymouth – Inquiry into choice of slate to be used to re-roof
    vast complex of naval warehouses, listed Grade l and Scheduled Monuments.
  • Henbury House, Poole – Appeal against refusal of planning consent for new housing
    (Enabling Development) required to preserve early 18th century country villa.
  • Aldford House, Mayfair – Inquiry into proposed addition of
    penthouse flat onto 1930’s apartment block in conservation area.
  • Bridge Street, Carlisle – Appeal against refusal of planning consent
    for new apartments and student flats on site peripheral to city centre.
  • Clock House, Yarm – Appeal against refusal of planning and listed building
    consent for new housing in grounds of Grade ll listed former farm building.
  • Cockerton, Darlington – Inquiry into non-determination of planning
    application for new housing development in conservation area.

Scroll down to see more projects

Download project list (pdf)

Services

Technical and Analytical

  • Condition surveys
  • Drawn surveys
  • Historical research and evaluation
  • Conservation area assessments
  • Repair, restoration and conversion projects
  • Guidance on large conservation projects
  • Guidance on new projects in sensitive areas

Planning and Advisory

  • Conservation Plans
  • PPG 15 statements
  • Project monitoring
  • Negotiations with conservation authorities
  • Enforcement notices
  • Dispute resolution
  • Expert witness / public inquiry evidence

The degree of advice provided is totally flexible, depending on circumstances and the client's wishes. It may be provided in isolation or as part of a larger professional team including architects, planners, surveyors and other disciplines.

Contact Details

If you would like more information, a curriculum vitae or a full list of projects and clients please contact Lindsay Cowle at the address below:

Lindsay Cowle
B.Arch Dip.Con (Dist) RIBA IHBC AABC

Holgate Villa, 38 Acomb Road, Holgate, York
YO24 4EW

Tel / Fax: 01904 781 609
Email:

Download contact details (vCard)