This Engine House sits along the A394 between Falmouth and Helston and is a Grade II Listed Building. Part of the wider Wendron District mining heritage, this building was originally located in another part of the site and was dismantled and rebuilt in its current location to pump water from new mine-workings.

With the collapse of the mining industry, the boiler, balance bob and pumping arm were all removed and the building was left to deteriorate.

Our client acquired the site in 2013, with the proposal to sensitively convert the building into a family home with a workshop.

Following discussions with the planning department and historic environment officers, together, with research into the history of the site and wider context, a scheme was devised to convert the main building into a two-bedroom property over four floors, with a workshop provided to replace an unsympathetic block wall lean-to. The sensitive conversion aimed to retain all existing openings, renew missing lintels, replace lost stone and brick work and is be repointed in lime-based render, allowing the solid walls to breathe.

The proposal drew the support of Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, together with the World Heritage Site Planning Advisor, and was robustly supported by Wendron Parish Council. Planning Approval was gained by committee in May 2016

The resulting design displays the real value of working collaboratively with key consultees and the local public, with an engaged client who is sensitive to the heritage and status of the industrial building.