A local restoration project that brought a derelict Grade II listed building in Lancaster back into residential use has scooped a prestigious national award.
East Lodge in Aldcliffe, Lancaster won the ‘Best Residential Conversion or Alteration to an Existing Home’ category in the national finals of the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards 2024.
East Lodge, now a house, was once East Lodge to the former Aldcliffe Hall, a 19th century country house.
The annual awards recognise excellent projects and individual contributions within the construction industry and highlight the key role of public sector building control teams in ensuring the safety, quality, and sustainability of construction projects.
Local developer MH Stainton Homes, with support from Lancaster City Council’s Conservation Team, embarked on a mission to carefully restore and extend East Lodge into a contemporary home whilst preserving its heritage - as it had fallen into significant disrepair.
The restoration programme included new floors, refurbished windows and lime mortar repointing. A new extension has been added, offering extra floor space.
A discreet glazed link connects the two main living areas, thoughtfully designed to preserve the character of the listed building's setting.
Councillor Sue Tyldesley, Lancaster City Council’s cabinet member for Planning and Placemaking, said: “It’s fantastic to see the partnership working between a local developer and the local planning and building control teams being recognised nationally.
“The restoration of East Lodge, a listed building at serious risk of further dereliction, serves as a reminder of what can be achieved between a responsible custodian of a heritage asset and our local authority conservation and planning and building control teams.”
Michael Stainton, Managing Director of MH Stainton Homes, said: “East Lodge was a very challenging project, and there was some third-party opposition to the development, but I’m a big believer in having the right team around you to bring the best out of a project. Working with experienced planning and conservation professionals from Lancaster City Council was invaluable and helped to get the project off to a brilliant start.
“Rightly so, we all fell in love with the building, and I think that shows in the completed project and how thrilled we all are that it has won such a prestigious award.
“East Lodge will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2027, so let’s hope it lasts another 200 years as the gateway to Aldcliffe.”
The council’s Building Control Team provided essential support in ensuring that the Building Regulations were met within the necessary constraints of Listed Building Approval.
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