Chawton Hill is 20 years old next year! Whilst the business has expanded into other sectors, notably, the Make Ready concept for England’s Ambulance Trusts, Quinquennial Reports and Ecclesiastical Projects were some of the first pieces of work we carried out.
Since then we have built up significant experience across a wide range of professional services and worked with numerous churches and community centres. One of the largest Ecclesiastical Projects in recent years was the building of a brand new church in Caterham, Surrey.
For Oakhall Church, we undertook the roles of Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor and Principal Designer, calling on all those years of ecclesiastical experience to deliver an exceptional church building. One that was voted the Best Public Service Building in the South East by the Local Authority Building Control Awards.
a fabulous building which is already making an impact
Peter Thompson (former Operations Director), Oakhall Church.
Over the last 20 years, we have delivered multiple projects such as Church Halls, Extensions and Community buildings. For example the new Youth and Community Building for East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council.
To complement our ecclesiastical project work, Chawton Hill has a number of highly experienced Quinquennial Inspectors who are competent to inspect unlisted churches and have proven experience of how heritage buildings can be made more environmentally sustainable.
The Quinquennial Report itself is one of the key documents which assists in the care and repair of a church building. It gives an overview of the repair needs of the building and lists the repairs required according to their priority. Generally, the survey carried out by the Quinquennial Inspector will cover:
- Any necessary repair of the building
- Maintenance deficits and maintenance plans
- Safety of the structure and floors
- Access issues
- Environmental sustainability (eg lighting, heating, rainwater goods, suitability for renewables, opportunities to reduce heat loss through steps such as draught-proofing and insulation)
- Trees in the churchyard if they are protected by a Tree Preservation Order, in a Conservation Area, or on the Gazetteer of ancient, veteran and notable trees; or any tree impacting on the building
- Ruined structures in the churchyard
- Moveable items of high value or significance (which may be identified in the Statement of Significance and/or by the Archdeacon)
- The risk of impact of a changing climate on flood-risk, rainwater goods, and stonework.
To discuss your church building, please contact us on 01372 360663, info@chawtonhill.com or for more information on our years of Ecclesiastical experience, please see Ecclesiastical Experience.
Here’s to another 20 years!