Leeds based Met Engineers are advising on a range of capital investment projects to transform one of the most significant groups of historic rural buildings in the country. The 15,000 acre Welbeck Estate is already home to the School of Artisan Food and Harley Gallery, as well as numerous creative businesses and artisan food producers.
With origins dating back to the 12th century, Welbeck has evolved from a Premonstratensian abbey, to Cavendish stronghold, to the ultimate Victorian estate. The historic 19th century Welbeck Village includes a vast indoor riding school, stable courtyard for 95 horses with grooms’ quarters, and the famous tunnel network, wide enough to drive two horse-drawn carriages side-by-side, and extending for miles throughout the estate.
Initial projects include the introduction of a 100Mb fibre-optic broadband network throughout the estate, and the conversion of Carriage Court and Cavendish House into high-quality offices. Current development activity includes a £5m extension for the Harley Gallery, which will display masterpieces from the Portland Collection, and Brewery Yard, which will create food-standard workshops for artisan food businesses.
Part of the Met Consultancy Group, Met Engineers are acting as consulting engineers on various aspects of the Welbeck Project, including the Brewery Yard development. This work involves the complete restoration of a range of redundant farm workshops around their original frame to house new food-grade units. Met Engineers are providing structural consultancy and design and are simultaneously supervising a major drainage infrastructure project and the installation of a new electricity substation.
“The goal for the Welbeck Project is to transform the estate and secure long-term sustainable uses for these astonishing buildings, as well as providing an amazing environment for people to live, work, learn and create. These are amongst the most important rural heritage buildings in the country and the work is incredibly sensitive, so this is a long-term project for the estate” said Robert Mayo, Development Director for the Welbeck Estate.
“Met Engineers have already worked on a variety of feasibility studies for the Welbeck Project, so Ian Lang and his team understand and share our passion for this important heritage. I know I can rely on their expertise, and am delighted to have their support on this latest phase.”
“When completed, the Brewery Yard workshops will enhance the considerable artisan food expertise already at Welbeck, and will provide an ideal environment for small food businesses to develop and grow.”
Welbeck remains a working estate with an established tenancy of award-winning food producers including The Welbeck Farm Shop, which has been rated one of the country’s top ten farm shops by the BBC Good Food List and The Times newspaper, and the Stichelton Dairy which was awarded a gold medal at the 2014 British Cheese Awards.
The Welbeck Estate Infrastructure for Enterprise project is part financed by the PA2 European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. Ends
For further information:
The Welbeck project http://www.welbeck.co.uk