Grade II Listed Former Lace Factory Restoration
Project overview
Original construction: 1888
Project duration: 18 months
RS Specialist Contractors delivered a comprehensive restoration and reinstatement programme at Springfield Mill in Nottingham: a Grade II listed former lace factory originally constructed in 1888.
Background
Springfield Mill is a notable example of Nottingham’s Victorian industrial architecture and textile heritage. Built in 1888 as a four-storey lace factory, the building includes its distinctive attached chimney and reflects the period in which Nottingham was internationally known for lace manufacture.
In 2005, the former mill was converted into 105 residential apartments. The conversion retained the building’s historic character while giving the site a new residential purpose.
As a Grade II listed building, Springfield Mill is recognised as being of special architectural and historic interest. Any repair, restoration or alteration work therefore needed to be carried out with close attention to the original building fabric, construction methods, materials and design.
The challenge
A significant fire in 2020 severely damaged the roof at Springfield Mill. The damage left residents displaced and exposed areas of the building requiring careful restoration and reinstatement.
The combination of fire damage and listed-building requirements made this a complex heritage restoration project. The roof required rebuilding in line with the original structure and Victorian design, using suitable traditional methods and period-appropriate materials.
The works also required careful coordination across multiple disciplines, including roofing, structural works, flooring, mechanical and electrical installations, carpentry, and kitchen fitting. Throughout the programme, the works needed to account for the requirements of the listed building and the practical demands of working within a residential development.
Scope of works
RS Specialist Contractors were appointed to deliver the restoration and reinstatement works, including the following key elements.
Listed building roof reconstruction
RS Specialist Contractors rebuilt the fire-damaged roof to match the original structure and Victorian appearance. The works were completed with consideration for listed building requirements, traditional roofing techniques and appropriate materials.
This element of the project involved close collaboration with heritage consultants and relevant planning and heritage authorities.
Structural and flooring works
Comprehensive sound flooring works were undertaken throughout the affected areas. These works formed part of the wider reinstatement programme to restore the affected parts of the building to the required standard.
First- and second-fix works
Our teams completed first- and second-fix works across the affected residential apartments. This included mechanical, electrical and carpentry installations required as part of the reinstatement process.
Kitchen installations
Full kitchen installations were completed within the affected units. The kitchens were installed as part of the wider programme to return the apartments to a finished residential condition.
Project delivery
RS Specialist Contractors completed the Springfield Mill restoration project and was delivered over an 18-month programme. The timescale reflected the extent of the fire damage, the coordination required across the different trades, and the additional care required when working on a Grade II listed heritage building.
RS Specialist Contractors maintained communication with the client, residents, heritage consultants and relevant planning authorities throughout the works. Operating within a residential setting also required a professional and considerate approach, with teams working to minimise disruption wherever possible.
The result
The completed works reinstated Springfield Mill following the 2020 fire damage. The roof was rebuilt to reflect the building’s original Victorian structure, helping to preserve the architectural character of this historic Nottingham lace mill.
The affected residential apartments were reinstated through the completion of structural, flooring, first- and second-fix, and kitchen installation works. The project demonstrates RS Specialist Contractors’ experience in delivering complex listed building restoration, heritage-sensitive refurbishment and multi-trade reinstatement projects.
