Peterborough Town Hall – Refurbishment & Conversion

R G Carter were appointed as preferred bidder for the refurbishment and conversion of the existing Town Hall under the Peterborough City Council Framework into a new Community Health Services Hub. The works were required due to the relocation of the Peterborough City Council offices from the Town Hall to Sandmartin House in Fletton Quays.

The main refurbishment works of the Town Hall has enabled the letting of the space to Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). The building now completed, houses nearly 250 staff whose primary focus is providing care and support for community mental health.

Early stages of the project encompassed demolition and strip out to the three-storey building. The renovated floors, located below and behind the historic hall, all have independent access off the high street, where a reception space is provided. A new main stairwell and lift was constructed to the upper floors, which has all its timber stud work complete and has corrugated cladding installed. The first-floor houses consultancy rooms whilst the second floor provides modern open plan office and administration space for staff.

The project was a mix of the renovation of the historic features such as sash windows and creation of new modern glass partitioned spaces.

The refurbished spaces were underpinned by a design approach that has maximised natural light and significantly reduced carbon emissions. Accessibility was significantly improved through a carefully inserted new extension that contrasts with the historic fabric. The legible wayfinding and material strategy created a calm internal environment with key views enhanced to Peterborough’s famous cathedral.

The building once fully refurbished not only provided a great looking functional facility for the NHS to occupy a fully compliant building aligning with the Heath Technical Memoranda (HTM) and Building Regulations.

The project was well received by the CPFT staff, the NHS and Peterborough City Council as an exemplar model of integrated care supporting the regeneration of Peterborough Town Hall and the city centre. Upon completion representatives met from Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust along with architects Hamson Barron Smith and RG Carter staff to hand over the project and commemorate its success.