TV's Restoration Man joins forces with City & Country Group

Architect George Clarke, has joined forces with award-winning conservation and restoration experts City & Country Group, to help preserve Britain’s architectural heritage.

The Channel 4 series ‘The Restoration Man’, sees George rescue some of the most architecturally important buildings in Britain by converting them into unique homes, a task which City & Country Group undertakes on a daily basis, fighting to save architectural treasures across the south east of England and transform them into innovative and sensitively realised and individual contemporary homes.

While the ‘The Restoration Man’ is billed as featuring “buildings that no other sane developer would touch with a bargepole”, City & Country has proved the exception to the rule. Rather than shying away from complex conservation projects, City & Country Group embraces them, and has developed an outstanding reputation as ‘best in class’ for the sensitive restoration and regeneration of neglected historic buildings.

With over 800,000 properties standing empty across Britain, City & Country Group will work with George Clarke to raise awareness of how fortunate Britain is to have a wonderful collection of historic assets and urge people to protect them, in order that they can be enjoyed by future generations.

George Clarke comments: “Across the country, thousands of old buildings lie forgotten and neglected, tangled up by red tape and development restrictions. Many of these properties are steeped in history and are of outstanding architectural interest, yet are slowly being forgotten about. When I came across City & Country Group I was overjoyed to find a large-scale developer taking on such complex and worthwhile work. There are roughly 5,000 buildings on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register at the moment, which are genuinely about to collapse, or will be completely beyond repair if they're allowed to deteriorate any more. On top of those buildings at risk, you've got tens of thousands of other buildings which are very old and beautiful, which have been neglected, but aren't necessarily in danger of collapse.”

George continues: “The plight of Britain's architectural heritage is a cause that is close to my heart and it is great to see a company like City & Country Group so engaged with this too. The restoration projects, which City & Country Group undertakes, are vital in saving these buildings, and making them fit for a modern purpose. Together, I hope that we can make more people aware of the fantastic architectural legacy we have just sitting there redundant, being lost.”

Helen Moore, Managing Director at City & Country Group Residential, comments: “We are delighted to have started working with George, who feels as strongly about Britain’s architectural heritage as we do and is passionate about restoring, converting and breathing new life into historic and vulnerable buildings in the UK. In Britain, we are blessed by an architectural legacy of truly exceptional buildings, but sadly many of these have been neglected or spoilt by very insensitive additions over the years.”

Helen continues: “At City & Country Group we recognise the plight of these historic assets and as responsible developers we work closely with local authorities and English Heritage to seek to ensure that the some of the best examples of British architecture are restored to their former glory. By giving these buildings a totally new lease of life and converting them into sought-after properties we can secure their long term future.”

Helen continues: “City & Country Group is moving into an exciting new era with important site acquisitions, including RAF Bentley Priory, one of the most significant buildings of the Battle of Britain and the Second World War and Grade I Listed Balls Park, a landmark 17th century mansion in Hertford. When we spoke to George we realised he was a kindred spirit and we wanted to work with him to continue raising awareness of the important work that we do together.”

All of City & Country’s developments fuse the architecture of the past, with the best of contemporary design. City & Country Group’s developments include Old Saint Michaels in Braintree, a former Victorian workhouse and The Galleries in Brentwood, an early Victorian Hospital. Their latest scheme to launch onto the market is Balls Park, which is being restored and sensitively converted. Located on the outskirts of Hertford, the landmark 17th century mansion, built circa 1648, and the Grade II listed Coach House and Stables, built in 1902, are currently being transformed by City & Country into 40 breathtaking apartments overlooking 63 acres of picturesque parkland.

For further information, on any of City & Country Group’s developments, visit: cityandcountry.co.uk