Old Railway Quarter

The site of 1.96 hectares which now comprises the Old Railway Quarter was the last major land parcel of the Railway Works Conservation Area to be regenerated. The site included the former Chain Testing House buildings (grade II*) that were then on the Heritage at Risk Register that noted ‘poor’ condition and that future reuse would be ‘problematic’.

This scheme involved conversion of the Chain Testing House buildings for new homes and the restoration, for public display, of the testing pit and machinery where chains used to be tested for strength. The scheme also included new build development of Artemis House, Achilles House, Apollo House, Hermes House and Olympus House surrounded by landscaped open space and car parking.

The redevelopment is an exemplar of heritage-led regeneration. It has won a Best High Volume New Housing Development (2015) and Best Renovation award (2016).