Before being refurbished, Grade II-listed Brockwell Hall was largely unused and inefficient. The refurbishment project has opened the whole building to the community and added a new events space that is already thriving.
Ensuring it runs as sustainably as possible by cutting emissions and increasing efficiency was a priority for the project, which was funded by Lambeth Council, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department of Energy Security, and Net Zero.
In addition to the ground-source heat pump, its other sustainability features include highly efficient intelligent LED lighting, good insulation, and double glazing where possible to cut heat loss. The move has cut energy consumption by 75 per cent, and it’s now £4,200 cheaper a year for heating and hot water compared to the previous partial use of the building.
A word from Cabinet
Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Council Leader (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air), said: “This is a brilliant project that has sensitively restored a listed building and has sustainability factored in from the start.
“Historic, listed buildings present challenges regarding switching to low-carbon energy and heating, with the need to strike a delicate balance between conservation and carbon emissions.
“This project has demonstrated that it is possible to overcome these hurdles, with the restoration and decarbonisation of Brockwell Hall as a showcase example that will provide valuable lessons for custodians of heritage assets throughout the UK.”
The energy savings from the measures implemented are equivalent to that used by 22 London flats on average a year, bringing the building into the 21st century. Watch the video below to find out more about sustainability at Brockwell Hall.
Funding the restoration
Brockwell Hall, a former manor house, was built as a private residence in 1813 before being donated to the state and spurring the creation of Brockwell Park, which opened in 1892. In March 2021, the National Heritage Lottery Fund awarded Lambeth Council nearly £4million to restore Brockwell Hall. Lambeth Council also secured £429,000 from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to install the ground source heat pump to provide all heating and hot water.
The new event space was built on the side of Brockwell Hall into the old Stable Yard. It will host a wide range of events, such as weddings, conferences, away days, and meetings, and has also been designed to the highest sustainability specifications.
Visit The Glassmaker’s Café inside Brockwell Hall, open 9 am to 5 pm daily, to check out the new event spaces and all the sustainable features.
