Formerly White Lion Yard, Lancashire Court is a mews-style passage off Brook Street and New Bond Street, presided over by Westminster City Council. No 13 is a 5-storey 18th century Grade 2 Listed building, in the pretty pedestrian area of Lancashire Court, in the Mayfair Conservation Area.
When we were engaged to upgrade the building, it had been split into a shop, with accommodation above it but with a shared entrance to both areas. The basement and ground floor were being used as one retail unit with an apartment on the first, second and third floors, which provided 2 bedrooms, 2 WC’s, shower room and a kitchen space.
To make the accommodation more attractive to a prospective tenant, it was agreed that the entrances needed to be separated, providing a dedicated entrance to the flat above the shop. To achieve this, the shopfront was replaced with a new shopfront and side door and the staircase to the basement removed and a new stair provided within the retail unit.
The apartment floors have been upgraded and repaired, including the refurbishment of the existing staircase and timber panelling, a new kitchen, new bathroom and ensuite shower room. The external fabric was largely retained, with the existing windows and brickwork refurbished, whilst the dormer windows at third floor were replaced. The existing roofs were also repaired and refurbished, including enhancement of the thermal performance of the building.
As part of the basement works, the existing paving was lifted to allow the removal of the glazed vault and frame below. Repairs were carried out to the brick walls of the vaults and the pavement reinstated. The basement was waterproofed throughout, which allowed the basement to offer a new retail space.
The project was completed in 2020, with the work carried out, when allowed, during the pandemic.
Photography by Emanuelis Stasaitis.
