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GRAND RESTORATION PLAN FOR UPMINSTER COURT

Upminster Court could soon be the subject of a ground-breaking restoration project if a planning application is approved by the Council.

In January 2007, Uniserve Group purchased the grade II listed building, located in Hall Lane, Upminster. After a year spent researching the history and planning the renovation and future of this property, the Essex-based company has now submitted i nnovative plans to restore the early Edwardian mansion to its former glory.

Uniserve intends to use the property as a state-of-the-art International HQ from which it can develop its global business interests. Its mission is to produce a venue with a “wow” factor, both inside and out, to attract the attention and interest of VIPs from around the world.

Upminster Court was originally designed by Professor Charles Reilly and constructed in 1906 using bricks made in the local Bird Lane kilns. The property was commissioned as a private residence for the engineer and industrialist Arthur Williams, who was a Director of Samuel Williams and Son Ltd of Dagenham Dock, but by 1939 its residential use had ceased and it was converted to offices. The property was subsequently purchased by the county council in 1946.

Throughout the years, Upminster Court has performed a variety of functions. It was used to house refugees during the Second World War and since that time has served as an educational centre for Essex County Council, a short stay Respite Care Home and, most recently, a training centre for Havering Council.

Sadly today, after years of underinvestment, the property is in need of restoration. The house is in a state of disrepair and its grounds, which boast the only listed gardens in the borough of Havering, are badly overrun and in need of professional attention.

Terry Gregson of GH Chartered Surveyors, who is leading the Professional Team, explains: “The original designer of Upminster Court would have been using the most up-to-date processes available in the early 20th Century to create a building of such prestige. The quality of specification confirms that the very best materials, products and technologies of the time were employed. But sadly, subsequent alterations made over the last 100 years have included work which has failed to respect the quality of this property, its listed status and its magnificent features.”

But now Uniserve is proposing a brighter future for Upminster Court through a project which would create new local employment and provide the Borough with a fully restored heritage feature. The plans include feasibility studies into the use of leading-edge technologies for the provision of lighting, power distribution, heating and ventilation. True to its commitment to environmental issues, Uniserve has taken into account the very latest thinking on sustainable systems for waste disposal, surface water management, water conservation, heating efficiency and energy conservation.

The project also includes the restoration of most of the bedrooms back to their original grandeur and these will be used to accommodate delegates during their visits. The focal point will be an impressive roof top garden in the courtyard mirroring the ‘Italianate' design used by the original architect. Uniserve's plans aim not only to reinstate the traditional horticultural features of Upminster Court but also to make provisions for their sustainability for the next 100 years, ensuring a unique site of which Upminster can be proud.

Iain Liddell, Managing Director of Uniserve Group commented: “This project is designed to impress, in particular the many overseas visitors who will visit Upminster Court. Uniserve remains at the forefront of technological development for global logistics and this ethos is to be paralleled in every aspect of the restoration project and future use of Upminster Court.”

Press release from Uniserve Group

13.2.08