Project
Ightham Mote – Visitor Infrastructure Project
The project at Ightham Mote involved delivering a new low‑carbon Visitor Centre, relocating and upgrading the car park, and restoring the historic Walled Garden at the Grade I listed moated manor house in Kent, with the overarching aim to enhance customer experience, improve sustainability, and restore heritage features. The scheme responded to an outdated visitor centre and car park that previously intruded into the Walled Garden, reframing the visitor arrival and protecting the site’s heritage setting.
Woodley Coles were appointed by the National Trust to act as Quantity Surveyor and Employer’s Agent, managing costs, procurement, and contract administration throughout the project. This role spanned the full delivery of the new Visitor Centre, car park works, and associated landscaping, ensuring commercial control and governance aligned with the JCT Design and Build 2016 Contract.
Value
£3,810,000
Sectors
Architect
Reed Watts
Contractor
WW Martin Ltd
Structural Engineer
Price & Myers
Services Engineer
Skelly & Couch
Landscape Architect
Colvin & Moggridge
The design incorporated notable sustainable strategies including hempcrete walls, passive ventilation, and a green roof to reduce operational carbon and align with the National Trust’s environmental goals for improved building performance. Beyond building fabric and systems, the updates to the car park and the restoration of the Walled Garden reduced impact on heritage assets while enhancing the visitor experience. We have taken this knowledge and experience into future heritage and leisure projects with continued success.
The project successfully completed in 2024, with our cost management, procurement expertise and contract administration helping to ensure delivery on time and within budget. Acting as Employer’s Agent and Quantity Surveyor, we provided the commercial management and risk control necessary to keep the programme and costs on track while integrating sustainable materials and heritage sensitive works.
Related Projects
Ready for your next project? Contact us