The Wesley Camden
Encon Associates provided BREEAM consultancy for the refurbishment of a historic Methodist chapel in Camden into a 39-key hotel and place of worship. The heritage-led development successfully achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, combining sustainability with the preservation of a significant historic building.
The project involved the conversion of a former Primitive Methodist Chapel, originally built in 1824 and later rebuilt in 1890, located within the Camden Town Conservation Area.
Due to declining congregation numbers and ongoing maintenance challenges, the building had fallen into disrepair and was at risk of significant structural deterioration.
The redevelopment aimed to secure the building’s long-term future by integrating it with The Wesley Hotel brand, ensuring both continued community use and commercial visibility.
Key Facts
Project type: Mixed-use refurbishment (church and hotel)
Building use: 39-key hotel with retained worship space
Outcome: BREEAM Excellent
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Client Manalo And White
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Location Camden, London
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Period 2018
BREEAM Consultancy
Encon Associates was appointed to provide BREEAM consultancy throughout the design and development stages, guiding the project team to ensure compliance with sustainability requirements.
This included:
- Advising on achieving mandatory BREEAM credits
- Supporting the integration of sustainability into heritage-led design
- Coordinating with the wider design and construction team
- Ensuring the project met its required rating
The project presented a complex challenge due to the need to retain historic features while delivering modern environmental performance.
Heritage-Led Sustainable Design
A key aspect of the scheme was the sensitive refurbishment of a historic structure within a conversion area. The design approach prioritised:
- Retention of original architectural features
- Adaptive reuse of existing building fabric
- Integration of sustainable materials and systems
- Preservation of the building’s cultural and community value
The project demonstrates how sustainability can be successfully delivered within the constraints of heritage buildings.
Environmental Performance
The completed development achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting strong performance across energy, water, materials and overall environmental impact.
Key sustainability features included:
- Energy-efficient building systems and controls
- Water-saving emissions through all-electric design
- Reuse of materials and preservation of historic elements
- Biodiversity enhancements, including habitat features
Project Outcome
Encon Associates’ involvement supported the successful transformation of a historic chapel into a sustainable, mixed-use development that balances heritage, community use and environmental performance.
The Wesley Camden now stands as a strong example of how BREEAM can be applied to refurbishment projects, delivering long-term value while preserving important architectural and cultural assets.
Working with Encon Associates on the construction of the Heritage Skills Centre within the grounds of Lincoln castle has been a most enjoyable and rewarding experience.
The use of IESTaP project made monitoring completion of the credits far more visible and as project manager I was able to obtain reports very easily. Glenn managed the BREEAM process in an efficient manner, providing the right level of face-to-face interaction.
There is nothing but praise for Glenn’s efforts and determination and I would use this organisation as a BREEAM consultant on future projects.
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