Sustainably restoring a Victorian building into modern apartments

Housing Tue, Mar 23, 2021 1:56 PM

“The materials had great workability. It was important we got the timing right, especially as we were plastering in the summer months, but the overall finish was beautiful,” says Glyn Phillips, owner, PPS Plastering.

Located in the heart of Newport’s city centre, Griffin Island has been restored from an empty upper storey Victorian building into a block of 27 apartments.

For Kingfisher and Home Options Newport – the developers involved in the project – sustainable restoration was key, using healthy and traditional materials. It was important to retain both the character and the historic fabric of the building.

The project was not without its challenges. The irregularly shaped rooms with varying angles made plastering challenging, so the developers needed a product which offered flexibility.

The right solution

As they hoped for a natural and traditional look, the developers opted to use Lime Green’s plaster and render, with Glyn Phillips applying the products.

“I hadn’t used Lime Green’s products before. I’d used traditional lime, which had a lengthy curing time and was very expensive. Lime Green’s materials were much cheaper and quicker to use,” says Glyn.

“We got on really well with the lime plaster and achieved an excellent finish,” says Glyn Phillips, owner, PPS Plastering. “We used Lime Green’s Solo for the thermal boards in the apartments and Ultra for the oak Riven laths.”

The results

The lime-based products will create a healthy indoor air quality and regulate excess moisture within the property, due to the porous nature of lime. The products will also help to provide a comfortable temperature all year round for the occupants.

“The Griffin Island development is a fantastic use of unoccupied space – it’s amazing to see a historic building being restored to its original beauty. Working with the team there has been great, and we look forward to seeing our products standing the test of time and creating a healthy and durable building,” says Simon Ayres, managing director, Lime Green Products Ltd.

Leaving the final word with Glyn: “I would absolutely use the products again and recommend them to anyone looking to build healthy buildings.”

For more information about the products used in the project, visit www.lime-green.co.uk or call 01952 728 611.

In association with Lime Green Products Ltd


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Company Details

Coates Kiln
Stretton Road
Much Wenlock
Shropshire
TF13 6DG
United Kingdom
T: 01952 728611
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