A development in Ramsgate has won Property Deal of the Year for Arcvelop Investor Group (AIG), led by local investors and architects Marc Turnier and Paula Corell.
AIG, which also includes directors Andy Graham and Mike Clay, won the title at the 2023 Property Investor Awards for the conversion project in Hibernia Street of a former rock sweet factory.
The factory, built in the 1800s, was converted into eight apartments. The development underwent a sympathetic restoration of the building’s original character as a prominent corner building within the Conservation Area.
The project’s luxury industrial design even caught the attention of Channel 4 and will be featured in the Great British Home Restoration in 2024.
Mr Turnier was also shortlisted for Property Developer of the Year and AIG was shortlisted for Property Development of the Year (above £1 Million) for the conversion of the former nursery and garage in Southwood Road into five flats and a detached dwelling comprising Faversham Villa.
In this project, they combined modern amenities with the property’s Victorian, regency-style historical features, while using the latest design technologies and sustainable and energy-efficient materials and systems.
The Great British Home Restoration crew also filmed this development in 2022.
Mr Turnier said: “The beautiful coastline and harbour makes it a place people want to live and come back to. As it’s a special town with lots of heritage, it makes it even more rewarding to breathe new life into properties that have sat empty or in disrepair for decades.
“Arcvelop brings together high-quality architectural design with commercially viable development. With our in-house team of designers, we’re extremely passionate about providing design-led sympathetic restorations to help provide positive impacts to the local community.
“We won Property Deal of the Year for our conversion of a former rock sweet factory, which exemplifies the types of architectural developments we strive to achieve. The scheme has brought well designed new housing to the local area by reusing a former vacant industrial building, retaining its character and providing a positive impact to the local area.”
Another project being brought forward in Ramsgate by AIG involves part Grade II listed Victoria House and neighbouring Dundee House in Albion Place.
Applications have been submitted to Thanet council for change of use at Victoria House” from offices to 9 residential flats and for “Dundee House” for a change of use from offices to 15 flats.
The external changes to Victoria House include the restoration of the original features of number 20 Albion Place which is listed; stripping back the render at 21 & 22 Albion Place; replacement of windows at the front and rear; reinstatement of front basement lightwells; new entrances and front doors to the upper ground floors, and the retention of the traditional veranda at the first floor of 20 Albion Place, and replication of a similar balcony at 21 and 22 Albion Place.
The proposal includes alterations to the rear car park to provide space for 11 vehicles and 30 new secure cycle parking spaces.
Albion Place was bomb damaged during the Second World War which destroyed 7-9 and 16-19 Albion Place, the sites of which are currently used as hard surface car parks. 20-26 Albion Place is also believed to have been bomb damaged during this period and was subject to significant internal and external alterations, with only the exterior of number 20 having recognisable original features.
Significant alterations to the internal layout created horizontal connections to facilitate the office use and changed the character of the buildings entirely.
Albion Place is otherwise characterised by its Listed four storey Georgian terrace houses.
Planning documents say: “The proposed changes will return the buildings to their original use and restore and replicate the former glory of the listed features at 20 Albion Place.”
If planning permissions are granted AIG will focus on the restoration and conversion in 2024.
