Prittlewell Chapel is the best UK heritage project!

The experts who restored Prittlewell Chapel in North Road Burial Ground, Southend, have won national honours.

Beardwell Construction Ltd, which carefully renovated the ruined chapel, scooped the Heritage Project of the Year 2011 title in the National Federation of Builders Annual Awards 2012.

The company was commissioned by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, to undertake the £982,000 Government-Funded project to return the dilapidated 130-year-old Prittlewell chapel to the community, sustainably - whilst retaining its architectural features.

Now it is used by voluntary and community groups, has minimal energy bills and is Carbon Neutral with an Energy Efficiency A rating. 

Build with CaRe (Carbon Reduction) - the forum for making energy saving buildings the mainstream - filmed the progress of the project, to enable the sustainable techniques used, to be shared by others.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Planning, Councillor Jonathan Garston said: “Congratulations to Beardwell Construction Ltd for winning such a major national award. 

“The company has respectfully transformed and regenerated the historic Prittlewell Chapel into an energy efficient building which looks to the past and the future at the same time.

“It had stood empty for 60 years, suffering the effects of bad weather, vandalism, and graffiti but now it is in mint condition again and being used for the good of the community.

“It is let on a 20 year lease to Southend Association Voluntary Services (SAVS). The Council has also recognised the excellent achievements of Beardwell Construction’s work at Prittlewell Chapel by giving the company a Conservation Award in our 2011 design awards. When we carried out the judging process for these awards, we were extremely impressed by this project.”

Alex Larn, Commercial Director of Beardwell Construction said; “We are proud to have been entrusted with delivery of this prestigious project. Delivered on time and budget we are delighted to say it was a complete success in every respect.

“It has brought to life a building that stood decaying for 60 years. It has done so using sustainable building materials and renewable energy sources.  It is a carbon neutral building and energy costs have to all intents been eliminated. It is very satisfying to see the building being put to such excellent use.”