Project details

Employer

Clarice House Colchester Limited

Project

Conversion of C19th mansion to health and beauty treatment facility, new build gymnasium, dance studio, swimming pool, therapy pool, sauna, and steam rooms.

Capital Value

£2.6m

Contract

JCT ’98 JCT Standard Contract

Contractor

R.G. Carter (Colchester) Ltd

Completion

July 2007

Project Partners

Cost Consultants: Gill Associates
Structural Engineer: J.P. Chick & Partners
M&E Engineers: Bowling Garrard
M&E Contractor Design: Carter Design Group

Summary

The King’s Ford Park Hotel was an early nineteenth century mansion which had been converted to a hotel in the early ‘70’s. By 2004 the building had become very run-down and needed a complete refurbishment. when acquired by our clients Clarice House.

At the time, the Clarice House chain of health spas operated facilities offering beauty treatments, exercise facilities and swimming pools. Clarice House Colchester Limited acquired the King’s Ford Park Hotel in 2005 which provided the opportunity for the chain to expand its operation into Essex.

The new facility comprises a new Gymnasium, Dance Studio, Swimming Pool and Therapy Pool together with a Steam Room, Sauna and Aromatherapy Suite. The interior of the existing mansion was completely remodelled to give level access throughout and provide a series of beauty treatment rooms, hairdressing salon and restaurant.

The extensive estate was re-planted with new trees as replacement for those which were necessarily removed to make way for the new buildings.  Although the building is not Listed, the sensitivity of the site was such that the new buildings needed to remain below the tree line so as to be relatively unobtrusive.