We are delighted to see that our latest project in collaboration with The Edward James Foundation at West Dean Estate is now open to the public.  It is a particular triumph to see the transformation of a redundant building in the heart of the Estate, the old biomass, reimagined and repurposed to create a much-needed larger visitors’ entrance to West Dean Gardens, along with associated retail and educational spaces.

Since 1981, the Foundation has been committed to environmentally sustainable energy, spearheaded by installing one of the first woodchip-fired biomass boilers in the UK.  The boiler was run using sustainable materials from the Estate and provided heating for West Dean College’s buildings, and others.  The success of the system led to its replacement in 2016 with a new purpose-built energy centre to the north of the College campus, enabling more than 20 of the Estate’s residential properties to be added to the arrangement while using the same amount of source material.

The old biomass, built in the 1980s

Moving the biomass operations to the new building meant the original structure, located on the south side of the College campus and close to the existing West Dean Gardens visitors’ entrance, café, shop and car park, was left redundant, used only for storage and becoming somewhat overgrown.   

The Gardens, which are visited by over 80,000 people each year, had outgrown the existing visitor facilities, where ticket sales, the Gardens’ shop, and the entrance to the Park and Gardens themselves jostled for space beside the busy restaurant.  When the Foundation began considering development of a new visitor’s centre, the old biomass with its spacious yard seemed a logical choice.  

View of the old biomass building from West Dean Gardens, behind the crinkle-crankle wall

Our involvement included overseeing the entire project, first by submitting a planning application to convert the old biomass building and for its change of use.  Unlike much of West Dean College campus, the site is not within the West Dean Conservation Area nor the grade II* listed Registered Park and Gardens, although is immediately adjacent to both.  The yard surrounding the site is also separated from the Gardens by a historic distinctive zig-zag, red brick ‘crinkle-crankle’ wall which falls within the Registered Park and Gardens, so these constraints needed to be considered throughout the conversion process.

The old biomass yard, with the crinkle-crinkle wall on the right

The sustainability ethos which embodied the introduction of the original biomass in the early 1980s has continued with its transformation to the new visitors’ centre.  Repurposed materials have been used to create shelving and furnishings, while leaving as much as the original structure as possible.  The new energy centre also provides heating for the building.

Interior of the old biomass building shown left, with the reimagined interior taking shape shown right

Now known as the Gardens Gatehouse, the old biomass re-opened in its reimagined form on 10 March 2026, providing the new visitor entrance with an information centre, craft shop, plant nursery and gift shop.  It also has a dedicated area for arts and craft demonstrations and taster sessions, such as watercolour painting and design courses.

New entrance to the Gardens Gatehouse close to completion of the works

Interior of the new visitors’ centre, with shelving and furnishings made from repurposed materials

It is hugely satisfying to see the project come to fruition, with so many positive outcomes.  If you have a similar project to reimagine a redundant building, or within a conservation or sensitive area, please contact us.