Successful renovation project for Castle Hill Community Centre, Ipswich

Serving Ipswich and Suffolk communities for over 45 years, when the opportunity arose to help protect the historic Castle Hill Community Centre on Highfield Road, the SEHBAC team couldn’t wait to get started!

Castle Hill Community Centre has come a long way since its inception in 1893, serving many purposes over the years including private housing, health care and schooling. Aiming to preserve the Community Centre for future generations to enjoy, our high-quality home improvement services were required to breathe life back into the building by replacing a range of tired timber windows and guttering.

Located within a conservation area, the project presented a number of challenges. Used to adhering to strict local renovation guidelines, we attended four meetings with conservation officers to prove their replacement solution was in keeping with the period design of the 19th-century building.

Timeless sliding sash windows

Utilising our long-established expertise, we suggested fitting uPVC sliding sash windows; designed to stay true to the traditional design and joinery methods of original timber windows. This thermally sound window choice was particularly beneficial to Castle Hill, allowing them to eliminate draughts and cold spots, as well as effectively reducing their energy bills – essentially saving additional funds for future building renovations further down the line. In total, we replaced 41 timber casement, sash and secondary-glazed windows, along with over 120 metres of guttering.