The Harlequins Centre, Exeter

Client

Curlew Alternatives Property LP

Location

Exeter, Devon

Service

Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment

Asset type(s):

Scheduled Monument; Statutory listed buildings and Conservation Areas (designated heritage assets); Buildings and Archaeology (non-designated heritage assets)

Client

Curlew Alternatives Property LP

Location

Exeter, Devon

Service


Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment

Asset type(s):

Scheduled Monument; Statutory listed buildings and Conservation Areas (designated heritage assets); Buildings and Archaeology (non-designated heritage assets)

The Harlequins Centre is a now-vacant shopping centre constructed in the late 1980s and situated within the historic city of Exeter. Robinson Wild, in partnership with Nexus Heritage, prepared a historic environment desk-based assessment (HEDBA) (undertaken to Environmental Impact Assessment standards) to accompany a planning application relating to the redevelopment of this major urban site for mixed-use.

An in-depth understanding of the highly significant historic environment, and experience of balancing a client’s requirements for new development in the context of high heritage significance informed a thorough and robust historic environment assessment. 

The site is situated within a complex and sensitive historic environment and the assessment encompassed research, analysis and evaluation of multiple types of heritage assets including a scheduled monument, listed buildings, conservation areas and archaeology. 

The HEDBA contributed significantly to achieving the client’s aim of obtaining planning consent for this major project.

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Thematic Studies and Reviews

Thematic Studies and Reviews offer detailed analysis of specific aspects of the historic environment, such as types of heritage assets. Robinson Wild’s expertise ensures a rigorous, research-led approach to the research and analysis that delivers meaningful outcomes. We support organisations who commission these studies and reviews in developing evidence-based policies and strategies that enhance heritage understanding and management. 

Project Management

Projects which encompass aspects of the historic environment require careful coordination to stay on track, on budget, and compliant with planning policy and guidance. Robinson Wild provides expert project management, oversee and manage all aspects of project delivery, from initial concept to final implementation. With our meticulous approach and industry expertise, we deliver cost-effective, high-quality results, ensuring heritage considerations and client satisfaction remain our top priorities.

Options Appraisal

Making informed decisions about heritage assets requires a clear understanding of risks, opportunities, and costs. Robinson Wild’s Options Appraisal service provides a structured approach to evaluating different courses of action, helping you weigh up feasibility, compliance, and long-term sustainability. Whether you’re considering acquiring a heritage site or planning its future use, we offer the expert insight you need to make the right choice.

Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment

A Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (HEDBA) is a study of the historic environment within a specified area. Through expert research, site visits and archival investigation, Robinson Wild will assess the presence, character, survival and condition of heritage assets, including archaeology.

When commissioned for a proposed development, we also include a detailed impact assessment, helping to pre-empt potential planning challenges at an early stage. A HEDBA prepared by Robinson Wild will strengthen your planning application, ensure compliance with planning policy and guidance and inform risk-aware decisions concerning your project. 

Whether required as a standalone report or as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we deliver precise, reliable assessments and advice to support your development goals.

Historic Building Recording

Historic Building Recording is a detailed documentation process that captures the condition, history, and architectural features of a building. This service is essential for the preservation of important heritage structures and is often required prior to alterations or demolition. Robinson Wild ensures your project meets all planning and guidance requirements while capturing the unique story of your historic building.

Heritage Statement

A Heritage Statement is a comprehensive evaluation of the significance of heritage assets within a specified area. Through site visits, archival and desk-based research, Robinson Wild will provide a concise, yet academically rigorous, assessment of the potential impacts of proposed development or alterations to these assets, ensuring that any interventions are sensitive and responsive to their value. Heritage Statements are an essential component of rigorous planning applications and demonstrate compliance with planning policy and heritage-related guidance. Heritage Statements by Robinson Wild are prepared professionally and facilitate informed decision-making and increase the likelihood of your application achieving a successful outcome.

Lender and Portfolio Manager Advice

Robinson Wild is uniquely positioned to provide advice on heritage assets where there is a requirement for an understanding of financial structuring and strategies, balancing risk management, and historic environment related policy and guidance compliance. 

Expert Witness for Public Inquiry

When historic environment matters come under scrutiny at a public inquiry, expert testimony can make all the difference. Robinson Wild provides authoritative, evidence-based expert witness services to support planning appeals, development cases, and legal proceedings. Our expertise ensures that heritage considerations are accurately represented, strengthening your position and increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Expert Independent Assessment and Review

For clients needing an impartial perspective on historic environment related issues, Robinson Wild provides independent assessments and reviews. Whether evaluating conservation strategies, assessing development impacts, or reviewing heritage policy compliance, we offer objective, expert-led analysis that informs sound decision-making.

Continuing Professional Development

Keeping up to date with best practices in historic environment management is essential for organisations and individuals who work, or have an interest, in the sector. Robinson Wild delivers high quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training tailored to your needs, covering topics such as conservation principles, planning regulations and guidance, and heritage impact assessment. Our expert-led sessions can be delivered online or in-person and provide valuable insights to enhance your expertise and keep you ahead of sector developments.

Conservation Management Plan

A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is an essential strategic framework that safeguards the long-term future of heritage assets. Through research, site visits and archival investigation, Robinson Wild will identify the significance of a heritage asset or site and will set out policies for its conservation, management and sustainable use. CMPs prepared by our team are structured to provide accessibility, clarity and direction for owners, stakeholders and local planning authorities, and demonstrate clear guidelines for interventions to ensure that any planned changes align with best practice in heritage preservation. Whether you need a CMP for a listed building, historic landscape, or regeneration projects, our expertise helps you protect heritage assets whilst enabling sustainable use and development.

Dr Toni Griffiths

BA (Hons)
PgDip MA MCIfA FSA

Toni holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Winchester and is a published academic author. With extensive experience in archival research, public history, and cultural heritage, she brings a wealth of expertise to a wide range of projects that engage local communities, preserve intangible and tangible heritage, and raise awareness of often-overlooked and marginalised histories. 

Toni is adept at navigating complex, intercultural environments and has worked across the UK with diverse stakeholders, including devolved governments, universities, local authorities, and community groups. She is dedicated to championing collaboration and early-stage involvement from multiple stakeholders in every project, to deliver cost-effective strategies and impactful programs that benefit everyone.

As an experienced project manager, Toni is skilled in analysis, strategic planning, and overseeing the full project lifecycle – from initial design and funding applications to successful delivery and post-project evaluation. Key achievements include the creation of permanent exhibitions, educational seminars, and international conferences, each focused on enhancing diversity, facilitating collaboration and expanding engagement across the heritage sector.  This includes a record engagement rate of 78% of local authorities in a project designed to enhance understanding of historical events and heritage preservation, as well as securing a £73,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for a joint project between a local charity and university.

Darcie Kerr

BA (Hons) MA

Darcie holds a MA in Landscape History from the University of East Anglia where she specialised in the history of designed landscapes. After completing an internship with SAVE Britain’s Heritage, she gained first-hand experience into how charities campaign to protect the historic environment and the everyday challenges historic buildings and landscapes face. By volunteering with charities such as the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust and the Gardens Trust, she has experience in building relationships with members as well as helping to promote the importance of landscapes to local communities.

Darcie is passionate about the sensitive reuse of historic buildings and landscapes for the benefit of local communities. In particular, she believes it is important that schemes seek to celebrate and maintain the heritage of historic buildings and their landscapes whilst also allowing for innovation, enabling the past, present, and future to work as one.

Knowledgeable and interested in planning and the economics of development, Esther takes a holistic approach ensuring that she understands the wider project context and works collaboratively as the project progresses. This helps mitigate risk and impact to heritage and project delivery and budget and produces the optimal outcome for heritage and stakeholders.

Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan

A Conservation Area Appraisal identifies and evaluates the special architectural and historic interest of an area. A Conservation Area Management Plan builds on this by providing guidelines for the preservation and enhancement of the area. Robinson Wild’s expert assessments provide the evidence and strategic insight needed to protect and enhance conservation areas, helping stakeholders, including property owners, navigate planning requirements with confidence. These services are designed to support the effective management and protection of conservation areas, ensuring that new development is sympathetic to its context, specifically the character and significance of the conservation area.

Esther Robinson Wild

BA (Hons) PgDip MA MCIfA FSA

Esther is an experienced Historic Environment Consultant whose unique background in real estate enables her to incorporate aspects of property development and finance into the historic environment sphere. She combines this with her passion for promoting sustainability in the heritage sector. 

With a thorough working knowledge of architectural history of all periods and experience in the analysis and interpretation of historic buildings and archaeological sites, she fully understands the issues, both conservation and development-related, that affect the historic built environment. 
Having worked for over 10 years as a Financial Analyst working primarily within real estate finance and capital markets for various market participants, including major banks, Esther has a robust understanding of development economics and viability, complemented by strong analytical, research and report-writing skills.
She has taken her extensive finance experience of conducting robust assessments of assets under management based on a thorough understanding of the risk environment through analytics, evaluation and treatment and applies it successfully to her heritage work.
Knowledgeable and interested in planning and the economics of development, Esther takes a holistic approach ensuring that she understands the wider project context and works collaboratively as the project progresses. This helps mitigate risk and impact to heritage and project delivery and budget and produces the optimal outcome for heritage and stakeholders.

Esther holds a MA in the Archaeology of Buildings from the University of York. She also holds a degree in archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She has extensive knowledge and experience of projects which focus on finding enterprising ways to revitalise historic buildings and sites through sustainable reuse.

She is a Trustee of The Architectural Heritage Fund, with her initial involvement with the organisation as the Project Manager responsible for establishing their £7 million Heritage Impact Fund, the only social impact fund focused on historic buildings. 
Esther is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and a CIfA accredited member (MCIfA). She provides CPD training on good practice in the historic environment in planning-led contexts and is the former co-lead (with Alan Chandler) of the London School of Architecture’s Part 4 course “Working with Heritage”.