Native Architects, York

Native was appointed during the pre-application process by the client HRH Group in 2022 to obtain Planning and Listed Building Consent for works to 23 High Petergate, a Grade 1 listed building and important heritage asset in the heart of the city centre of York opposite the west end of York Minster.

The primary objective was to convert the building into additional hotel suites for the adjoining Guy Fawke’s Inn, itself designated Grade II*. 23 High Petergate was originally a high-status late C18 merchants house extended and altered in the C19 and most recently operating as offices since the mid C20.  Additional proposed works included alterations to a cottage at the rear of the Inn that is Grade II listed and connecting the Inn to an adjoining long disused Masonic courtyard to create a large outdoor garden and amenity area for the Inn.

The wealth of important historic assets within the York Central Historic Core suggested that this would not be routine planning procedure as our experience at Native, working with the Conservation and Planning officers, prepared us for the complex and detailed conversations that took place.  Nevertheless after an extended process and collaboration with the City of York Council and Historic England, planning and Listed Building consent was obtained which retained all the Client’s ambitions whilst preserving the significance of all the assets and historic built fabric of the building.  Native was then employed by HRH group to produce detailed construction drawings and serve as heritage advisors to see the project through to completion.

Converting the Masonic Hall yard was the more straightforward project on the site. We co-ordinated with  the landscape architect for the amenity area and this opened in late 2024 serving as a popular social gathering area which faces York Minster.

The main work to 23 High Petergate was a much longer and significant undertaking. The Grade I listed building, being of the highest significance demanded the utmost care and careful planning as the proposed alterations and adaptations affected the significance of the building.  Focus remained on preserving historic fabric and retaining or restoring historic plan form, and balancing that against upgrading the building to serve as contemporary hotel rooms that satisfied current building and fire safety regulations.

Through a collaborative process with the City of York, Historic England, the client, contractor, interior designers and other consultants, the new hotel rooms opened in August 2026.

The new interior layout required the removal of detrimental contemporary partitions and accretions, rooms that been subdivided such as the original Georgian drawing room and Victorian dining room were returned to their original plan forms and splendour. In our conversations with the Conservation Officer we presented solutions to meet a whole building fire strategy. Initially the technical requirements could not be met in a way that satisfied the heritage approach required. However, the innovative and creative cutting edge solution of a positive pressurisation system was installed to allow for the use of the main cantilevered spiral staircase as the primary means of escape. This solution avoided the more traditional solution of constructing fire lobbies in each bedroom, often very visually intrusive and harmful to the significance of the building. This is a ‘first’ for a Grade 1 listed building.

Whilst it took a 3 years to gain all the consents, the Client is very happy with the results, our technical and historic building expertise enabled a historic building, neglected and unusable for decades, to be restored and given a long term economic use, the best course of action one can take with a precious heritage building.

The new rooms are now a successful part of the Guy Fawkes Inn and are regularly selling out.  Combined with the success of the amenity area Native is pleased to see such historic and significant pieces of York reinvigorated and adding to the heart of York city centre.