St Michael le Belfrey, a thriving Grade I listed church in York city centre, has awarded the Contract for Impact - its major repair and reordering project - to Simpson.

The Belfrey quoted. 

“We are delighted to award this contract to Simpson. The care for their clients and their expertise demonstrated on current projects such as Salford Cathedral and York Minster’s Centre of Excellence gives us confidence that they will help us fulfil our aim to beautifully transform our medieval church building into a more welcoming, accessible and flexible space,” explains Rev Andy Baker, Interim Priest in Charge, The Belfrey. Andy goes on to say: "We look forward to working with a York based company which fits with our Sustainability Strategy and supports the local economy.”

Impact will be the first major building refurbishment St Michael le Belfrey has seen in more than 150 years. The significant repairs necessary include a new roof, masonry repairs and conservation of the medieval stained glass. The creation of a new gallery, better toilets, flexible seating and a beautiful, accessible, full immersion baptism pool ensures The Belfrey can serve York and the Region better for generations to come.

Simpson quoted. “We are proud and excited to be appointed to deliver the major reordering works at St Michael le Belfrey. It will be a privilege to work closely with Rev Andy Baker, Gillian Shepherd and the whole professional team in transforming this beautiful Medieval Church in the middle of our home City York, comments Andrew Gatenby, Managing Director, Simpson. “The refurbishment and restoration project will certainly transform St Michael le Belfrey and in doing so enhance the facilities for the clergy team, congregation and the local community, ensuring this Historical place of worship continues to “serve its city.”

Following a competitive, public tender process, Simpson have been appointed as Main Contractor for the major redevelopment of Kala Sangam’s Grade II Listed arts centre, with work having started on site on Monday 22^nd April 2024.

The project will see the creation of a new theatre, five new dance studios, a new central staircase and a permanent home for volunteer-led community radio station Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB). The introduction of a new entrance, two new lifts and a dedicated Changing Places facility will ensure the building is fully accessible for the first time in its 140-year history. The building is scheduled to reopen as Bradford Arts Centre in Summer 2025, as a landmark moment in Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.

As works prepare to get underway, global professional services company Turner & Townsend have also been appointed to the project as Capital Project Manager. Specialising in major programmes and programme management, Turner & Townsend have significant experience supporting the successful delivery of cultural and heritage capital projects around the world, with examples in the UK including the redevelopments of York Guildhall and Battersea Power Station.

Turner & Townsend join a Capital Design Team led by Principal Architects and Contract Administrators Halliday Clark Architects, who have been developing the project with Kala Sangam since its inception in 2018. Also staying with the project are Quantity Surveyors DKP Consulting, Mechanical and Electrical specialists BWB Consulting, and Structural Engineers SGM Structural Design Ltd.

Another project recently completed, Costa at Yeovil.

The works completed over a 22week program consisted of concrete strip and pad foundations, steel frame, composite roof, block cavity envelope with render panels and cedar columns, aluminium soffits and rain water goods, new car park drive through lighting, new electric and water supply, offsite connections to all new stats, extensive new deep drainage works, new tarmac works around the new building including drive through and making good new white lining and soft landscaping works

Works to restore and transform the Grade II listed wagon lifting tower in Leeds have now completed.

The refurbishment has seen an internal strip out and structural alterations to the 5 storey building, repairs to the existing building fabric, formations of openings to allow new windows and doors to ensure the building is weather tight, new landscaping and introduction of internal and external lighting.

The building is now an accessible museum and exhibition space for everyone to enjoy.

As a National Federation of Builders member and an NFB Heritage Approved Contractor, it was great to see our current project Hull Maritime Museum being showcased in the current issue of the NFB Heritage Magazine.

Simpson are proud to be a part of the new NFB Heritage Mark and are committed to the continued restoring and conserving of Heritage and Traditional buildings.

Each year the company takes part in the annual ‘York Rotary Dragon Boat Race’ which helps raise money for local charities.

Over the years we have been able to support so many different charities and in 2022 we were able to support the ‘York Food Bank’

As part of the Trussell Trust foodbank network, York Foodbank provides a minimum of three days emergency food to people in the local area who are referred to them by front-line care professionals. Now more than ever as the recent increases to the cost of living have been widely felt, our support to them will help to provide emergency food together with quality advice and support to those members of our communities who are facing hardship and distress.

In total we were able to raise £1,422.00 in support of this amazing charity.