A first-of-its-kind project, establishing York Minster Precinct as a world-class centre for research, education and training in heritage stonemasonry. The initiative combines heritage craftsmanship with advanced digital technology, setting a benchmark for the preservation and advancement of traditional skills.

The Centre of Excellence comprises two key components. The Heritage Quad provides dedicated residential accommodation for six stonemasonry apprentices, alongside a workshop visible from the historic Bar Walls to allow public engagement with live trade activity. The building is architecturally sympathetic to its surroundings, with a sweeping Glulam roof that preserves uninterrupted views of York Minister. It has been designed with sustainability at its heart, featuring rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels, ASHPs and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, contributing to its high energy performance.  

The creation of the Technology hub involved the reordering of the Stoneyard and masons’ workshop to house a state-of-the-art, 5-axis CNC saw and band saw, in addition to a CAD office equipped with modern digital technology. The new workshop entrance and viewing gallery enables visitors to observe operations. The facility integrates low-carbon technologies, with approximately 80% of its energy generated via photovoltaic panels on the feature curved standing seam roof. Rainwater is collected, filtered and recycled to support the production process.

A phased conservation and new build project to repair the Tower and improve the visitor experience. Works included extensive restoration of the stonework, a glulam timber canopy providing a deck to allow visitors panoramic views of York, an internal hanging steel walkway and floating staircases and installations of words, images, light and sound.

The restrictive location of Clifford’s Tower presented a key challenge. Situated at the top of a 36ft motte, in a busy location in York, required a collaborative and well managed process. Through working closely with City of York Highways and liaising with all stakeholders regarding ongoing and future planned works, we ensured public safety and minimised disruption to the surrounding area.

The Tower, exposed to the elements since 1684, had become structurally fragile and demanded an innovative conservation strategy. New internal foundations were cast independently to support the glulam structure and the new internal concrete slab, with a deliberate perimeter gap left between these works and the historic walls to avoid imposing additional load on the original fabric. The new roof, along with the floating staircases and walkways, was also constructed as a separate system, supported by new foundations. This approach ensured that all new interventions remained structurally independent, significantly reducing the risk to the Tower’s long‑term stability.

A full-height perimeter scaffold and temporary roof was needed for the duration of the works. The scaffold was erected in isolation of the original tower, ensuring no aspects were tied to the building, as this would have added additional weight-bearing pressure to the delicate structure. Foam pads were used as cushions between the tower and the temporary structure to mitigate the risk of any additional damage occurring to the fragile stonework.

The works at Clifford’s Tower have won multiple awards, including Regional Constructing Excellence Award and NFB Award for Heritage and Conservation.

Simpson was engaged on this scheme following the successful delivery of a project for Antech Diagnostics in Warwick. The works were delivered in three phases to create a fully equipped, multidisciplinary veterinary referral hospital.

The first two phases focused on strip-out and enabling works, including extensive repairs to the building’s fabric. During this time, we collaborated closely with the client and wider project team to fully understand their vision for the hospital, offering guidance on buildability and identifying opportunities for added value.

The final phase involved a high-quality fit-out, incorporating animal wards, consultation rooms, a contemporary reception area, offices, hygienic cladding and lead-lined partitions for X-ray, MRI and CT scan rooms. Our in-house joinery workshop designed and manufactured bespoke furnishings, including the reception desk, feature wall and Trovex worktops.

Construction of a new specialist storage warehouse, covering approximately 8,000m² with a height to ridge of 23m. The facility was designed to ‘wrap around’ an existing warehouse, forming an L-shaped structure. Internally, high-bay racking was installed on a concrete floor slab, laid to DM1 tolerance. 

Extensive ground works were carried out, including excavation of 17,100 m³ of material and commensurate stoning up. A vacuum excavation method was used to dig out the new cable trenches; a cost-effective and risk reducing way of excavating around unknown services, removing much of the time-consuming, hand digging process. This method was also used to dig out and expose an existing live gas main, which we had to connect onto to provide upgraded supply for heating the new warehouse. Once the ground works were complete, casting of the ground bearing pad and beam foundations to support the steel frame was undertaken. Once the frame was erected, roof and wall cladding were installed, floor slabs laid, and internal mechanical, electrical and sprinkler systems fitted. 

The high-bay racking was constructed over a 12-week period, followed by the installation of inductive loops and final floor grinding to achieve the required DM1 tolerance. 

External works included the installation of sprinkler slabs and tanks, ducting, drainage, and car parking areas. A new substation was also built to provide an upgraded power supply to the warehouse.

Our relationship with Sainsbury’s began in 2016, following their acquisition of Argos. Having worked with Argos since 1993, we were able to proactively share our knowledge and experience of the Argos estate with Sainsbury’s and their other main contractors. This collaboration strengthened our partnership, and we are now proud to be recognised as one of their Platinum suppliers, successfully delivering projects across their multiple workstreams.  

Our current role focuses on supporting the development of Sainsbury’s national property portfolio and helping to enhance their multi-brand vision through new store fit-outs, refurbishments and an ongoing programme of initiative-led roll-out works.  

Key initiatives we’ve been involved in include:

• Store-in-Store rollouts.
• Local Fulfilment Centres
• Refrigeration Refurbishment Schemes
• Carbon neutral initiatives
• Brand standard upgrades

In 2025 we delivered Sainsbury's Witney, a new concept store. This involved a full remodel of the existing superstore, including external façade and roof repairs, and the creation of additional space to accommodate Argos, Starbucks and Timpsons. Refrigeration and mechanical plant systems were replaced, with new cold rooms installed to support Sainsbury’s drive towards net zero. The Works were carefully phased to minimise disruption, with the store only closing for the final two weeks to allow for fridge and freezer replacements and restocking ahead of store launch.

Since Witney, we have also completed their newest flagship superstore at Wynyard, Billingham. The impressive 48,330 sq. ft. store has been built to Sainsbury’s latest “MBS” specification, setting a new benchmark for quality and sustainability. featuring latest design, energy-efficient standards, and advanced operational features, this store represents the very best of Sainsbury’s retail experience.

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