Description: When major reordering was proposed on the east range of the Grade I listed St John's Hospital, including the removal of all internal partition walls, the local planning authority advised the applicant to undertake a specialist assessment of both the historic fabric and any potential buried archaeology.

Issue: This confirmed that major alterations, carried out in 1929, included a deep concrete floor throughout the building and the removal of all the primary internal timber-framed partition walls leaving only the primary ceiling beams and joists and the roof trusses in-situ. Due to the previous level of disturbance, it was acknowledged that, although the work would again alter the character of the historic building, the proposed refurbishment would not result in any loss of internal historic fabric and was reversible.

Strategy: Planning permission and listed building consent were granted, subject to the works being monitored.

Outcome: The watching brief enhanced the understanding of the medieval hospital range and the accommodation was brought up to contemporary standards.