Brookmans Park Teleport House – Cat A+ Office Suite Fit-Out
- Location - Hertfordshire
- Client - Charterhouse Property Group
Project Overview
Crestel Projects Ltd was appointed to deliver a comprehensive refurbishment and upgrade programme at Brookmans Park Teleport, encompassing CAT A+ office fit-outs, estate-wide common parts and reception refurbishment, roof replacement works, and a significant programme of external façade remediation and stonework repairs.
Delivered for Charterhouse Property Group, with Colliers Building Consultancy acting as Contract Administrator, the project was procured under a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor’s Design 2016.
With a contract value of circa £2.2m, the scheme formed part of a strategic asset repositioning initiative focused on extending the life of the building fabric, improving operational performance and enhancing occupier appeal.
Scope of Works
CAT A+ Office Suites (Six No.)
Each office suite was stripped back to shell and rebuilt to a high-quality CAT A+ standard, ready for immediate occupation:
- Complete strip-out of existing modular offices and legacy fit-out
- New suspended ceiling systems throughout
- Installation of new floor coverings in all office areas
- Formation of meeting rooms and glazed partitions
- Kitchen and breakout facilities
- Full Mechanical & Electrical Contractor Design and installation
- LED lighting with PIR and daylight-linked controls
- Comfort cooling, heating, and ventilation systems
- Power, data containment, and small power distribution
- Full integration with the landlord’s existing Building Management System (BMS)
- Testing, commissioning and comprehensive handover documentation
Suites were delivered on a phased basis, allowing progressive handover and minimising void periods.
Common Areas, Reception, and Shared Spaces
In parallel with the tenant works, Crestel delivered a coordinated programme of common parts and reception refurbishment, elevating the arrival experience and ensuring a consistent quality throughout the building:
-
Full reception refurbishment, including:
- New floor coverings
- New suspended ceiling systems
- Bespoke feature wall finishes
- New reception desk installation
- Reworking of internal colour schemes
- Alteration of internal timber finishes from varnished timber to anthracite, creating, a contemporary, corporate aesthetic - Refurbishment of shared circulation areas
- Replacement of floor finishes and ceilings throughout common areas
- Builders’ works associated with M&E upgrades
- Fire-stopping to service penetrations
- Upgrades to shared M&E infrastructure and risers
The refurbished reception now provides a high-quality first impression, aligned with the CAT A+ standard delivered within the office suites.
Mechanical & Electrical – Contractor’s Design
Crestel carried full design responsibility for the Mechanical & Electrical services, delivering a fully coordinated solution across tenant and common areas:
Mechanical Services
- Comfort cooling and heating systems
- Mechanical ventilation systems
- Adaptation and protection of the retained plant
- Coordination within constrained ceiling voids and service risers
Electrical Services
- Mains and sub-mains distribution
- LED and emergency lighting systems
- Intelligent lighting controls
- Small power and mechanical plant supplies
- Coordination with fire alarm and life-safety systems
All systems were installed, tested and commissioned in accordance with Building Regulations, CIBSE guidance and relevant British Standards, with full O&M manuals issued at completion.
Roof Works and Plant Clearance
A significant element of the project involved extensive roof refurbishment and upgrade works, including:
- Removal of redundant rooftop mechanical and electrical plant
- Demolition of obsolete plant housings and supports
- Localised deck and substrate repairs
- Parapet wall and edge detail repairs
- Installation of a new Polyroof reinforced waterproofing system
- Improved thermal performance, achieving c.0.12 W/m²K
- Replacement and upgrading of rooflights and drainage interfaces
The new roof system is backed by a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee, providing long-term protection and performance.
External Elevations and Stonework Remediation
Informed by a detailed CRL external condition survey, Crestel delivered a comprehensive programme of façade remediation and stonework repairs across all elevations:
- Removal of loose, fractured and unstable Portland stone elements
- Localised stone repair and replacement
- Treatment and protection of concealed steelwork where exposed
- Repairs to window heads, reveals and parapets
- Reinstatement of defective joints and localised making good
To complete the works, a full DOFF superheated steam clean was undertaken on all stone façades, removing historic soiling and atmospheric staining while preserving the integrity of the stonework.
Key Challenges and Solutions
Live, Operational Estate
The project was delivered within a fully operational estate, requiring phased sequencing, controlled access routes and robust RAMS to maintain safety and continuity for building users throughout the works.
Operational Telecoms and Broadcasting Infrastructure
Brookmans Park Teleport is located within the Brookmans Park transmitting station, a site of national historic and technical significance. Originally established in 1929 for the BBC’s medium-wave broadcasting network, the site remains a critical telecommunications and satellite communications facility, supporting a range of broadcast, satellite and telecom operations.
The wider estate incorporates large radio masts, aerial arrays and active transmission infrastructure, creating a highly specialist working environment rather than a conventional office setting.
Key mitigations included:
- RF, electromagnetic and grounding controls: Enhanced earthing and bonding for all temporary works, scaffolding, plant and metal access equipment to mitigate shock risk from induced currents.
- Working adjacent to live broadcast infrastructure: Careful planning of roof, façade and plant works to avoid interference with signal transmission and sensitive equipment.
- Specialist liaison: Close coordination with facilities and broadcast engineering teams, with exclusion zones, additional RF risk assessments and enhanced supervision implemented where required.
These measures ensured safe delivery while maintaining the uninterrupted operation of a nationally significant broadcast and telecommunications facility.
Sustainability and Compliance
- Improved thermal performance of the roof and building fabric
- Energy-efficient lighting and modern M&E systems
- Retention and repair of existing fabric where possible
- Non-abrasive DOFF cleaning method to protect historic stonework
- Full CDM 2015 compliance with project-specific CPP and RAMS
- Comprehensive fire integrity and life-safety compliance
Outcome
The Brookmans Park Teleport project has successfully transformed a complex, technically sensitive estate into a modern, market-ready commercial asset, while maintaining uninterrupted operation of a nationally significant telecommunications and broadcasting facility.
Through the coordinated delivery of CAT A+ office suites, a fully refurbished reception and common areas, upgraded building fabric, new roof systems and comprehensive façade remediation, Crestel has extended the operational life of the building, improved energy performance and significantly enhanced occupier experience.
Key outcomes achieved include:
- Delivery of six high-quality CAT A+ office suites, ready for immediate occupation
- Creation of a contemporary reception and arrival experience, aligned with modern tenant expectations
- Improved building performance through upgraded roofing and M&E systems
- Stabilisation and long-term protection of the external façades through targeted stone repairs and specialist DOFF cleaning
- Safe and uninterrupted operation of live broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure throughout the works
- A cohesive, estate-wide uplift in quality supporting improved marketability and long-term value
The project demonstrates Crestel’s ability to deliver technically complex refurbishments within live, operational environments, combining design responsibility, construction expertise and proactive stakeholder management to achieve a successful outcome for both client and occupiers.
Project Team
- Client: Charterhouse Property Group
- Contract Administrator: Colliers Building Consultancy
- Principal Contractor & M&E Designer: Crestel Projects Ltd
Project Data
- Location: Brookmans Park Teleport, Hatfield
- Scope: CAT A+ offices, reception, common parts, roof, and façades
- Number of Suites: 6 No. CAT A+ suites
- Contract Value: Circa £2.2m
- Contract: JCT IBC with Contractor’s Design 2016
- Roofing: Polyroof system – 20-year guarantee
- External Works: Stone repairs & full DOFF clean
- Delivery: Phased handovers in a live telecoms environment