BB Heritage Studio

What BB Heritage Studio does

BB Heritage Studio is a sole-proprietorship conservation architecture and heritage consultancy practice founded in March 2014 by Bernadette Bone and based in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, UK. The firm delivers professional services across two integrated lines — Built Heritage Consultancy and Conservation Architect Services — covering heritage statements, conservation management plans, NLHF/AHF funding application support, condition surveys, assessments of heritage values, activity plans, and full conservation-led architectural services from conception through construction. Underlying the service offering is a codified set of proprietary methodologies (the "1LISTEN Process," "Heritage Happy Place" Venn-diagram framework, and "Deep Listening" research approach) that emphasise community engagement and stakeholder mapping alongside technical conservation work.

The client base is predominantly UK-based community organisations, community land trusts and CICs (Friends of Clayton Park, Islington Mill, Granby Four Streets CLT, For Tyldesley CIC, Wirral Arts & Culture CLT, MoorEnd Development Trust, Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust, Canal & River Trust, Museum of Science and Industry, Salford Museum), with selective infrastructure and government engagements (Network Rail across the Ordsall Chord and Manchester Oxford Road; Perth City Hall via Mecanoo) and occasional private residential work. Notable project outcomes include the 2015 Turner Prize for the Winter Garden at Granby Four Streets, an Architects' Journal award for the Ordsall Chord, and £7 million in secured NLHF/AHF funding for the Islington Mill restoration.

The business operates on a quote-based professional services model with multi-year project contracts, sold through direct client engagement and referrals from a network that includes BDP, Mecanoo, Assemble, and Fleet Architects. Distribution is entirely direct — Bernadette Bone personally manages all client relationships and delivers all work as the sole practitioner from a home/garden office. Marketing is content-led and organic (LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and a heritage-themed blog), with no paid acquisition and no external investment, parent company, or institutional shareholders. The studio celebrated its 10th anniversary in April 2024, exceeding the 34.4% 10-year survival benchmark for UK SMEs.

Name

BB Heritage Studio

Legal name

BB Heritage Studio

Website

https://bbheritagestudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BB Heritage Studio is a sole-proprietorship conservation architecture and heritage consultancy in Stalybridge, UK, founded by Bernadette Bone in 2014. It serves community land trusts, CICs, Network Rail and architecture practices with RIBA CA-accredited heritage statements, conservation management plans, and NLHF/AHF funding support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Architecture Consultancy

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Conservation architecture
• Heritage consultancy
• Building conservation
• Listed building consent
• Heritage statement

Headquarters

HQ city

Stalybridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Conservation Architecture Services: Professional services for heritage-focussed architectural projects including full architectural services, conservation statements, condition surveys, and design development from conception through construction and delivery.
2. Heritage Consultancy: Advisory services including heritage expertise from project conception to completion, heritage statements for planning submissions, and conservation management planning for NLHF projects.
3. Lead Conservation Architect Services: Lead role on National Lottery Heritage Fund projects, coordinating and directing project teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BB Heritage Studio is a sole-proprietor conservation architecture and heritage consultancy practice providing specialist professional services for historic buildings and places. Offerings include heritage statements for planning and listed building consent submissions, conservation management plans, condition surveys, assessments of heritage values, and National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) funding application support, delivered from project conception through to completion.

Product overview

BB Heritage Studio is a conservation architecture and heritage consultancy practice offering a unified suite of professional services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings are Built Heritage Consultancy and Conservation Architect Services, which encompass Heritage Statements, Conservation Management Plans, Activity Plans for NLHF funding, Condition Surveys, and Assessments of Heritage Values. These services work together to guide clients from initial project conception through to completion, covering funding applications, planning and listed building consents, and fabric repairs. The practice specializes in supporting community-led heritage projects and has expertise across cultural, ecclesiastical, historic houses, transport (railway stations, viaducts, bridges), commercial, and mill building projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Built Heritage Consultancy

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured £7million in total funding (NLHF, AHF, and other matching funds) for Islington Mill project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• BDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture practice where Bernadette worked as associate and later provided heritage consultancy. BDP is a key partner on major projects including Ordsall Chord and Victoria Station.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor infrastructure client for railway heritage projects including Ordsall Chord, Manchester Oxford Road, and Whaley Bridge repair.
• MecanooflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch architecture firm that won Perth City Hall competition with BB Heritage Studio as conservation-accredited architect. Joint approach to repurposing project.
• Fleet ArchitectsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead architects on Peterson's Project in Grimsby. BB Heritage Studio serves as lead Conservation Architect on this NLHF-funded initiative.
• YOU&ME ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture partner on Peterson's Project, Grimsby, working alongside Fleet Architects and BB Heritage Studio.
• Appleyard & TrewcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQuantity surveyors providing costings for Peterson's Project and Hare Hill House projects.
• ENGIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust on Peterson's Project regeneration of Kasbah area.
• Assemble ArchitectsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture practice leading Granby Four Streets CLT projects including Winter Garden awarded 2015 Turner Prize. BB Heritage Studio provides heritage and project management support.
• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwners of Clayton Hall, working with Friends of Clayton Park and BB Heritage Studio on restoration.
• For Tyldesley CICflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization leading Tyldesley High Street Heritage Action Zone. BB Heritage Studio served as Lead Conservation Architect, Principal Designer and Contractor Administrator.
• Kate Mitchell Creative Heritage Consultants LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject manager on Tyldesley HAZ Franks Chippy project, working alongside BB Heritage Studio.
• Wirral Arts & Culture Community Land TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLT that acquired Ron's Place in March 2023 with support from Muller Wimhurst Trust. BB Heritage Studio undertaking feasibility study.
• Hirst ConservationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist conservation contractors assisting with feasibility study for Ron's Place.
• Canal & River TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity managing canals. BB Heritage Studio undertook study into reuse of small redundant canal buildings including lock keeper's huts and toll houses.
• National TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssessing viability of Castlefield Viaduct sky garden extension. BB Heritage Studio providing advisory role on heritage issues.
• Mott MacDonaldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm on Castlefield Viaduct sky garden project alongside BB Heritage Studio.
• Womersley'scoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist contractors investigating mortar sample mixes for Ribblehead Viaduct conservation works.
• Touchstones Art Gallery (Rochdale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt gallery receiving planning and listed building consent with BB Heritage Studio supporting Architectural Emporium.
• Salford Museum and Art GalleryminorOthersHosted 'Islington Mill – 200 years in the making' exhibition showcasing heritage projects developed through Activity Plan.
• Manchester Craft and Design CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernadette joined board as trustee, supporting community heritage organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Purcell: One of the UK's largest specialist conservation architecture practices. Directly comparable as a UK-based heritage architecture and consultancy firm serving similar clients (Network Rail, National Trust, community organisations) with conservation-accredited architects.
• Donald Insall Associates: Long-established UK conservation architecture consultancy. Comparable in offering heritage statements, conservation management plans, and lead conservation architect services across transport, civic, and ecclesiastical heritage.
• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based architecture practice with a strong heritage and adaptive reuse specialism. Comparable regional peer working on listed building restoration, conservation management planning, and community-led heritage in the same North West market.
• Feilden+Mawson: UK conservation and architecture practice with heritage expertise across ecclesiastical, transport, and civic buildings. Comparable offering in heritage statements, condition surveys, and lead conservation architect roles.
• Lathams Architects: Specialist conservation and heritage architecture practice covering listed buildings, conservation areas, and historic structures. Similar service mix to BB Heritage Studio with heritage consultancy and conservation architecture.
• Acanthus WSM: Heritage-led architecture practice providing conservation architecture and heritage consultancy. Comparable niche player serving listed building and conservation area projects across the UK.

Broad incumbents

• John McAslan + Partners: Larger established UK architecture practice with heritage and adaptive reuse capabilities (e.g., Manchester's Victoria Gate). Competes for major heritage-led regeneration commissions where conservation is part of a broader portfolio.
• BDP: Major UK architecture firm where Bernadette Bone previously served as associate conservation architect. Currently a strategic partner; offers in-house conservation architecture as part of a much wider multidisciplinary portfolio.

Others

• Historic England: Public body that advises on heritage matters and is referenced in BB Heritage Studio's network. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a direct competitor but influences the regulatory and funding landscape the studio operates in.
• Architectural Heritage Fund: Heritage funder that has provided early-stage project funding for BB Heritage Studio's clients. Adjacent ecosystem participant shaping demand for the studio's conservation management planning services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BB_Heritage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bb-heritage-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/bb_heritage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BB Heritage Studio