Project Name: 127-133 Portland Chambers, Portland Street & 61 Oxford Street, Manchester, Grade II

Type of Project: Historical Appraisal of the Building, Schedule of Significance, Condition Assessment. PPG15 Justification Statement

Date: November 2006

Architect: J M Architects

Special Interest: Portland Chambers (sometimes referred to as Behrens Buildings/Warehouse), was built in 1860, as a warehouse for Louis Behrens and Sons. The building was designed to fulfil a local need and to represent a local business. The Whitworth Street/Princess Street Conservation Area, in which Portland Chambers is situated, reflects the architectural and historical importance of the world famous textile industry within Manchester, exhibiting many of the distinctive details of the period’s style.

Scope of Professional Services
Heritage Architecture Ltd were commissioned to undertake the following:

• HISTORICAL APPRAISAL OF THE BUILDING: Heritage Architecture Ltd undertook historic research and compiled background information regarding the Portland Chambers. Searches in local and national archives for published and primary sources and an appraisal of significance in accordance with the Communities and Local Government Circular 01/2007, Revisions to Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings formed a key part of the appraisal.

• SCHEDULE OF SIGNIFICANCE: A room-by-room appraisal of the buildings special interest was undertaken by Heritage Architecture Ltd in order to prepare Morphological Plans and Schedules of Significance and Condition.
  
  
• CONDITION ASSESSMENT: Field work was undertaken to assess the condition of specific areas of special interest of Portland Chambers in order to determine the magnitude of repair work that was required as part of the proposed development.

• PPG 15 JUSTIFICATION STATEMENT:  A Justification Statement was formulated to accompany applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent. The statement highlighted areas of potential or actual effects likely to result from the proposed interventions with particular regard to the interior features of special interest.