When an award winning funeral directors wanted to expand their business into the other side of Sheffield they asked us to help. The project involved the conversion and refurb of an old doctors surgery so Planning Permission for Change of Use was required. The Planning Permission process was complicated and involved community consultation with the local neighbours to ensure they were in support of the development. Planning Permission was granted first time around.
The scheme required substantial alterations and remodelling of the existing building to ensure it was suitable to be used by the new owners and unusually shaped and sized pieces of equipment [coffins]. Part of the brief was to create a calming and positive customer experience, a ‘home from home’ especially when in distress having lost a loved one.
Specific rooms created included a new warm and friendly Reception Area, fresh offices, acoustically separated Chapels of Rest, refrigerated Cold Room, external loading ramp with integrated privacy screen and bespoke signage. Extensive refurbishment was also requested to regain the original building presence that had been lost over time by previous alterations and extensions.
The end result is a comforting environment with a much more attractive building appearance. This ensures that customers and staff have the best possible experience and also attracts new patrons.