Beacon Down Vineyard – Farm Shop & Café

Project Overview

At Home Services was appointed by Beacon Down Wines Limited to undertake the construction of a new oak-trussed barn for use as a farm shop and café at Beacon Down Vineyard, including associated mechanical and electrical services, joinery, decorations and fit-out works. The project was delivered under a JCT Minor Works Building Contract.

Situated within a sensitive rural landscape, the project involved the creation of a purpose-built commercial facility to support the vineyard’s retail, hospitality and visitor offering.

At Home Services was originally due to take possession of the site during the summer months. However, delays to the preceding works meant that possession was not achieved until November. This significantly changed the conditions under which the project had originally been planned, moving substantial elements of the construction programme into the wet winter months.

Following possession, At Home Services also identified elements of the previously completed works that required remedial attention before progressing with construction of the superstructure from DPC level onwards.

Challenges and Requirements

The project presented a number of challenges associated with delayed possession, taking over works completed by others, winter construction and the requirements of a new commercial hospitality building.

1. Delayed Possession: At Home Services had originally anticipated taking possession during the summer. Delays to the preceding works meant the site was not handed over until November, significantly changing the planned construction sequence and working conditions.
2. Winter Working Conditions: The delayed handover resulted in substantial elements of the superstructure and external works being delivered throughout the wet winter months. Increased rainfall, lower temperatures, reduced daylight hours and challenging ground conditions required careful management of the programme and site activities.
3. Taking Over Works by Others: At Home Services inherited a site where the initial groundworks had been undertaken by others. The existing construction needed to be reviewed and coordinated with our works before the superstructure could progress.
4. Remedial Works: Elements of the previously completed construction required remedial attention to establish a suitable starting point for the new superstructure.
5. Commercial & Hospitality Requirements: The completed building needed to provide a practical and welcoming environment capable of accommodating both retail and café uses while meeting the technical requirements of a modern commercial premises.
6. Rural Setting: Materials, detailing and construction needed to be appropriate to the vineyard’s rural setting and the character of the surrounding landscape.
7. Building Regulations: The project required coordination across accessibility, fire safety, ventilation, drainage, energy performance and building services.
8. Design Development & Coordination: Ongoing design development and project instructions required close coordination between the client, professional team, subcontractors and suppliers throughout construction.
9. Programme Management: Delayed possession, inherited works, remedial requirements and winter conditions required the programme, trades and material deliveries to be actively managed throughout delivery.

Project Execution

Following possession of the site in November, At Home Services reviewed the existing construction and undertook the necessary remedial works before progressing with construction of the building from DPC level.

The delayed handover meant the project had to be delivered under substantially different conditions from those originally anticipated. Activities planned for the more favourable summer and early autumn period instead progressed through winter, requiring the construction sequence and site management arrangements to be adapted accordingly.

Particular consideration was given to weather-sensitive activities, ground conditions, material storage and protection, reduced daylight hours and the coordination of external and superstructure works.

The works included:

• Remedial Works: Review and rectification of elements of the previously completed works to provide an appropriate basis from which construction could proceed.
• Superstructure Construction: Delivery of the building from DPC level upwards, including masonry, structural timber and associated building-envelope works.
• Oak-Trussed Structure: Construction and coordination of the new oak-trussed barn forming the principal structure of the farm shop and café.
• Roofing & External Envelope: Construction and completion of the roof and external building fabric.
• Windows, Doors & Joinery: Installation and coordination of external openings and associated joinery.
• Thermal Performance: Installation of insulation and associated construction details to achieve the required performance of the building envelope.
• Mechanical & Electrical Services: Coordination of electrical, plumbing, ventilation and associated services for the farm shop and café.
• Ventilation: Installation and coordination of mechanical ventilation appropriate to the commercial accommodation.
• Fire Safety: Coordination of the fire-safety requirements for the premises, including the fire alarm installation.
• Accessibility: Construction and coordination of elements required to provide an accessible commercial environment.
• Internal Fit-Out & Finishes: Internal construction, joinery and decoration to create the completed farm shop, café and associated accommodation.
• Building Control Coordination: Ongoing coordination of the construction works with Building Regulations requirements.

At Home Services managed its directly employed workforce alongside specialist subcontractors and suppliers while maintaining close communication with the client and professional team throughout delivery.

Outcome

The completed project provides Beacon Down Vineyard with a purpose-built farm shop and café, creating a dedicated commercial space to support its retail, hospitality and visitor offering.

A key challenge was the substantial change in the project’s delivery conditions. With possession delayed from the summer until November, significant elements of the build had to be undertaken through the wet winter months rather than during the more favourable period originally anticipated.

At Home Services adapted the programme, construction sequencing and site management arrangements to respond to these conditions while also addressing remedial requirements associated with works completed before our arrival on site.

Throughout delivery, At Home Services also responded to evolving design requirements and specifications as the project progressed, working closely with the client and professional team to incorporate changes while coordinating their impact on the programme, procurement, subcontractors and sequencing of the works. This required a flexible and collaborative approach to ensure that developing requirements could be successfully integrated into the build.

Despite the challenges of delayed possession, winter working conditions, inherited works and evolving design requirements, At Home Services continued to coordinate the building fabric, specialist subcontractors, suppliers, mechanical and electrical services and regulatory requirements necessary to deliver the new commercial premises.

The finished building combines an oak-trussed structure with modern building services and a complete commercial fit-out, providing a welcoming environment for visitors while complementing the vineyard’s rural setting.

Beacon Down demonstrates At Home Services’ ability to deliver complex new-build commercial projects, including taking over works already in progress, responding to significant programme changes, accommodating evolving designs and specifications, and adapting construction methods to challenging site and seasonal conditions while maintaining focus on the client’s finished commercial asset.