Heritage Consultant - Lymington Sea Water Baths

Lymington and Pennington Town Council is seeking to appoint one suitably experienced Heritage Consultant to undertake a comprehensive heritage review of the Lymington Sea Water Baths as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported feasibility and development project.

The Lymington Sea Water Baths were established in 1833 and are among the earliest surviving open-air seawater bathing facilities in the United Kingdom. The site has significant architectural, cultural and social heritage value, but is at risk because of structural deterioration, historic alterations and continued exposure to the marine environment.

The consultant will provide an authoritative assessment of the historical development, architectural features, surviving fabric, cultural value and heritage significance of the site. The work will inform architectural and engineering design up to RIBA Stage 2, community engagement, interpretation planning, conservation decision making and the evidence base for future capital funding applications.

The commission will include:

• Reviewing existing reports, historic surveys, photographs, maps, newspapers, trade directories, archives and local records.
• Undertaking archival and documentary research, including engagement with relevant local museums, archives, historians and heritage organisations.
• Establishing a detailed chronology of the development and use of the Baths, including their earlier origins, subsequent alterations and changing role within the community.
• Assessing the heritage significance of the pool layout, historic engineering, aeration fountains, concrete structures, buildings, setting, views and surviving architectural features.
• Assessing the social and cultural history of the Baths, including their contribution to leisure, health, wellbeing, tourism and local identity.
• Identifying heritage sensitivities, constraints, risks and opportunities that should inform the design process.
• Advising the appointed architectural and engineering team during the development of proposals up to RIBA Stage 2.
• Preparing conservation principles and heritage guidance to support future decisions concerning repair, alteration, restoration and development.
• Working collaboratively with the Council, Project Manager, Design Team, Quantity Surveyor, Consultation and Engagement Consultant and other appointed specialists.
• Providing accessible heritage stories, themes and supporting content for public consultation, exhibitions and future interpretation.
• Supporting the integration of heritage considerations into community engagement and design development.

The required deliverables are expected to include:

A heritage scoping note and initial issues log.

A detailed Heritage Review Report, provided in draft and final form.

A Heritage Significance Assessment prepared using an appropriate recognised conservation methodology.

Heritage advice and design integration notes for the RIBA Stage 0 to 2 design process.

Guidance identifying heritage constraints, sensitivities and opportunities.

Interpretation themes, stories and accessible heritage content for use in engagement activities and future interpretation.

A concise summary suitable for inclusion in National Lottery Heritage Fund reporting, evaluation and future funding submissions.

All reports and supporting materials must be clearly written, accessible, appropriately illustrated and suitable for use by the Council, its professional advisers, community stakeholders and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Research sources and supporting evidence must be clearly referenced.

The consultant will be expected to attend project meetings and workshops as reasonably required, provide timely advice during design development and coordinate their work with the wider project programme.

The contract is for one Heritage Consultant commission with a maximum available budget of £8,000 excluding VAT. The fee must include all professional time, research, meetings, travel, expenses and preparation of the required deliverables.

The tender is expected to be awarded and mobilised in late September 2026. The consultant must programme the work to support the wider feasibility project and the development of the RIBA Stage 2 proposals. All final outputs, approvals and contributions to the Phase 1 evaluation must be completed no later than 31 August 2027.