Overview

Spence were contracted by Network Rail to undertake a full repair and restoration of the façade of the Grade I listed Block E of MacMillan House in Paddington.

This scheme consisted of repairs to the front and rear of three elevations as well as to the windows and roof.

Scope

A full list of works is outlined as follows:

• Delivered extensive external refurbishment works to Paddington Block E as part of a wider programme of restoration projects at Paddington Station, carefully coordinating works within a constrained, operational railway environment.
• Completed façade cleaning using a specialist heritage-approved chemical peel system, selected over Doff cleaning due to strict water-management restrictions, enabling the safe removal of paint layers, dirt, and contaminants without damaging the historic fabric.
• Undertook full façade preparation including stripping back existing paint systems, raking out cracks, removing hollow or delaminated render, and stabilising weakened substrates to ensure a sound base for repair works.
• Carried out detailed masonry repairs involving the replacement of damaged brickwork to match existing materials, along with localised reinforcement and strengthening to address structural deficiencies and restore integrity.
• Installed new sash windows and refurbished existing units to enhance performance and functionality while preserving the building’s original character and historic detailing.
• Replaced and reinstated stone elements using materials sourced from a single quarry, with all new stone hand-shaped to replicate original profiles and installed following the systematic strip-back of the façade from cornice level to ground floor.

Challenges & Solutions

Paddington Block E is a Grade I Listed building, making it essential that the works be carried out by a trusted expert in the field. For this reason, Spence subcontracted the services of Rosewood, who are next level Stonemasonry experts, meaning that we could be safe in the knowledge that the job is in good hands.

Upon erecting the scaffold, we had to redesign and adapt the scaffolding on numerous occasions, to ensure that it was all structurally sound, and we could rely on there being no problems with it, whilst we carried out the required works.