ABSTRACT
The redevelopment of commercial properties in the light of present-day needs is a major aspect of construction today. One or both of two major items usually come into play: facade retention and structural alteration. The first item is often a condition of planning consent, namely maintaining the architectural appearance of the area, preserving a listed facade while alterations to the inside take place. The second item usually arises in old buildings, Victorian, Edwardian and commercial structures built in the early 1930s. In such times, the storey height was considerably more than the law requires today, even allowing for the needs of modern communications systems. In such cases, it is often possible to achieve a further storey without altering the building height, which is of considerable value in high rental areas of cities. In either or both situations, the facade will have to be retained while a new structure is being erected within the shell.
