Preserving the past.
Reimagining the future.
Specialist heritage expertise, seamlessly managed.
Wates has been preserving and renewing the UK’s listed buildings for over 125 years.
Our highly skilled construction team are passionate about our national heritage assets and are proud to bring them back to life.
Our recent projects include the V&A, the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal Hospital Chelsea as well as delivering vital restoration works across the parliamentary estate, such as those started this year on Victoria Tower.
Real people. Real commitment.
Our named team is already working together – aligned, accountable and ready to deliver. From leadership to site teams, we bring experience, chemistry and care to every project.
When experience leads, we thrive together.
What makes our heritage delivery different:
As part of the Wates Group, we combine the strength of a Tier 1 contractor with the insight of a specialist heritage team. Our leaders have decades of experience across projects ranging from sensitive refurbishments to major national landmarks valued between £5 million and £250 million. This depth of expertise allows us to balance conservation priorities with modern building performance, ensuring every decision is informed, compliant, and enduring.
Heritage restoration relies on craftsmanship that takes time and training. We collaborate with a proven network of who represent the highest standards of traditional skill, whilst helping develop the next generation of heritage talent through social value investment. This partnership model gives us both agility and assurance enabling precise coordination, quality, and the capacity to respond to the most complex heritage challenges.
Our team understands that quality in heritage restoration is never uniform. Every asset presents unique materials, constraints and expectations. Our specialist knowledge enables us to interpret and apply these standards with care, delivering outcomes that interpret complex conservation standards with precision while meeting today’s exacting benchmarks..
We are known for the strength of our relationships, built through openness, reliability and respect for process. Experienced in delivering heritage projects under diverse procurement models, we bring the assurance, compliance, and governance expected by our clients, while maintaining the responsiveness and care that define our heritage approach.
Why choose Wates
Experienced, proven team
Quality-driven and meticulous
Responsive and considerate
Visible and present
Dynamic, agile and accountable
Best in class supply chain
Relationship focused team
Social value embedded from day one
Safety-first approach
Our projects
“Heritage is a key sector for us, and one to which we have dedicated the resource and specialist knowledge it deserves. We have a superb heritage team with the experience and technical understanding required to deliver sensitive, complex restoration and conservation projects.
Our long history working with London’s most iconic and world-famous buildings means we understand both their cultural importance and the specialist expertise they demand. That experience allows us to bring together the right partners, craftspeople and cutting-edge tools to both protect their past and secure their future.”
Steve Holbrook – Managing Director, Wates Construction London
Delivering Social Value
Social value defines how we deliver our projects. We prioritise the health and happiness of our people, partner with charities such as homelessness organisations to help communities in need, and cultivate heritage skills in collaboration with our supply chain partners that will sustain the industry for generations to come.
As part of this commitment, we have a long-running partnership with the Building Crafts College. Through this, we have assisted young, heritage crafts students to build their careers while supporting their education. The experience and training they have gained on our projects will help preserve our national landmarks for long into the future.
I was grateful to start with Wates through the an internship programme. My initial goals were to learn as much as possible and build connections with people, I had no clue it would end up in a permanent position.”
Emmanuel Olodude
Starter Surveyor
We collaborate with a proven network of suppliers, who represent the highest standards of traditional skills across the sector.
Our trusted supply chain heritage partners
