Sheerness Dockyard Church
by Hugh Broughton Architects
Client Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust
Award RIBA South East Award 2025, RIBA South East Conservation Award 2025 (sponsored by Velux), RIBA South East Project Architect of the Year 2025 and RIBA South East Building of the Year 2025 (sponsored by EH Smith)
The award winner tells us: "Gutted by fire in 2001, the Grade II* listed Sheerness Dockyard Church was on Historic England’s ‘Heritage At Risk’ register. Now, following a £9.5m transformation, it stands resurrected as a hub for local people on the Isle of Sheppey, which is consistently ranked as one of the country’s most socially deprived areas.
The revitalised 19th-century former church hosts a co-working space with support for young entrepreneurs, a café, public exhibition areas, and an events space. Externally, the building has been faithfully restored to its original design, whilst the interior scheme presents surviving features alongside contemporary interventions - complementing the robust elegance of the original architecture."
The jury says: "Badly damaged by fire in 2001, it has been exquisitely restored and transformed into a community facility by Hugh Broughton Architects, with Martin Ashley Architects in the conservation role. The church is reborn as a bustling enterprise centre with café, co-working space, flexible meeting rooms and events space."
"Members of the Isle of Sheppey’s large local community were consulted throughout the design phase and called upon to provide skills and labour during construction. The building also provides a permanent venue for the display of elements of the great Dockyard Model which dates from the construction in the early 19th century."
Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal
Contractor Coniston
Conservation architect Martin Ashley Architects
Structural engineer Hockley and Dawson
Environmental / M&E engineer Harley Haddow
Quantity surveyor / Cost consultant PT Projects
Project manager Glevum Consulting
Acoustic engineer Ramboll
Landscape architect Marian Boswall Landscape Architects
Lighting design Sutton Vane Associates
Gross internal area 874m²
