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Peter Willmott

PETER WILLMOTT CEng FIStructE FConsE

Consultant

E: peter@archibaldshaw.co.uk

Special Expertise

Peter has extensive and varied experience in structural engineering with consulting engineering practices.  Initially this experience was gained on large projects in London and Liverpool, primarily in reinforced concrete design, followed by more wide-ranging experience in other materials including steelwork, load-bearing masonry and timber engineering.  Since the mid-1970s Peter has developed an interest in work on historic structures and a focus on the education sector.  Peter’s experience has been gained mostly in the UK with a period in the West Indies on marina work.

Career Details

Prior to joining Archibald Shaw Peter worked for five years with Travers Morgan in London on large mid-rise and high-rise Local Authority housing developments and was quickly promoted to Project Engineer on major schemes in the Liverpool area.  Also in this period Peter worked with a design team on the early 1970’s Guys Hospital Tower Block development.

On moving to Archibald Shaw in 1972 Peter worked initially on a large office project in Guildford, Surrey.  The opportunity soon arose to take an appointment for the firm in the British Virgin Islands where Peter was in charge of the design and supervision of the construction of a marina development.  On his return to the UK in 1975 Peter established a key role in the provision of structural engineering services for West Sussex County Council’s property department and a range of other clients.  Peter’s work has encompassed a range of sectors, including education, social services, housing, commercial, health and historic buildings.

Since his appointment as a Partner at Archibald Shaw in 1981, Peter has taken responsibility for a significant sector of the structural work of the practice, masterminding the engineering of many notable projects, including in more recent years a major office development (£35m) in Hove and major school redevelopments (£10m to £17m) at Durrington, Crawley and Reading and numerous other education projects.  Peter has maintained a hands-on approach to engineering, particularly in respect of historic structures, investigating and advising on repair, conservation and adaptation of many and various buildings.

Peter has also played a key role in providing expert witness services.

Historic Buildings Experience

Peter’s involvement assisting building owners and architects on historic structures has continued throughout his career at Archibald Shaw.  Projects within the city of Chichester, both commercial and domestic, commonly involve listed building considerations and are numerous in regard to Peter’s own work.  Notable properties have included the Grade I Edes House, Pallant House prior to its more recent upgrade, Goodwood House and The Buttermarket North Street, as well as several restoration projects to bring Georgian town houses back into domestic use.

For many years, Peter has provided historic buildings services on a regular basis for a number of local clients and architects.  Amongst others these include:

  • St Mary’s Hospital Estates and the Dean and Chapter working with Richard Meynell Architect.  This work included the Chapel and also many of the other buildings in the courtyard, as well as various structures in the vicinity of the Cathedral.
  • Stansted Park Foundation – working on a range of buildings near to and including the stately home.
  • Cathedral Works Organisation – advisory services as and when needed, including unusual structures such as the Lime Kilns at Amberley Chalk Pits Museum.
  • Seaford College – advising on the repair and maintenance of boundary walls to a walled garden dating from the Elizabethan period.
  • Royal Naval Museum (now National Museum of The Royal Navy Portsmouth) working on the development and upgrading of museum facilities in Storehouses 10 and 11 listed Ancient Monument and Victory Gallery.
  • Arundel Magistrates Court – an evaluation of a major outbreak of dry rot and associated repair.
  • Still and West Public House Old Portsmouth – one of many projects for George Gale and Co Horndean. 
  • Fishbourne Roman Palace – an evaluation and upgrading of the Cover Building alongside new archive facilities.
  • Advisory services to National Trust Clerk of Works Findon Office.
  • St. Joseph’s Convent Brighton – a mixed project including new elderly accommodation alongside restored buildings and chapel dating from the Georgian period – for The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy.

Qualifications

  • Ordinary National Diploma in Building
  • Higher National Diploma in Building (Structures) – several topics passed with Distinction at H.N.D. and obtained British Constructional Steelwork Award for Theory and Design of Structures.
  • Chartered Engineer, CEng
  • Fellow, Institution of Structural Engineers, FIStructE (M 1972 F 2000)
  • Registered Principal, Association of Consulting Engineers (F Cons E)