Seaford House located within Belgrave Square, is one of the finest aristocratic townhouses in London and the largest of three detached mansions occupying corners of the square in the prestigious district of Belgravia. The building is a Grade II listed, white stucco property rising to four main storeys.
Originally constructed in 1842 and extensively refurbished in 1902, Seaford House is today home to the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), an institution operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence. The College’s main lecture hall accommodates 110 delegates, with eight seminar rooms, multiple study areas, and an extensive library holding approximately 26,000 volumes focused on security, politics, and international affairs.
The building’s historic fabric — including ornate plasterwork, figurative reliefs, caryatid columns, balustrades, and elaborate dome structures — demands the highest standards of care when undertaking any remediation or refurbishment works.
Background & Challenge
A lead paint survey carried out by Socotec identified significant concentrations of lead paint across numerous surfaces within the building’s upper floor Dome area and on the external dome structure. Lead content readings from the survey ranged considerably across the sampled locations, with some samples – particularly on the dome’s substrate plaster, balustrade bars, and wall sections below the window base – recording high level lead concentrations.
Working on a Grade II listed building of national importance, occupied by a live Ministry of Defence establishment, presented a complex set of challenges: preserving irreplaceable historic surfaces whilst fully complying with the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, minimising disruption to operations, and ensuring the safety of building occupants, staff, and operatives throughout.
Gwella was appointed by VINCI Facilities to design and deliver a fully compliant lead paint remediation programme across two distinct scopes of work.
Scope of Works
Scope 1 – Internal Dome
(Fully Controlled Conditions)
The internal scope covered the removal of all flaking and damaged lead paint from surfaces within the top floor Dome area, in accordance with the Socotec lead survey report. Key surfaces treated included:
- Decorative metal chandelier rose
- Upper dome window frames
- Substrate plaster beneath lower bead and reel plaster trim on the frieze
- Lower bead and reel plaster trim on the frieze
- Underside of existing cracked frieze
- Ceiling panels
- Caryatid dome support pillars
- Dome window base and wall sections below window base
- Dome balustrade bars and balustrade top
- Dome cornice beneath lighting and pendant mouldings
- Wall sections adjacent to bas relief figures
All internal removal works were undertaken within a purpose-built, fully enclosed negative-pressure containment system. Access was restricted exclusively to authorised operatives wearing appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and disposable coveralls, with a multi-stage tented airlock serving as the sole point of entry and egress.
Given the historic and irreplaceable nature of the building’s decorative elements — mouldings, cornicing, figurative plasterwork and relief panels — removal was approached with particular care and delicacy. On flat and solid surfaces, lead paint was removed back to the original substrate wherever practicable. For historic mouldings where full removal could not be guaranteed, a specialist paint removal solution was applied, followed by minimally intrusive cleaning and light, wet sanding.
Scope 2 – External Dome
(Controlled Conditions)
The external scope addressed lead paint on the outer surfaces of the Dome structure. Works were carried out within a designated respirator zone, with operatives protected throughout by appropriate RPE.
On completion of both scopes, all visible cracks and areas of flaking were filled and made good to provide a clean, suitable substrate for the follow-on decorating contractor.
Method & Controls
Gwella’s approach to lead paint removal at Seaford House was governed by the requirements of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 and HSE ACOP L143. The following controls and procedures were implemented throughout the project:
- All operatives underwent health medical surveillance, including blood tests, prior to commencement and on completion of the programme
- A detailed Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) was prepared and approved prior to works commencing
- A mobile Decontamination Unit (DCU) was installed on site, with wash-down facilities and segregated clean/dirty zones for operatives
- The work enclosure was fitted with air extraction units operating at 99.98% absolute filtration efficiency to maintain negative pressure and prevent the spread of airborne lead particles
- Warning signage conforming to The Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996 was prominently displayed throughout the controlled zones
- An independent UKAS-accredited analyst attended site during removal phases to carry out personal air monitoring, ensuring methods remained safe throughout
- On completion of each removal phase, the UKAS analyst carried out a reassurance air test to confirm atmospheric lead levels were within HSE mandatory limits. Enclosures remained in situ until satisfactory air test results were confirmed
- All lead waste was sealed and transported for disposal by a licensed waste carrier to a landfill site licenced for lead waste, in accordance with The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
- A written statement confirming thorough cleaning and visual inspection was issued to the client at the close of each phase
- All completion paperwork, including air testing certificates, waste transfer certificates, and re-occupation certificates, were issued to VINCI Facilities on conclusion of the works.
Outcome
Gwella successfully delivered the full lead paint remediation programme at Seaford House within budgets and timeframes, to the satisfaction of VINCI Facilities and the Royal College of Defence Studies. All works were completed in compliance with the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, and the building’s historic fabric was preserved throughout.
The completed programme provided the follow-on decorating contractor with a safe, clean substrate across all treated surfaces, enabling the wider refurbishment of this nationally significant building to proceed.
Throughout the project, Gwella maintained stringent quality assurance, controlled documentation processes, and consistent safety benchmarks — ensuring safe delivery and a high standard of finish within a complex operational and heritage setting.
“From the outset on site, Gwella went above and beyond. The site set up and mobilisation was completed at pace to accommodate a demanding project, with tight deadlines. All activities were completed safely and methodically, ensuring a superior service was delivered throughout. Whilst the project had numerous challenges, this did not distract Gwella from aligning with the fixed timescales set. The finished product is in line with scope and is completed to the highest standard set inside this Grade II listed building. I look forward to working closely with Gwella in the near future, to complete the upcoming Phase 2 works.”
– Kallum (Vinci Project Manager)
