Garden Square

HWA (STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS) LTD

CONSULTING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Hornby Cottage

HWA (STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS) LTD

CONSULTING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

St Barnabus

HWA (STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS) LTD

CONSULTING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

About HWA

HWA (Structural Engineers) Limited is a thriving Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering Consultancy based near Birmingham, West Midlands with an enviable reputation in general Engineering Services and also in the more specialised field of Conservation.

The practice, formerly known as Hancock Wheeldon & Ascough, was incorporated in 2017 as a private limited company, but the company has its roots in the Ascough & Associates practice which was formed in 1974, and the previous Hancock Wheeldon partnership formed in 1986.

We are widely experienced in the design of many types of structures in steel, reinforced concrete and timber, ranging from domestic alterations to industrial portal framed buildings and multi storey office developments.

We also design for many exhibition venues nationwide, including the NEC and NIA. The services offered can range from initial appraisal and recommendations, to a fully detailed service taking clients through the stages of design, construction and certification.

Our domestic commissions include bespoke designed residential developments, structural surveys, beam designs, barn conversions and feasibility studies for re-development and conversions.

We are currently recruiting for a new structural engineer. Should you wish to get in touch to be considered for this role please contact us.

Current and Previous Commissions

Amongst current and previous commissions are:

  • The Dickens Heath development at Solihull
  • The Octagon Centre at Burton upon Trent
  • Former Shirley Police Station conversion to apartments
  • Showroom designs across the Midlands including Rolls Royce, Peugeot, Mercedes, Rybrook (Mclaren),
  • The West Midlands Safari Park hospitality suite
  • Various Jaguar Land Rover commissions across the UK

Conservation

Without a conscious decision to specialise, the work of one part of the practice has become primarily concentrated on the structural aspects of the repair of historic structures. The practice works closely with a number of architects in this field and has provided structural engineering services to both small and larger schemes up to a value of £5 million.

Most of the work involves the inspection and diagnoses of causes of structural concerns, and in liaison with architects and other interested parties, devising effective and conservative methods of repair.

The thoroughly professional approach adopted by the practice is underpinned with in-depth engineering expertise and knowledge of up-to-date techniques that are invaluable in providing the stability initiative often required before the conservation work can commence.

  • Kings Norton Grammar School and Saracen’s Head. Conservation of existing timber framed buildings and construction of new communal facilities to rear of Saracen’s Head.
  • Back-to-Backs Birmingham. Conservation of last examples of Back-to-Back houses in Birmingham to achieve how they used to be.
  • Newman Bros. Coffin Works. Conservation of buildings to achieve a museum and private office space.
  • St Barnabas Erdington. Following a fire which gutted the interior of the Church a project to re-build the interior and roof with modern materials sympathetic to the remaining fabric.
  • Weaver’s Cottages, Kidderminster. Complete conservation of row of three Cottages, one of which had an original Weaver’s loft.
  • Dunham Massey Visitor’s Centre. Comprises entrance hall, shop, restaurant all constructed with a mixture of traditional and modern structures.
  • Hornby Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon. Serves as a shop for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and comprised conservation works and re-ordering of internal structure.

What is a Structural Survey?

This is a common question asked when domestic clients get in touch. The phrase “structural survey” often gets raised when purchasing or selling a property when, for example, a mortgage lender receives a report from a surveyor which reports cracks or other structural concerns.

Structural surveys are carried out by Chartered Civil or Structural Engineers to assess the structural integrity of a building, checking for signs of structural distress or movement and noting the overall condition of the property. They are not the same as a report in the sense used by a Building Surveyor or Architect. They are intended to deal with the strength, stiffness, stability and durability of the structural elements of the building only. Reference is made to matters beyond that scope only where deficiencies have been found which ought to be dealt with in order to avoid problems with the structural elements of the property in the future.

Generally, we do not inspect woodwork or any other part of the property or parts of the structure which are covered, unexposed or inaccessible unless specifically requested and agreed to by the property owner.

Defects such as damp penetration (and rising damp), sulphur attack, asbestos content etc. would be noted and advice given regarding reference to a specialist agency for remedial work.

For further information and our fees, please telephone or email.

Our Team

Ben Steward
(BSc CEng MICE)

Director

Rob Shovelton
(BSc Msc CEng MIstructE )

Director

Trevor Wheeldon
(IEng AMIStructE)

Consultant

Steve Mason
(BSc CEng MICE)

Consultant

Rosalyn Pearce
(MEng)

Simon Birch
(IEng AMIStructE)

Les Hancock
(BSc CEng MICE Ml Struct E)

Consultant

Larry Corbett

Senior CAD Technician

Tracy Whiteoak

Administrator

Sandra Ratcliffe

Administrator

Contact

HWA (Structural Engineers) Ltd
64 Yoxall Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 3RP

0121 745 7600

engineers@h-w-a.co.uk