Poynton Bradbury Architects Strengthen Conservation Team with RIBA-Accredited Matt Wills

Poynton Bradbury expands heritage team with new RIBA-accredited conservation architect

Poynton Bradbury Architects has strengthened its conservation team with the accreditation of Matt Wills ARB, who has joined the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Conservation Register. There are only 176 architects with this recognition across the UK, and just four currently practising in Cornwall — all of whom are now part of the Poynton Bradbury team.

Matt has been with the practice for over seven years and joins Director Laura Highton, Associate Paul Perry, and Senior Architect Emma Hosking as the fourth member of the specialist conservation team.

“We are so pleased for Matt to gain his accreditation this summer, reinforcing the skills within our heritage team. Together we work passionately with listed buildings and historic sites to design and deliver sustainable ideas that will safeguard these buildings and sites for the future,” said Laura Highton.

📷Matt Wills

Personal connection to Cornwall’s heritage

Matt, who grew up in Redruth, says his interest in conservation was shaped by being surrounded by historic buildings from a young age.

“Growing up in Redruth, with its rich mining history, you are never far from a building with a rich history. Living between Penventon Hotel and the Redruth Brewery, you not only got to see the history of these prominent buildings, but also how they would change and adapt over time,” he said.

“It’s that rich narrative of change that first awoke my interest in heritage buildings – why were they built this way, what were they used for and how have they changed – and why? My career has given me the opportunity to further explore these questions and help shape and preserve their futures.”

Cornwall is home to 12,664 listed buildings and includes the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site, making the need for conservation expertise especially important in the region.

A growing portfolio of heritage projects

The conservation team at Poynton Bradbury is currently working on a wide range of schemes across Cornwall and the South West. One of their major live projects is the transformation of the Grade I listed Market House in Penzance. In partnership with CIC Penzance Regeneration Company, the scheme will create a multi-use space featuring council offices, a food hall, and a restaurant.

In Camborne, planning approval has been granted for the Basset Community Hub, which will bring together the Grade II listed Basset Centre and White House to provide a new library, café, and community facilities.

Recent completions include fabric repairs and roof refurbishment at St John’s Hall in Penzance, as well as a co-working space in a Grade II listed building in Camborne, due to be finished this summer.

Beyond larger schemes, the team continues to work on church refurbishments, private historic restorations, and projects for non-designated heritage assets in collaboration with the Cornwall and Somerset Wildlife Trusts.

Supporting Cornwall’s built environment

Established in 1973 as part of the community architecture movement, Poynton Bradbury Architects is one of the South West’s largest practices. The firm became 100 per cent employee-owned in 2019 and opened a new studio in Exeter in 2024 to expand their reach across the region.

Their conservation portfolio includes acclaimed projects such as Wheal Martyn Clay Works Museum in St Austell and the Jubilee Pool in Penzance. The practice provides a full range of services, from conservation appraisals and design to funding advice and long-term project care.

With Matt now RIBA-accredited and the team continuing to grow, Poynton Bradbury remains a key player in protecting Cornwall’s architectural heritage for generations to come.

📷Camborne Co-working

📷Oldway Mansion

📷Oldway Mansion

📷Matt Wills