Heritage Meets Housing: KILO strengthens its expertise in faith-based housing and regeneration

Kilo Architects

We’re thrilled to welcome Lisa Brooks from Brooks Building Consultants Ltd to the KILO team as a consultant conservation surveyor!


Lisa is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with over 30 years of experience and a specialist in historic building conservation. As an RICS certified historic building professional and a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), she brings a wealth of expertise: from delicate repairs to £35M regeneration projects across housing, education, commercial and heritage sectors.


She also serves on the Rochester Diocesan Advisory Committee, advising churches and the Chancellor on DAC proposals and is a Quinquennial Surveyor for the Dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury. Lisa’s work is grounded in a deep respect for heritage and a strong commitment to professional integrity, ensuring that conservation priorities, statutory responsibilities and the long-term significance of historic buildings are upheld throughout every project.

At KILO, we’ve long supported churches and faith spaces. Many of them are listed or rich in heritage value. Lisa’s arrival strengthens our ability to serve these buildings with care, insight and technical rigour. She’ll be leading conservation surveys and preparing Statements of Significance, helping us offer even more sensitive, informed guidance to our clients.


We believe church buildings should continue to thrive, serving the communities they were built for, while evolving to meet today’s needs. That might mean integrating affordable housing, performance spaces, nurseries, social supermarkets, coworking spaces, or areas for community activity. These kinds of adaptations help ensure historic buildings remain open, relevant and active throughout the week.

Our goal is to give these spaces renewed purpose: honouring their heritage while unlocking new possibilities for the future.


Welcome aboard, Lisa. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

by KILO Architects 5 December 2025
The Challenge: A Hidden Space, Hidden Potential Located on Wells Way, The Well is far more than a Sunday worship venue; it is a lively hub offering programs throughout the week, supporting local charities and community groups. Yet for years, the entrance was hidden behind raised blue metal doors. Many locals walked past without ever knowing what was inside. This invisibility not only created a barrier to access but also undermined the church’s mission as a welcoming civic presence. 
by KILO Architects 27 November 2025
Unlocking Hidden Value As the housing crisis deepens, a powerful yet often overlooked opportunity lies in partnering with the nation’s churches. With deep roots in their communities, access to underused land and a mission grounded in service and compassion, churches are uniquely positioned to help reimagine social housing, not only as shelter for those in need but as a foundation for community regeneration.
22 October 2025
Dean joins KIL O as an associate! We’re excited to announce Dean’s promotion to Associate at KIL O Architects! Since joining us a year ago, Dean has brought a rich mix of architectural expertise, project management and community leadership. He’s fitted right in, contributing extensive experience, a generous network and a shared vision for spaces that serve and inspire. Dean’s journey spans leading his own practice (with clients like Tesco, M&S, ASDA, and Sainsbury’s), Senior Design Manager roles at Carillion and Morrisons Construction (Galliford Try) and over a decade as a church pastor overseeing its key stages of redevelopment. Now back in architecture, Dean brings fresh energy to designing spaces that help communities flourish, perfectly aligned with KIL O ’s mission
More posts