HeartVets – Specialist  Cardiology Veterinary Centre – Conversion & Refurbishment

Ashdown was appointed to transform the former Cotts Equine Hospital into a dedicated veterinary hospital for HeartVets, specialising in heart surgery and specialist care for small animals, predominantly cats and dogs.

The project represented an important step in the development of HeartVets’ business. Previously operating as a mobile service and working from the surgeries of other veterinary practices, the new facility provided HeartVets with its own permanent veterinary hospital, purpose-built around the needs of its specialist service.

The project will be delivered in two phases, allowing the facility to develop in line with the needs of the business.

The first phase completed in September 2026 included the creation of a new reception, consulting rooms, X-ray room, operating and surgical spaces, as well as dedicated recuperation kennels and a cattery. The original first-floor offices were also refurbished as part of the works.

The building required specialist mechanical installations to support its new use, including air conditioning, MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) and a system providing instant hot water to the consulting and surgical areas.

A second phase is planned for a later stage of the development, allowing the facility to expand further as HeartVets’ requirements grow. This is expected to include additional consulting rooms and X-ray facilities. Work will begin on phase two in 18-24 months time.

The works were contained within the existing building, transforming its internal layout to create a modern veterinary hospital suited to HeartVets’ specialist requirements.

The existing arrangement was substantially reconfigured, replacing a relatively simple layout with multiple dedicated spaces for consultation, diagnostics, surgery and animal recovery.

The project included:

By working within the existing building rather than creating a new commercial facility from scratch, the project made effective use of an existing structure while allowing it to serve a completely new purpose.

HeartVets approached the project with a clear understanding of how they wanted the new facility to operate. Ashdown worked closely with the HeartVets team and their appointed architect, Pritchard Barnes Architects, to translate that brief into a practical working environment.

Ashdown worked under the guidance of James Barnes of Pritchard Barnes, with the design and operational requirements clearly established from the outset. This provided a strong foundation for the construction phase, allowing the team to focus on delivering the detail of the project and bringing the agreed design to fruition.

The transformation required a significant internal reconfiguration of the existing building, creating a series of specialist spaces while incorporating the mechanical and ventilation systems required for a modern veterinary hospital.

The project also demonstrates the potential of adapting existing buildings for new uses. By transforming an existing veterinary facility rather than starting again with a new building, the project retained and extended the use of an existing structure while creating a specialist facility tailored to HeartVets evolving business model.

The completed project successfully transformed the former equine hospital into a dedicated specialist veterinary facility for HeartVets.

The new hospital provides HeartVets with the permanent base required to deliver its specialist cardiac services, bringing its operations together within a purposefully configured facility.

The project was completed on time and within the agreed budget, providing a successful handover and allowing HeartVets’, to move forward with its new business model.

With a second phase planned, the facility has also been developed with the potential to grow alongside the business.

The project has provided HeartVets with a permanent base from which to deliver its specialist veterinary services, replacing its previous mobile model with a dedicated hospital environment.

The planned second phase will allow the facility to expand further, with additional consulting and X-ray rooms anticipated as the business continues to develop.

This phased approach provides flexibility, allowing investment in the facility to respond to HeartVets’ changing operational requirements rather than requiring everything to be delivered at once.