Cellar - water management systems

I've moved into a 1900's end terrace and for the first time have a cellar. It covers half the footprint of the house. It needs some work doing to it to turn it into a general utility room or maybe a proper funcdtional room. I've had three builders one, two of which are specialists in cellar conversions and one a building contractor, but confused what to do:

Two builders say I need: Membrane walls, water pump system and digging down floor to allow for an insulated floor One builder says - just membrane walls, no water pump system needed because there is no actual water, just damp penetrating the walls and floor in the cellar; and recommends just putting a bitchuman floor on top of the existing brick laid floor.

I must admit fitting a water pump does sound unnecessary because it doesn't get actual water running through and the brick floor has been their a long time. I also don't like the idea of having the floor dug up and even more excavation as I', not sure what that will do for the existing foundations.

Where else can I get the best advice from?

thanks

From the starting point, I'd have to say they're all wrong and only doing a partial job with bad advice. A utility, storage or garage room I could agree with for damp conditions and you wouldn't want any more "finish" than a Solid Stain...so everything can still breath and stay reasonably dry.

- However, no. Any dampness means there's water penetrating from the outside and that's the only place water should be handled. You may just need Gutter Downspout Drains cleaned, re-configured or even replaced. OR, a simple and fairly cheap re-grading of the lawn. OR, a more expensive dug-in drainage piping...all are very long-lived and very easy to infrequently maintain.

- Only once you get rid of the dampness and constant damage to the structure can you then do a very much less complicated and costly finished room that will actually add value to the property. Yes, the Contractors ways can give you the same end result, but they won't be permanent and will quite quickly be a liability again rather than an asset.