feasibility

Call For Sites!

We are delighted to receive two new instructions to prepare outline feasibility proposals for sites within Test Valley Borough Council.

Working with Adrian Barker of Lucid Planning we are preparing initial material for consideration under the recent Call for Sites issued by the Local Authority. Developing the links set out by our involvement with our colleagues in the Connected Collective this is a perfect example of our ability to help our clients from the most strategic level through to the delivery of detailed planning and construction advice.

Details of the process are set out in the extract from the Local Authorities website as follows –

SHELAA & Brownfield Sites Call for Sites Submission Form 2017

This process should be used to promote land for the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA). The information you submit will be used by the Council to inform future housing and economic land allocations within future Planning Documents and on-going monitoring within the Borough including calculating the five-year deliverable housing land supply position.

With regards to residential and economic uses, the Council will accept sites for a net gain of 5 or more dwellings and sites that are 0.25ha (or likely to provide at least 500m² of economic floor space) and above.

This form should also be used to put forward Brownfield sites for inclusion on the Brownfield Register.

Attached are the aerial shots of the sites which need to remain anonymous at this stage. Should you or your client need any similar advice please contact the office.

Fast Start to 2017!

Forge Design Studio have completed our first feasibility study of 2017 in support of a competitive bid on a highly prestigious site in the South-East. Working closely with our client we visited the site in the first week of the New Year and drew up several potential development options. After some rapid financial assessments, one option emerged as a clear favourite in terms of viability and architectural response.

Located in a historic parkland setting the main building is a grade I listed building! Formerly used as a public building the structure is held in fond regard by the Local Community and will require a well-considered consultation and planning strategy to bring it forward as a deliverable development.

We undertook a detailed site analysis following a helpful meeting and walk-around the site with the Local Authority Conservation and Design Officer. This understanding directly informed our preferred option which considered all the constraints and influences on the site.

Our client has submitted their final bid, having made the project short list, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for a positive start to the New Year.

Forge Design Studio’s Year in Review!

Brownfield Development

2016 saw a major success at the Odyssey Health Club in Stevenage when our project for 70 new residential units on previously developed brownfield land was granted planning consent, having been voted unanimously at committee. The development faced the added constraint of being in the green belt having had a history of previously failed attempts at redevelopment.

A carefully constructed application was drawn-up by the design team which thoroughly examined all aspects of the project and presented a fully considered strategy. Ultimately the Local Authority accepted the proposals which included a comprehensive masterplan for the future development of the Health Club and all its associated parking and access requirements.

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At the opposite end of the spectrum we are working on a new gatehouse cottage proposal at Calcott Hall, Sturry which is re-using an existing footprint to promote plans for a new dwelling.

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We also carried out a pair of feasibility studies on previously developed education land in Winchester for a local contractor in conjunction with a well-known Registered Social Landlord. We were supporting their bid for the land which was ultimately unsuccessful, on the grounds of finance, but we were praised for our innovative and comprehensive approach.

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