permission granted

Haverfield Gardens, Kew – Permission Granted!

Almost a year to the day of our last post on the project!!

We are really delighted with the result of the Planning Committee at London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on Wednesday night. After 2 and a half years and a great deal of effort spent by the whole team, our scheme for 5 new homes received a resolution to grant consent which was passed unanimously by the members.

The scheme on Haverfield Gardens, is a sensitive infill project carefully integrated and positioned on the site to avoid over-looking and any loss of privacy to the many adjacent properties. The mews style properties are compliant with the London Design Code and have been designed in accordance with all relevant Local Authority Policy requirements. The scheme brings new life to an otherwise low grade, underused site. A design cue has been taken from the scale of the adjacent terraced housing and studies have been carried out on the proportion of solid to void of the adjacent elevations

Providing 5 spacious family homes with generous external spaces including a first floor terrace and a split level rear garden, the accommodation is arranged over 3 floors including a basement with an integrated garage for 2 cars. Materials reflect the many and varied surroundings with a London Stock brick under a green sedum-roof. The bio-diversity net gain for the site has been improved by 127% according to the assessment completed as part of the application.

Our client, Rockhold have shown great persistence and resilience through-out the application period and we look forward to the next stages. Onwards!!

Rose & Crown, Aston – Permission Granted!!

It’s a Marathon not a Sprint!!

Forge Design Studio are delighted to confirm that May 2021 sees the conclusion of one of our longest running planning sagas.

Located in the rural village of Aston to the east of Stevenage, The Rose and Crown, and associated Barn, is a Listed Building which had been left vacant for over 12 months until our clients, purchased the site in 2016. Prior to this the pub had a chequered history having struggled in a really difficult trading environment with 11 different landlords in the previous 10 years.

We were appointed towards the end of 2016 to develop a design and planning strategy to utilise the site for housing whilst maintaining a fully functioning micro-pub. After a lengthy gestation period we submitted an application in July 2017 and proceeded to engage with the Local Authority Planning Officers culminating in an Officer Recommendation for Approval.

The project was taken to Planning Committee at East Herts District Council in March 2018 and was refused based on the strength of objections from local lobbyists.

It should be noted that the scheme is entirely Policy compliant and there is no argument about the principle of the re-use of the site. The chief protagonists set out an alternative vision which appeared to ignore the trading history and viability of the business bearing in mind there is another pub in the village.

There then followed a series of applications, refusals, withdrawals and appeals culminating in the final, mid-pandemic, application in July 2020. It was decided to omit the pub from the application on the basis that the market would find its true value and that the Local Community would sustain its re-birth!

So, after 5 years of effort we have permission for a modest new build scheme consisting of 4 residential units on a highly sustainable location on a vacant site in the centre of a village and a still vacant pub.

Given the uncertainties we all face in the aftermath of the Pandemic, if this timescale through the Planning process is the best that can be done, it’s going to be a long road to recovery.

Student Mentoring & Site Visit to 227 Winchester Road!

For the second year in a row we are hosting students from Bath University and UWE as part of the innovative RIBA Student Mentoring scheme organised by the team at RIBA South West Forge Design Studio. Following two office based sessions we visited site this week at 227 Winchester Road.

Having recently received planning permission for the comprehensive re-design and re-building of the original house, our client has made a meaningful start on site. The demolition of a substantial part of the original house has been completed and the reduced dig is underway in preparation for the piling rig.

Proposed Ground Floor Plan

Proposed First Floor Plan

The new design will create approx. 5,000sqft of accommodation, providing 6 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms and a large multi-function kitchen/dining/lounge area in a split level arrangement which takes advantage of the subtle change in level on the site.

The house follows an inter-locking, cranked plan which wraps around the generous garden with excellent orientation to capture the evening sun. The house will be served by an air source heat pump, underfloor heating and solar pv arrays on the roof.

We are excited to see the proposals for this innovative, contemporary design emerge from the excavations, stand by for a major transformation in 2020!!

South Street, Bishops Stortford, Permission Granted!!

Planning Approval has been granted by East Herts Council for our mixed-use regeneration project on South Street, Bishops Stortford. The proposals involve the comprehensive re-modelling and upgrading of the existing building (a former Co-op Headquarters building) which occupies a prominent corner plot in the Town Centre.

We look forward to working with our client on the next phase of implementation.

North Brook End House – Full Planning and Listed Building Consent!

Forge Design Studio is delighted to confirm that our project for our client, the Ware Family, at North Brook End House has been granted consent. The building is Grade II Listed and is a very fine south-facing Victorian House set in an extensive garden. We have worked closely with the family to develop a series of additions and modifications to create an improved balance of accommodation which is commensurate with its location and setting.

We have liaised with our fellow consultants Cambridge Architectural Research, who produced the Heritage Statement and Gawn Associates on the Structural Engineering Strategy.

Even though we say so ourselves it had a very smooth route through the planning process at South Cambs District Council thanks to a thorough and comprehensive approach which was complimented by the Case Officer.

The project will now be worked up in detail with the input from the team to get ready for a start on site later this year.

We look forward to the opportunity to see the project through to completion!!

Ocean Drive – First Overseas Permission Granted

Forge Design Studio is delighted to confirm that one of our Ocean Drive villas has being granted Detailed Development Permssion by the Turks and Caicos Islands. We have liaised with local island Architects who have successfully co-ordinated the submission.

The project will now be worked up in detail with the input from the services and structural engineers in order to get the required Building Permit to start construction.

We look forward to the opportunity to carry out some site visits!!

The Lion at Clanville – Permission Granted!!

Forge Design Studio are delighted to confirm that, in November, the final proposals for The Lion at Clanville were granted!

Located in the rural village of Clanville to the west of Andover, The Lion had been left vacant for over 12 months until our clients, The Simpson family, purchased the site in 2014.

After a year of renovations the family have effectively managed to transform the pub into a popular and locally supported business, so much so that the pub is now placed within the Top 5 on TripAdvisor’s best restaurants in Andover!

The Lion’s function room has become a great venue for parties and wedding receptions and as its popularity increased, the need for accommodation on site became clear. Our brief was to create 10 premier bedrooms including a bridal suite and a family/accessible room within the Lions grounds to serve the needs of those attending functions, to attract passing trade and those on short breaks.

This further investment into the pub compliments the existing hospitality on offer to help secure the long-term future use for the pub. We are very excited to continue working on the project and we look forward to seeing the proposals come to life on site in the New Year.