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.
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!!
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.
How time flies ….. can’t believe that we are already in June. It’s some time since our last blog so here is an update on a number of projects that have been keeping us busy over the recent months.
Detail design and visualisations have been produced for a pair of luxury villas on the Island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. The site is located on the ironshore and has an unbroken view of the ocean. We have worked with our colleagues Make Studio in Bournemouth to create a series of stunning visuals which will be used in the sales and marketing of the properties.
Making the most of the sloping site we have arranged the accommodation so that all major spaces have unbroken sea views – 4 beds all with en-suite facilities and a 42 foot multi-use living space will ensure that these properties will not be short of interest when they are released on the market.
The contemporary design will be developed to a detailed stage with local engineers to ensure compliance with all the current building codes particularly following last year’s experience of Hurricane Irma. We are also getting used to working in imperial measurement again as the islands follow North American convention ….. some of us are old enough to remember 1:48 and 1:96 scales the first time round!!!
Practical Completion has been achieved on Dragonfly Barn at North Brook End Stud. The 2,200 sqft barn conversion has been snapped-up by the very first potential tenant who visited the completed building and he is due to move-in any day.
Mike steered the project through the final stages, co-ordinating all the final notices, land transfers, registration, warranties and completion certificates. Liaison then took place with the brokers to ensure that a mortgage offer was received and completed to allow the capital funding to be settled.
Big thank you to all parties at MSP Capital in Poole, MCP-Law in Wisbech and Homeline Mortgages who worked with us to ensure it all went smoothly in the end.
Our clients, Douglas and Sarah, are absolutely delighted with the results and preparation is underway to start work on the young stock barn. We have also now been commissioned to look at the remaining part of the barn to seek consent for a change of use.
We are waiting for our completed photographs so in the meantime enjoy this clip of these youngsters enjoying the spring sunshine!!
We have worked with our client, a large UK Contractor, on the implementation of an extensive programme of works on a University Campus in the Centre of Cambridge. The project has involved a major de-cant and relocation of existing teaching spaces to facilitate the main portion of the work.
The temporary accommodation is spread over a total of 7 varying work phases from fit-out of new build space to complete re-modelling of a floor of an existing academic building on the site.
The main work which involves a considerable amount of very detailed co-ordination is due to start on site imminently.
After a planning process that lasted approximately 15 months and extensive consultation Listed Building and Full Planning Consent have been granted for a new dwelling on the site of The Thatched Cottage, Silver Hill, Shenley.
The demolition of a Listed Building is not something we would normally advocate but given the severe extent of the damage and the scale and size of the building, in this instance it was justified as the degree of salvageable remains were so small. Heritage England were fully engaged and supported our findings subject to agreement on the final design proposals.
The existing badly fire-damaged building will be demolished following the preparation and submission of a detailed measured survey. The new design will be sited on the existing footprint, to echo the former cottage, with a wrap round extension which provide a range of accommodation for our client and his family.
Work has already commenced on site, with the clearance of the overgrown vegetation and setting-up of the temporary accommodation.
Regeneration of previously developed urban sites remains at the heart of many of our projects.
Major news for the year included the Former Brewery Site, Portslade which was granted Planning Consent in August. After an intensive period of work immediately preceding the Committee it was passed by an over-whelming majority. The proposal includes a mixed-use of 48 residential units, in a mixture of new build and conversion, together with a Creative Arts complex providing start-up, low rental employment space.
The proposals retained the conceptual principles that have been at the heart of the project from the outset with a careful blend of context and contemporary design. We are in continued discussion with our Client and look forward to the stage of the project.
Our first site in Hertford, the Former Waters Garage on North Road has continued on site whilst on the opposite side of the road!! …. construction work has started on 60-68 St Andrew Street. Both projects are complex insertions within close proximity to grade II Listed Buildings. The archaeological investigation which was required on 66-68 as part of the planning conditions was completed and a start on site was made in Summer. The hybrid construction of steel and masonry is well underway and the shape and form of the building is now evident.
On a different scale construction is nearing completion at North Brook End Stud on Dragonfly Barn. Marketing advice has been taken and the property will be brought to the Market early in the New Year – the impressive interiors and panoramic views have been very well received so far and we look forward to a successful sales process.
We are delighted to confirm that the final proposals for the regeneration of the Former Brewery Site at Portslade were approved at Brighton and Hove City Council Planning committee on 9th August. After healthy discussion, the vote was carried by a majority of 10:1 and the next chapter for the site can proceed.
Ground Floor and Workshop building to accommodate Phoenix Arts.
The final scheme includes 48 homes of which 11 are new build, 7 are renovations of the existing cottages and 30 are apartments created within the original Victorian Building. Parking and access is created within a new shared courtyard which will also provide a valuable area of open amenity space.
In addition, Phoenix Arts, Brighton are the likely tenants for the 6,500 sqft of studio/gallery/café space proposed for the ground floor of the Tower and Workshops fronting onto the High St. This is a particularly exciting element of the scheme as it will provide further much-needed, low rent studio space for Brighton’s creative community.
Detail of renovated tower.
The scheme has involved a tremendous effort by the whole team, who have tackled numerous demanding technical challenges, and represents approximately 24 months of hard work.
We look forward to being involved in the next stage of the project.
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.
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.
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.
Consent was granted by East Herts District Council, via delegated powers on 28th November 2016, for the redevelopment of the former Sun and Harrow Public House site in Ware. The scheme provides 8 new build homes in a mixture of sizes and types.
Lengthy negotiations took place with the planners and a scheme was achieved which satisfied all requirements. The proposals complete the street scene and form a marker on the corner which echoes the geometry of the former pub building. The stepped terraces follow the site contours, with all servicing taking place from the front. Semi-private space is created which acts as a buffer to the public realm.
The Local Authority were keen to see the provision of the maximum private garden amenity space and have encouraged us to follow good urban design principles by creating a continuous, active street frontage.
Forge Design Studio are currently actively working another two pub sites involving grade II listed buildings. Both schemes include rationalisation and redevelopment of the pub buildings to create a more viable business through the realisation of the value contained within the associated under-utilised car park and gardens.
We are pleased to confirm that on Thursday 13th October the planning committee at North Herts District Council voted unanimously in favour of the application for 70 new homes on the Odyssey Health Club site in Stevenage.
The previously developed site has proven to be a challenge with issues of green belt, access, noise and contamination all requiring specialist input. Final design arrangements evolved as a result of strong and integrated team work across all disciplines.
Go team!!
After discussion at committee, Cllr Ward become our favourite when complimenting the Architect on a good job well done!
forge design studio 