residential

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!!

Residential Project, Richmond upon Thames – Visual Communication

Forge Design Studio have worked with our client Rockhold alongside Iceni Planning Consultants, over the last 18 months on the detailed planning application for a 5-unit, high-value residential scheme within the Kew Green Conservation Area, Richmond.

The scheme is situated on a redundant site, currently occupied by lock-up garages at the end of a residential cul-de-sac. It is a tight, narrow, urban site which has presented numerous constraints and challenges through-out the process. Extensive consultation has taken place in the neighbourhood and a series of one-to-one meetings with adjacent owners was particularly informative.

A flavour of the project is included which shows our visualisations taken from the same point over the life of the scheme.

The five properties have been designed in response to the existing grain, scale and mass of the adjacent Edwardian terraces. Sited to reflect the adjacent housing they have a generous amount of south-facing private garden space.

Detailed elevational studies have been undertaken looking at proportion and arrangement of the main elements. A more contemporary approach is suggested which reflect the principles of the surrounding buildings without reverting to pastiche. This has been generally supported by the Planning Authority and has been welcomed by the client.

As ever, the means of communicating the design intention has been critical. We have drawn on our full range of graphic skills from initial hand drawn and coloured sketches, rudimentary sketch CAD modelling, through to completed CGI visuals developed in-conjunction with our good friends @MakeStudio in Bournemouth.

We have also modelled the scheme in the wider urban context to demonstrate how well it sits in the context.

Watch this space for the final conclusion to the Planning Application.

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.

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.

Essoldo House, Kings Road, Chelsea

Forge Design Studio have been commissioned by Volker Fitzpatrick to assist them with the detailed design and development of 11 luxury apartments on the upper levels of Essoldo House. This mixed-use scheme is being constructed on an extremely tight site, fronting onto the Kings Road in Chelsea. A complex, layered development it has basement car parking, ground floor retail and commercial space, a multi-screen arts cinema complex at first floor with three floors of apartments above.

FDS are pleased to be joining the established team on the procurement and design of the apartment interiors. Co-ordinating and liaising with the information flow and picking up the existing BIM models have been challenging but has been successfully undertaken with positive results.

Progress is proceeding with the superstructure and work is due to start on the apartment fit-out in the next few weeks. The technical challenges are many and varied including very demanding acoustic criteria both to protect against outside noise but also structure and air-borne sound from the cinema below.

The original client architects have set out the detailed design for 3 typical units which have formed the design template for the complete package. FDS have developed the detailed information and co-ordinated with the specialist building services sub-contractors through-out the process.

Work will start on the fit-out of the apartments in October with completion due for Spring 2020.

Forge Design Studio’s Year in Review!

Living Spaces

After a great deal of fund-raising effort on the part of the YMCA, work has started on site at the former St Silas Church Centre in Cheltenham. The scheme will provide 21 living spaces in a comprehensively re-modelled existing building. There will be a range of unit sizes from small studios to 1-bed apartments.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Forge Design Studio are working with the appointed Main Contractor to develop detailed working drawings and schedules to support the construction (see examples below). The constraints of the existing building has created challenges which the team have worked together to overcome. Work is continuing at full pace on site and is due for completion in the summer.

Ground Floor Plan:

201410A_A_L(2-)001C

First Floor Plan:

201410A_A_L(2-)002C

We have also been involved in a series of local residential projects which range from the Cedardore project in Wellow – a complete new build dwelling, to Remenham House in Whiteparish – an interior design project, through to Cowesfield Lodge – a comprehensive
re-modelling and extension under permitted development, which is located within walking distance of the office!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

All of our projects are treated with the same level of professional service and respect. They are greatly valued, providing us with a varied and interesting series of opportunities.

We look forward to 2017 with eager anticipation.

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Forge Design Studio’s Year in Review!

Regeneration Projects

Regeneration of previously developed urban sites remains at the heart of many of our projects. Work has continued on all stages of development across a number of schemes.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Our first site in Hertford, the Former Waters Garage on North Road has commenced construction work. Whilst we have not remained active on the project, it was sold-on by our client, we are very interested to see the buildings emerge from the site. It has been a complex undertaking for the new owners but it appears the values and interest which is being created will make it a successful development.

Click here to find out more!

On the opposite side of the road!! …. we have carried out the working drawing programme for 60-68 St Andrew Street. We achieved planning permission in February and have worked with our client on the detailed development of the proposals – utilising our 3D BIM skills during the process. The archaeological investigation which was required as part of the planning conditions has been completed and a start on site is due early in the New Year.

Our largest single regeneration project, at the Former Brewery Site, Portslade is currently going through the planning process. The proposal includes a mixed-use of 50 residential units, in a mixture of new build and conversion, together with a Creative Arts complex providing start-up, low rental employment space. We are in detailed negotiation with the case Officers and are looking forward to a positive outcome early in February

Hertford Pub Crawl!

Former Sun & Harrow
Permission Granted!!

Consent was granted by East Herts District Council, via delegated powers on 28^th 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.

Forge Design’s Open Studio Today!!

Preparations are in place for the Forge Design Studio Open Day. True to form we have made sure that visitors will be looked after … tea and cakes looking spectacular. It will be a great chance to show off our work … come and join us if you can!

Please see the ‘Contact Us’ for information on where to find us!

Even the puppy is ready to go!

Living Spaces

Brownfield Development

Regeneration Projects

Former Sun & Harrow Permission Granted!!

Former Sun & Harrow
Permission Granted!!