Green light for investment by McBraida plc

After lengthy negotiations over the final Section 106 Agreement between all parties, we received last week on behalf of our client, McBraida plc the Planning Decision Notice that backs up the unanimous committee decision in favour of the development.

McBraida plc are a tier 1 aerospace component manufacturers with production facilities in both the UK and Poland. This approval allows them to realise their long-held ambition to more than double their head office footprint in Bridgeyate, between Bristol and Bath.

Throughout the development of the planning application, gcp as lead consultant, received valuable, impartial opinions on the proposal from development control and economic development officers at South Gloucestershire Council. They provided honest, clear and unambiguous comments on the proposal to the design team that allowed the planning design to evolve in response to site constraints and stakeholder consultations to ensure this vitally important investment in high technology engineering is secured for the county, the region and the UK.

The recent signing of the 106 Agreement clears the last hurdle before the green light can be pressed for the detailed design. We look forward to picking up a conversation with the client in the next few weeks to plan the next stages for this exciting and strategically important development.

5 new homes approved in St Werburghs

gcp has recently secured planning approval to convert a Victorian warehouse on a landlocked site into 5 new family homes.

In a bid to not only consider the building’s history, but embodied carbon as well, the original red brick building has been retained. The 2 later concrete extensions which were in a state of disrepair will be demolished, with one of them being rebuilt in a similar sized footprint and the other becoming garden space for the houses.

The red brick building boasts tall ceilings, timber sash windows and an open plan design. The scheme will have PV, water butts and air source heat pumps along with planting boxes to help drainage and encourage new ecology on what was previously a concrete wasteland.

The new extension is built with the same red brick as the existing on ground floor to tie the buildings together but has a striking black metal cladding on first floor to pay tribute to the industrial nature of the original site and much of its surrounding areas. To ensure the scheme does not impact surrounding homes, first floor rooms are in the roof, but with high eaves to ensure high quality and useability of the space is achieved.

We worked closely with the Bristol Planning Department to ensure a positive outcome was achieved – a design sensitive to its surrounding neighbours and energy-conscious in both embodied and fuel, providing high quality living for future home owners, and maintaining its history from Olliff’s Antiques Warehouse. Upon redevelopment, Olliff’s Architectural Antiques will relocate to an alternative location elsewhere in the city.

This scheme follows on from the highly successful Brooks Dye Works project we delivered for Acorn.

Planning Granted at Silcox Road

gcp are continuing their works for SERS/Rateavon Ltd to upgrade Bristol City Council’s existing tower block housing stock. The latest blocks to be regenerated are Hayleigh House, Millmead House and Middleford House in Hartcliffe which have recently received planning approval to upgrade the windows/doors, improve the external wall insulation and update the external appearance following design consultations with the residents and Bristol City Council Major Projects team.

Works are currently underway with completion scheduled for July 2022

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Planning Granted for new Cricket facilities in Bradford

The second ECB Urban Cricket Centre is one step closer to reality having been granted planning approval earlier this month.

Working with existing buildings is rarely straight forward and that was the case with this project in Bradford. In December 2020 we submitted designs to planning for two new cricket lanes and other community facilities at Parkside Sports Centre. During the planning process a huge attenuation tank was discovered beneath the proposed site which tested the project’s viability and ruled out large sections of the site for construction. With a bit of creativity and lots of design reviews, we managed to come up with a viable alternative which positioned the cricket lanes at first floor level, cantilevered out in front of the existing building as a prominent advert for cricket.

As a Bradfordian this has been a fantastic project to work on and it is very encouraging to see the ECB investing in urban areas with such incredible potential but limited existing facilities. This is what the ECB Urban Cricket Centre Initiative was set up to do, and hopefully projects like this will continue to pop up across the UK in coming years.

by Matt Bonney, Project Architect, gcp Chartered Architects

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Planning Granted for a modest residential development in Blackhorse Place

 A planning application has been granted by South Glos Council for a small development of 3 bespoke homes on Blackhorse Place, Vinney Green. What was initially seen as a relatively uncontentious and modest development for 3 new homes, actually required a relatively complex planning application and multiple design iterations.

gcp conceived and developed a pre-application followed by the planning design. Particular attention was paid to the immediate context, neighbours’ concerns, a sustainable urban drainage system, site ecology and sustainable transportation.

The team constantly developed the design, in close liaison with all parties and proactively managed the planning process, negotiating directing with the planning team. Ultimately, delivering a planning approval for a design which both met the client’s aspirations and was acceptable to the local authority.

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Planning Consent secured for Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club’s new clubroom

gcp has secured planning consent in the Green Belt for a new clubroom at Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club. This exciting project will provide much-needed indoor facilities for the club, as well as a covered external viewing gallery. Technical design stage starting soon!

We are passionate at gcp about designing places for sport and leisure; this clubroom is the latest in a string of projects for clients including England and Wales Cricket Board, Swindon Town Football Club Foundation and various Local Authorities.