Bristol Water HQ now Complete

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Deli at Bristol Water HQ

The three-year project to refurbish and extend the Bristol Water headquarters at Bedminster Down is now finished. Bristol Water wanted to rationalise its building stock by disposing of the Bedminster Down Depot site and relocating around 150 staff to its head office. gcp initially prepared a feasibility for the project and, with staff in-situ, the iconic 1936 structure was over-clad and re-roofed before a two-storey wing was added, supported on tapering columns over the rear car park. This enabled a progressive decanting process so that the entire building could be re-serviced and re-furbished without the need for temporary accommodation.
 
The upgraded facility boasts a new atrium café, computer suite and reception area as well as redesigned open-plan office accommodation with flexible workplace settings. Thomas Vale Construction (now part of Bouygues-uk) carried out the construction works.

gcp were architects for Bristol Water throughout the design phase of the project and architects for the contractor during construction.

For more information on this project, please click here.

Image: Story Photography

Boost for South Bristol

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Filwood Green Business Park opens in Green Capital Year

Filwood Green Business Park is a flagship project for Bristol as European Green Capital 2015. It provides a new sustainable home for small and medium sized businesses, with 40,000 sq ft of workshop and office space. Since completion earlier this year, the BREEAM ‘Oustanding’ Filwood Green Business Park has won the 2degrees ‘Best New Building’ award 2015 and the Bristol Post's 'Eco Green Building' award.

gcp were appointed architects for the construction stages of this project by Midas Construction Ltd.

The £12M Green Business Park achieves the first-ever BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating for an industrial building in the South West. This state-of-the-art resource is designed to boost economic prosperity in this part of the city. Built for the community, it complements other local facilities in Filwood and Hengrove.

It was officially opened by Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson in a colourful ceremony in May this year.

For more information on gcp's commercial experience please contact Jeremy Pilling.

Image: Julian James Photography

We are Principal Designers

gcp Consulting now offer Principal Designer services as an extension of our existing CHAS Accredited Health and Safety Systems.

The CDM Regulations 2015 have removed the role of CDM Coordinator and replaced this with a new role of Principal Designer. This now places a duty on the client to appoint a Principal Designer for any notificable project.

Please contact Colin Powell if you would like to know more.

Bringing PassivHaus to West Somerset

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Image: Townsend Farm Carhampton

gcp are responsible for the detailed design of 20 PassivHaus homes under construction in Carhampton for Hastoe Housing Association and delivered by Halsall Construction.

The development, due for completion next summer, incorporates highly efficient building fabric, a PassivHaus certified heat recovery ventilation system and solar thermal roof panels. Thanks to this, the occupants will enjoy a comfortable healthy living environment and benefit from reduced energy bills.

If you would like to learn more about this scheme and our Passivhaus design services, please contact Colin Powell.
 

Social Innovation in Community Energy

Hosted by Low Carbon South West, gcp presented the Greenway Centre Solar project in Southmead at the ‘Social Innovations in Community Energy’ event in July 2015. 

The event involved some interesting discussion and it will be interesting to see how solar power companies respond to the up to 87% reduction in Feed In Tariff (FIT) to come into effect in January 2016.

Greenway Centre will have their 90kW solar panel array completed by mid-December 2015 thanks to an installation by Your Power.

Need to know: Changes to Building Regs

Changes to Building Regulations for new dwellings came into effect from 1st October 2015.
 
Part G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency
The water consumption standard is unchanged at 125 litres/person/day unless a planning condition specifies the optional reduced water consumption of 110 litres/person/day. The building control final certificate is required to discharge the planning condition.
gcp Consulting can prepare water efficiency calculations to demonstrate water consumption for your developments.
 
Part M: Access to and use of buildings
The new Volume 1 is applicable to new dwellings. Volume 2, with unchanged requirements from Part M 2013, is applicable to buildings other than dwellings. Volume 1 is split into three categories:
1 – Visitable dwellings – similar to the requirements of Part M 2013.
2 – Accessible and adaptable dwellings – similar to the requirements of Lifetime Homes.
3 – Wheelchair user dwellings – similar to the requirements of the Wheelchair Housing Design Guide.
 
Categories 2 and 3 are optional levels which can be specified as a planning condition. The building control final certificate is required to discharge the planning condition.
 
Part Q: Security – Dwellings
External doors and windows and openings, from communal parts of a building to a dwelling, are required to be sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar. Doorsets and windows meeting PAS24:2012 will meet the requirement. This is in line with the relevant parts of Secured by Design New Homes 2014 Section 2.
 
In addition …
Where local authorities choose to adopt a space standard for new homes, it must be the new Nationally Described Space Standard.

If you would like to learn more about the services we offer through gcp Consulting, please contact Jon Briscoe.

A Community in Transition

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gcp have submitted a planning application on behalf of Ambition Lawrence Weston for a Community Hub.
 
Lawrence Weston Community Hub is a 'bottom-up' community-led development. It incorporates a doctors' surgery, pharmacy, café, library, studios, space for other health and council services, small businesses and a crèche.
 
Ambition Lawrence Weston is a resident-led Development Trust, established as part of the Community Planning process. Within the Community Plan, completed in 2013, residents expressed a desire for a new community facility.  With funding support from the HCA and SIB, the project has developed in close consultation with local people.
 
The Hub incorporates a fabric-first, low energy approach, reducing running costs for the future. The project is now part of the NHS future plan for primary care in North Bristol. A planning decision is due at the beginning of July 2015.
 
If you would like more information please contact Jonathan Platt.

Can PassivHaus enable Zero-Carbon?

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Comparison of domestic heat loss

Working closely with Kier Living, the contractor for Torpoint, South Bristol, gcp provided comparative analysis of the Zero Carbon Hub 2016 Fabric Energy Efficiency (FEE) Standard and PassivHaus. This showed that PassivHaus standard achieves approximately 37% greater reduction in Carbon Emissions over the Zero Carbon Hub recommended FEE. This improved baseline indicates that PassivHaus can achieve the 2016 Zero Carbon Target whilst avoiding ‘Allowable Solutions’ costs.

Allowable Solutions offset the shortfall in Carbon Reduction between as-built performance and full Zero-Carbon. These costs could come as a levy or contribution to off-site renewables or other Carbon Reduction measures.

The cost difference between Zero Carbon Hub FEE and PassivHaus is modest and reducing as more contractors and suppliers become confident in delivering higher performance construction.

For more information or a presentation on PassivHaus and Zero Carbon contact Colin Powell.

Continuing Housing Success

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Torpoint Housing scheme for Knightstone, nearing completion.

gcp have been reappointed to the Knightstone Housing Framework and have, for the first time, secured a position on the Devon and Cornwall Housing Framework. gcp are currently supporting Halsall Construction on a new housing project for DCH in Four Lanes, Cornwall. Working with Kier Living and South Western Housing Society, gcp are now developing proposals for 28 new homes in Cotford St Luke, Taunton.

We have also submitted planning for a Rural Exception site to provide 6 affordable homes for local families in Othery Somerset, for South Western Housing Society. Working with Stonewater Housing (formally Raglan) and EG Carter Construction, our 20 unit infill development within the Glastonbury Town Centre Conservation Area is now being handed over and first tenants are moving in to their new homes with fantastic views of the Tor.

If you would like to learn more about our housing design services, please contact Colin Powell.

 

More accolades for Junction 3!

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Even more accolades for Junction 3

The RICS has recognised the project with its SW Regional Award for 2015.

Junction 3 also hosts a Civic Society Environmental Award plaque. The Society said:

'The unusual and striking design, with its light and airy interiors, uses some innovatory building techniques and scores highly on sustainability.'

Thermal Bridging Calculation Qualified

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Thermal Bridging Calculation

Thermal Bridging Calculation

gcp are pleased to announce the addition of thermal bridging calculations to our services, available through gcp Consulting.

Part L of the Building Regulations now requires the submission of Thermal Bridging Calculations.

The Part L1A SAP calculation uses conservative default values for thermal bridging. Replacing these with calculated values assists in demonstrating Part L compliance through improved performance without needing to upgrade the specification of other elements of the building.

Please contact Jon Briscoe if you would like to know more about thermal bridging calculation services.

CDM 2015 - Principal Designer

CHAS Logo

CHAS Logo

Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 have removed the role of CDM Coordinator and replaced this with a new role of ‘Principal Designer’. This places a duty on the client to appoint a Principal Designer to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate Health & Safety. 

gcp offer Principal Designer services through gcp Consulting as an extension of our existing CHAS Accredited Health and Safety Systems. gcp Director Colin Powell has completed preparatory IOSH training and other members of our team will be completing Principal Designer training as it becomes available.

Feasibility Study Funding Secured for PV Installation

Working with Southmead Development Trust (SDT) gcp have helped secure feasibility study funding from the Urban Community Energy Fund administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy in partnership with Pure Leapfrog. The study will investigate the technical constraints and the potential wider community benefits that could be derived from the installation of a large PV array (about 500m2) on the roof of the Greenway Centre, their main building. If you know the SDT you can help by completing a short questionnaire.
 
The CSE / Pure Leapfrog funding is available for a wide range of community organisations wanting to generate their own electricity and thereby save on the cost of energy bills in the future. gcp can help write funding applications to secure 100% grants to cover the cost of the initial feasibility study. Please call and speak to Jonathan Platt.

A Quality Announcement

gcp are pleased to announce our recent accreditation to Environmental Standard ISO14001:2004.
 
We were one of the first Architectural Practices in the South West to gain ISO9001 accreditation and have been committed to following these Quality Standards since 1997.
 
In 2015, we have an aspiration to further improve our working impact on the environment and will be rolling out a number of staff initiatives throughout the summer.

Bristol Tower Blocks Update

gcp are working with Mears Construction on the third of their major tower block over cladding projects, two prominent tower blocks in Shirehampton. The blocks, clearly viable from the M4 Avonmouth bridge will be over clad with insulation to help reduce energy bills for the tenants using the governments Eco Obligations funding programme.
 
gcp are working for Mears who have been appointed to the Bristol City Council Tower Block Over Cladding Framework. Bristol has over 50 high, medium and low rise tower blocks.

#thecitygreen

RIBA stall for solar powered wind turbines at Bristol Harbour Festival

RIBA stall for solar powered wind turbines at Bristol Harbour Festival

Did you get a chance to visit RIBA's fab stall at the Bristol Harbour Festival? gcp had a blast showing everyone how to make solar powered wind turbines. Check out the video on our twitter feed - can you guess how they work?

Special mention must go to Hobs and their world record setting colouring book - we even managed to find time between turbine-making to colour up some buildings in the old fashioned way !

Picture: Catherine Gandon, RIBA South West

Aztec West Fitout

gcp has been appointed to refurbish 155 Aztec West for occupation by industry leading consulting engineers.

The project is designed to provide a flexible modern working environment (15,500 sq ft / 1435 m2) representing best practice in office space refurbishment.  The building is expected to achieve BREEAM Very Good with an EPC rating of B.

Planning approval has been secured for a complete face lift including new glazing, extended reception lobby and boardroom over at first floor.

Occupation is expected in October 2016.