A redevelopment on Colonial Way in Watford providing new high quality industrial/warehouse and ancillary office accommodation, flexibly designed for use within E(g), B2 and/or B8 use classes.
Works include the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment comprising three new units totalling 7,781 sqm (GIA) of employment space. The buildings incorporate a timeless colour palette with a graduated effect in parts providing visual interest. Bold entrance feature canopies animate the entrance spaces and provide an active frontage along Colonial Way.
The scheme provides an opportunity for companies to locate to a modern development within an established employment area. Targeting BREEAM Excellent.
CGI’s by Steve Banks
This multi-unit scheme provides new employment use classes E(g)(iii), B2, B8 with flexible floorspace for future-proofing of the ever-changing commercial market. The business units are designed to modern requirements, complimenting other developments in the vicinity (such as Mercedes, JLR), whilst consciously scaled and clad in natural tones so as to reduce their impact from the nearby Chiltern Hills. The scale of units is also relative to the immediate context; long sections show the site as being sunken, with an enhanced planting buffer to the perimeter that shields the 15m high units from a passing vehicle or pedestrian.
Existing industrial uses and hardstanding already located within the site were now outdated and in poor condition. A perfect opportunity to increase/ improve the economic value of the land, whilst adding to the biodiversity and providing an employment development that benefits from ponds, amenity spaces etc. to encourage staff well-being.
Early consultations with the planning officers allowed for us to develop the proposals and provide a development that enhances the site, as well as the local area, optimising the design to provide a high quality response to the current market demands.
CGIs by H4 Group
Redevelopment of 9.9 hectares of former office headquarters site to create a range of units for employment. The proposal maximises the retention of existing perimeter landscaping and includes a landscaped recreation zone. The buildings will provide units of between 3,800 – 43,000sf of space with potential to combine, allowing for business growth. All units have dedicated yards and car parking. The design creates a unified language across the scheme whilst providing individuality to each of the buildings.
The partial redevelopment of Kingston Business Park, in Oxfordshire to provide new high quality industrial/warehouse and ancillary office accommodation, flexible in design and capable of being used for either or all business types within use classes B1c, B2 and B8. The works include the demolition of existing buildings totalling 4.050 sqm GIA and redevelopment to provide 24no. units within 7no. buildings totalling 8,539 sqm GIA of flexible, speculative employment floorspace. Targeting BREEAM Very Good, EPC rating A.
CGI’s by Blink Image
This project arrived into our practice with planning permission granted for 1,381sm (14,865sf) of employment floorspace, use classes B1c/B2/B8. Our role entailed the development of the existing approved drawings into a detailed tender package and subsequently progressing the design through to practical completion. The client’s requirements specified high quality modern materials which allowed us to create a contemporary aesthetic, incorporating vertical glazing to highlight the entrances and ribbon windows to introduce light and natural ventilation into the offices.
Other than the submission of an NMA to increase (and inevitably improve) the soft landscaping, and a separate application for the roof mounted photovoltaics, we developed the scheme within the parameters of the existing planning permission.
A mixed use development for the design of a new, high spec HQ for Portsmouth Water, to allow them to relocate out of their existing outdated building to a neighbouring site within their ownership boundary. The scheme also incorporates a terrace of industrial units to increase the economic value of redeveloping the site that is currently designated for employment use.
Responding to the various site constraints, such as flood risk, neighbouring properties and existing biodiversity were some of the influential factors that inevitably shaped the design, as well as a detailed client specification. Working closely with the design team, notably the engineer and landscape architect, we developed appropriate proposals to mitigate the impact of flooding by implementing a bund to the northern and western boundaries. This took on a dual purpose, offering a landscaped screening to the nearby residents.
Material palettes were selected to connect the office and warehouse proposals to one another, with colour tones that mimic the neighbouring medical centre and business park. A projecting feature frame wraps around the entrance for emphasis, which is then echoed on the first floor offices, providing solar shading on the southern façade. The building footprint represents a hinged arrangement to align with the shape of the site, creating two wings that house the main cores at either end.
A new sustainable business community in Bicester offering employment opportunities within a high spec development. Phase 1 of the scheme comprises 5,490 sq.m (59,094 sf) of employment floorspace (use class B1, now E(g)) across four units.
The buildings are designed and orientated to provide active frontages with a strong identity creating a sense of place and an inviting entrance into the site. Key defining elements including bold feature canopies, double height entrance spaces and full height glazing to generous office areas all contribute towards establishing visual engagement between street level and building floors.
The development provides an opportunity for knowledge based, high tech companies to locate within an accessible and highly sustainable multi-use site which benefits from good connecting routes, situated within the Oxford Cambridge corridor. BREEAM Very Good.
Catalyst Bicester Phase 2
Following a catastrophic fire, this site is to be redeveloped to provide a new state of the art laundry facility for the 5 star hotel market in London, serviced by a fully electric vehicle fleet. To make the best sustainable use of the site which is in a designated employment area, the facility will be arranged on 2/3 floors and will include staff facilities, offices, laundry and dry cleaning operations creating a total of 4400sm floor space. The design concept sets a white metal clad cube on a grey masonry plinth with the entrance signalled by a feature wall comprising 3-Dimensional metal rainscreen and a glazed corner.
A comprehensive development proposal to redevelop 23.64 hectares of brownfield land. This masterplan has been prepared in association with Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey with Pegasus to create 254,676sf of employment space and 505 new dwellings. The employment sector is designed to respect the neighbouring public park and employment uses whilst creating a new environment with tree lined active frontages to the road which will also serve as the main access to the residential zones.
Holbrook Park Phase 2
The employment development provides up to a 53,000sqm of commercial floorspace, including car & HGV parking, hardstanding and associated facilities. The first phase comprises six buildings with a total of 12 units for flexible B1c, B2, B8 and ancillary B1a uses. The approximate total Gross Internal Area (GIA) of the development proposed by this application is 21,684sqm (233,410sqft). Clear internal heights of the warehouses are 8m and 12m with generous office space to the larger units. The development achieve Zero Carbon as defined by Cherwell District Council, BREEAM Very Good and EPC rating A.
Axis J9 Phase 2
