Constructing modern, efficient, quality homes in Harlow

This project incorporated :

• The demolition of an existing 1960’s three storey traditionally constructed block of flats;
• The construction of a new three and two storey terrace to provide 4 x 3 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedroom houses.;
• Soft and hard landscaping including retaining walls, parking bays, patios, paving, planting and grassed areas.

The plot was located within a site comprising of three other occupied blocks of flats which required precise site logistics to accommodate safe pedestrian and vehicular access and movement.

The design met the requirements of statutory planning conditions and building regulations and NHBC Buildmark, CFSH Level 4, Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards.

Client
Clarion Housing Group

Consultants
Gary Johns – Architect
CTP – Structural & Civil Engineers
Liz Lake Associates – Landscape Architect
NRG – Environmental Consultants

Contract value
£1.2m

Contract period
40 weeks

Location
Paringdon Road, Harlow CM19

Sustainable extension within a sensitive educational environment

This 470m² single story extension provides new accommodation for Nightingale BESD School, a community special school in Wandsworth for boys aged 5 to 19 with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Three new classrooms were built, along with offices, therapy and group rooms, a library, changing and toilet facilities and the school’s kitchen and canteen which were remodelled. Changes were made to the car park to facilitate vehicle turning and the existing entrance was widened.

Located on a large site classified as Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) with a livestock farm as an active educational facility, the design was led by sustainability, both at Planning and BREEAM. The development included recycled Durisol blocks for the external, internal and retaining walls. Monodraught natural ventilation, underfloor heating, green roofs, a permeable soft play area and significant soft landscaping with new trees, shrubs and a nature pond were also added.

The project also included the refurbishment of an existing 6th Form block: although the site was segregated from the main school building and grounds, interfaces with the existing structure and services were key to successful delivery both in terms of structural integrity and minimising disruption to every day school activities. Positive daily engagement with the school management was pivotal to achieving a first class service.

Client
London Borough of Wandsworth

Consultants
Wandsworth Design Services

Contract value
£1.6m

Contract period
52 weeks

Location
Beechcroft Road, London SW17

London Borough of Newham’s first social housing project delivered in 30 years

This design and build scheme was to provide a terrace of 6, 3 bedroom 3 storey houses and 1,  3 bedroom 2 storey wheelchair unit situated within a typical inner London residential area bordered by a mixture of 2 storey houses and high rise flats.

The scheme represents the first new council houses constructed by Newham for 30 years and has been well received by the council and tenants alike.

The buildings are of timber frame construction enclosed with facing brick walls and fitted with aluminium windows and doors under flat roofs. The development includes the associated infrastructure, drainage and hard and soft landscaping. To control the outflow of water into Victorian drainage system, attenuation was provided to the surface water drainage system to control the outflow of water into the Victorian drainage system under the public highway.

The properties benefit from exceptional levels of day light through generous fenestration and a central atrium. Amenity space is provided through private gardens to the front and rear of the properties.

The buildings were designed and built to meet the requirements of NHBC Buildmark, CsSH Level 4, Lifetime Homes, Secured by Design and the building regulations.

The contemporary design of the new housing made it a finalist at the 2016 Housing Design Awards and the Inside Housing Top 60 Developments Awards in the ‘Best Designed Development of the Year’ category.

Client
London Borough of Newham

Consultants
Bell Phillips – Architect
IGM Associates Ltd – Quantity Surveyor

Contract value
£1.28m

Contract period
40 weeks

Location
Florence Road, London E6

Design and Build of a single storey nursery school extension

This project comprised of 120m2 single storey extension to a nursery and remodelling of part of the existing building to facilitate the interface between the two buildings.

The extension was built on deep strip concrete strip foundations with concrete block and beam floors and a steel frame with brick and block enclosing walls. The external walls were built in blue engineering bricks to dpc level then Ibstock Coleridge yellow multi-stock bricks in English and stretcher bond.

The dual pitched roof is finished with Kingspan KS1000 Kingzip IP composite standing seam panels in goosewing grey with PCC aluminium verges and cover flashings.

The building benefits from a high levels of daylighting through PCC aluminium windows and doors to all elevations. Internal finishes comprise perforated acoustic ceilings, dry-lined walls and vinyl floor coverings.

The work was undertaken successfully across school term times in strict conjunction with the school management team. Physical segregation from the school areas was created by 2.4 m high solid hoarding which was over painted with murals by the school children.

Signage was placed on the hoarding warning the children of the dangers of entering a building site. We also gave a power point presentation at a school assembly to reinforce safety messages and to also engage the children and staff with the building process.

Client
Newham Council

Consultants
ATP – Architects
VKHP – Structural Engineers

Contract Value
£500k

Contract Weeks
28 weeks

Location
Central Park Road, London, E6

Design and build of a residential development for the London Borough of Havering

The design and build of 10 two storey, 3 bedroom houses and 2, two bedroom flats with external landscaping. 

The development required the provision of new utility supplies and mains drainage connections together with access roads built to adoptable standards. The drainage design required significant negotiation, design and construction of surface water attenuation to satisfy Thames Water’s requirements in order to connect into the existing drainage sewer. The design included laying roughly 1000 m sq of permeable asphalt paving to the rigorous design and inspection standards set by the council highways department.

The houses were designed and constructed to CfSH Level 4 standard and presented to the market for shared ownership.

Client
London Borough of Havering

Consultants
Frankham Consulting – Cost Consultant
Gary Johns – Architects
QED Structures – Structural Engineers

Contract value
 £3 million

Contract period
40 weeks

Location
Cranham, Havering