Tower Hamlets has approved detailed plans for a new life sciences neighbourhood around the Royal London Hospital, including two buildings by Gibson ThornleyBuilding D1, designed by Allies and MorrisonSource: Allies and MorrisonBuilding B3, designed by Allies and MorrisonSource: Allies and MorrisonBuilding B1, designed by Gibson ThornleySource: Credit Schmidt MassieBuilding C, designed by Gibson ThornleySource: Schmidt Massie1/4show captionThe London Borough of Tower Hamlets has approved Allies and Morrisons Whitechapel Road project, a masterplan that aims to transform a series of existing buildings and unused sites near the Royal London Hospital into a life sciences district.The Whitechapel Road development totals 79,975sq m, comprising six new and repurposed buildings between three and 13 storeys in height.Allies and Morrison designed the masterplan and four of the buildings, with the remaining two designed by Gibson Thornley.Supported by Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, the Greater London Authority, and the borough itself, the development will offer lab-enabled commercial workspaces, educational facilities and new public spaces, with the intention of establishing Whitechapel as a life sciences hub.Aiming to provide adaptable, high-quality spaces, the project will accommodate a range of life sciences and public health organisations, from small start-ups to larger enterprises.The masterplan incorporates new green spaces and pedestrian-friendly streets, including a green spine of planted pathways. This layout will support local pedestrian traffic and remove vehicle access from some areas around the hospital.The site is located within the London Hospital Conservation Area and close to listed structures including the former Royal London Hospital, St. Philips Church, and historic terraces.Source: Allies and MorrisonAxonometric view of the plansWe have been working closely with a broad rangeof stakeholders for over six years and I am thrilled that our life science cluster proposals have been approved by Tower Hamlets, said Hayden French, director and head of workplace at Allies and Morrison.The Whitechapel Road project will be transformational for the East End bringing extensive new and improved public spaces, a groupof contextual and responsible workplace buildings, and an ecosystem of new businesses to supplement the already rich and diverseWhitechapel neighbourhood.With its proximity to major transport links, including the Elizabeth Line, the development is anticipated to strengthen Whitechapels connection to the broader London life sciences sector.Matt Thornley, co-founder of Gibson Thornley commented,The development will help cement Whitechapel as a major life science hub, bringingnew jobs and knowledge to build upon the existing NHS sites and Queen Mary Campus.The approval by Tower Hamlets is a greatmilestone in delivering the scheme, and it will be exciting to see the regeneration of the area and improvements for the local community.Buildings within the masterplan range from a four-storey block facing Whitechapel Road to a taller 13-storey life sciences building featuring ground-floor public spaces, including community areas, retail, and outreach services.Additional structures include smaller facilities for emerging life sciences firms, a dedicated higher education hub, and a pavilion designed as a gateway to the areas green spaces.The project team includesstructural engineer AKTII, services engineer Arup, landscape architect Camlins, planning consultant DP9 and cost consultant T&T Alinea.

Councillors said schemes tenuous community benefits did not justify proposed two-storey roof extensionCGI of Makes proposals for the 48 Chiswell Street siteMake Architects is facing another delay on a major project following Islington councils vote to defer a decision on a redevelopment scheme near the Barbican.Councillors voted to kick the 48 Chiswell Scheme into the long grass due to an egregious failure to meet a range of planning policies including Islingtons tall building policy.Representatives from Make were told to go back to the drawing board and remove the top storey of the scheme, which proposed a two-storey roof extension on top of an existing building which is already considered to be at the height limit for the area.Make is also currently waiting for a High Court decision on the 500m redevelopment of ITV Studios, which has been beset by a series of planning wrangles since it was first put on ice by the secretary of state more than two years ago.The existing building is already at the maximum height for the area under Islingtons tall buildings policyThe 48 Chiswell Street scheme, designed for Berkeley Estate Asset Management, is proposing the partial demolition and refurbishment of a 1980s office on the fringe of the City of London.It had been recommended for approval ahead of yesterdays planning committee meeting, with Islingtons planning officers arguing a breach of the areas policy on tall buildings was outweighed by the schemes high quality architecture and a range of community benefits, including affordable workspace.But while committee chair Martin Klute said the scheme was exciting and welcomed the retention of the existing buildings structural frame, he described its claimed community benefits as tenuous.Of particular concern as a purported mitigating factor for the height policy breach was the proposed affordable workspace, which was not considered to be particularly lettable because it was located in the sites basement, Klute said.The additional benefits that this [proposal] grants.seem very vague and ill thought through, he said.The committee is used to having projects of that sort linked to the building closely described, valued and knitted into the purpose and function of the building. This all seems very tenuous.The height of the proposals had been consistently criticised by Islingtons design review panel and by the Greater London Authority throughout the pre-application process in comments described by Klute as very pointed and clear.The proposals, on the rear left of the CGI, are on the fringe of the City of LondonHe said: Building heights are always being significantly challenged by developers trying to gain extra height, and in other cases where we have allowed extra height, this has always been coupled with a balance of exceptionality.Councillor Paul Convery added: When a building proposal is significantly non compliant we want to see something that significantly knocks our socks off, that really is exceptional, that really does tilt that balance of harm by a very significant package of benefits, and to be honest I dont think that is whats available here.Councillor Toby North called for the scheme to be reduced in height, adding I cant see any justification for the egregious failure to meet a number of policies.> Also read:Sluggish economy and rising tax bill send Makes numbers into reverseThe submitted scheme would have seen a comprehensive overhaul of the existing 1987 building, including the demolition of its prominent pentagonal entrance tower, replacement of external facades and adjustments to internal layouts.The project team includes cost consultant Turner & Townsend Alinea, project manager Blackburn, structural engineer Elliott Wood, planning consultant Gerald Eve and landscape architect Townshends.Make and Berkeley Estate Asset Management have been contacted for comment.The sites pentagonal entrance tower would be demolished under the proposals

But 155 sites added in updated 2024 list, including a 15th century school house which survived an arson attack by suffragettesSaltdean Lido has been removed from the Heritage At Risk Register following a restoration by Conran & PartnersHistoric England has removed Saltdean Lido from its Heritage At Risk Register following a restoration programme but named an additional 155 sites in need of attention.The heritage advisor has published its annual roundup of historic sites deemed to be at risk due to neglect, structural deterioration or the risk of redevelopment.Richard Jones streamline moderne lido in east Sussex, completed in 1938, is among 124 sites removed from the list due to being considered no longer at risk.Added to the register in 2011, the grade II*-listed building has been restored by Conran & Partners, working for a local community action group, with the project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.It is now home to a caf, restaurant, gym, public library, and multiple work and exercise spaces, and hosts a wide variety of events in its art deco ballroom.The painted hall at Sherborne HouseOther buildings removed from the list include the grade I-listed Sherborne House in Dorset, which has been transformed into an arts venue by local architect Spase.Built around 1720 for Henry Seymour Portman, it features a grand hall with murals by James Thornhill, the Dorset-born artist whose other works include the Painted Hall at the Royal Hospital in Greenwich and the inside of the dome of St Pauls Cathedral.The Sherborne House Trust acquired the building in 2018 and plans for its transformation into an arts venue were approved in 2021.The grade II-listed Abney Park chapel and graveyard in Stoke Newington, London, has also been crossed off the list following a 5m restoration funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Lottery Community Fund, Hackney Council and Historic England.The grade II-listed Abney Park chapel and graveyard has been removed from the listThe early 19th century site had been on the list since its creation in 1998, with Historic England describing its removal as a major achievement.The graveyard boasts a new cafe, community room and workshop spaces, while the chapel now hosts events and has held its first ever wedding.A total of 4,891 sites are on this years register, 20 more than last year. They include 1,442 buildings and structures, 969 places of worship, 103 parks and gardens, three battlefields and four shipwrecks.Recently added sites include a rare Victorian windmill which, while still in working order and producing flour, has been found to be in need of urgent repairs due to water seepage and rotting timbers.Volunteers from the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society are repairing the Victorian windmill, which is still in operationThe mill is run by dedicated volunteers from the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society who regularly hold fundraising events to help pay for ongoing maintenance. Repair work is already underway, helped by a 63,000 grant from Historic England.The early 15th century Kings Norton Old Grammar School in Birmingham has been added to the list despite winning a restoration award just 20 years ago.Kings Norton Old Grammar School survived an attack by two suffragettes in 1913Believed to have been originally built as a priests house, it was remodelled in the 17th century before surviving an intended arson attack by two suffragettes in 1913.The campaigners had left a note on a blackboard explaining that they had been so charmed by the building that they had decided to refrain from their design of destruction.However, the building is now deteriorating as external panels are detaching from the frame, allowing in damp and rainwater.The grade I-listed Tamworth Castle is also in need of further repairs after initial restoration work was completed last year.> Also read:Save Britains Heritage adds 86 new entries to Buildings at Risk registerOne of the best preserved motte and bailey castles in the UK, it has a history going back well over a thousand years, the site having been occupied by a palace for the Kings of Mercia before the 9th century Viking invasions.It was rebuilt as a castle after the 1066 Norman Conquest, captured by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War and has been a museum since 1899.Historic England said the site had seen its fair share of battles and needs some attention before it is fighting fit once more.Tamworth Castle is in need of a further round of repairs following an initial restoration completed last year

Redevelopment combines historic preservation with sustainable updates for family home1/4show captionChichester council has granted approval for Tom Turner Architects redevelopment plans for Harbour Farm, a farmstead in Bosham, Sussex. The scheme aims to transform the site into a contemporary family home while highlighting the farmsteads historic character.As part of the project, modern extensions will be removed to restore the original features of the farmhouse, with new additions designed to complement its traditional architecture. These include a single-storey west wing and a two-storey south wing, both intended to respect and enhance the existing structure. Additional changes will see the conversion of outbuildings into a pool house, art studio, and gym, with landscaping to retain the sites original courtyard layout.The project integrates several sustainable features, such as energy-efficient materials, solar panels, and a lighting plan designed to minimise light pollution. Native planting will also be introduced, providing natural screening and reducing visual impact on the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Our proposals for Harbour Farm seek to restore and enhance the existing building, allowing it to function beautifully as a contemporary family home while honouring its heritage, says Tom Turner, director at Tom Turner Architects. Were grateful to Chichester District Council for supporting our plans and recognising the careful balance of tradition and innovation we are aiming to achieve.Construction is expected to begin in the spring of next year.

Top (left to right): Kate Revyakina, lead designer; Adiam Sertzu, associate design director; Federica Sammarco, project interior designer. Bottom (left to right): Portia Leung, lead interior designer; Nelli Denisova, project design architect; Wiktoria Kopycka, lead interior designerArchitectural practice OBMI, founded in Bermuda in 1936, has opened a new office in London.Known for its work in Bermuda and the Middle East, OBMI aims to use its new London office as a base to grow its European business.The firm is targeting work in luxury resorts, high-end residential, and commercial developments.Luxury hotel projects in OBMIs portfolio include the Royal Mansour Marrakech, Tazi Palace Hotel in Tangier, and St. Regis Bermuda.The team includes Adiam Sertzu, the newly appointed associate design director, previously worked as design director at AKTII Envelopes, where she was involved in projects including the Ghana National Cathedral and the Chancery Rosewood hotel conversion of the former US embassy on Grosvenor Square.Source: ShutterstockRoyal Mansour MarrakechLead designer Kate Revyakina has worked for Zaha Hadid Architects and Heatherwick Studio, contributing to projects such as the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station inRiyadh and the Unicorn Island development inChengdu.Portia Leung, lead interior designer, has led designs for major hospitality brands, including Mandarin Oriental and Ritz Carlton, while computational designer Nelli Denisova, was previously at Zaha Hadid Architects.Brisbane-based practice Bureau Proberts also announced it was opening an office in London this week as it seeks to expand its work in the Middle East.The office will be led by the firms former project lead on its work at Neom, the megaproject underway in Saudi Arabia.

Brisbane-based firm appoints former Neom project lead to run UK baseWahat al Karama memorial park was designed in collaboration with Idris Khan and AecomAustralian practice Bureau Proberts has opened an office in London as it seeks to expand its global reach.The Brisbane-based firm was founded in 1990 by Liam Proberts and works mostly in Australia and the Middle East.Its most significant projects include work at the Trojena ski resort, part of the controversial Neom mega project in north western Saudi Arabia.New London office lead Monika Laudencka-Sobik was a former project lead at NeomThe practices London office will be led by Monika Laudencka-Sobik, who was previously project director for the firms work at Neom.She said Bureau Proberts said the office would provide a base for a growing portfolio of global projects.Im thrilled to lead Bureau Proberts European operations into their next phase. London is a global city and a launch pad to the rest of the world. Its a hub for talent and creative collaboration.Theres an exciting future ahead for Bureau Proberts and our international clients.Other schemes the practice has worked on include the Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, and Wahat al Karama, an art installation in Abu Dhabi designed in collaboration with artist Idris Khan and Aecom.Its major projects in Australia include the 28-storey 251 Wickham Street tower in Brisbane, which is currently under construction.

Winning design for Bertalia-Lazzaretto Ecodistrict focuses on sustainability and community integrationSource: a-factSource: a-fact1/3show captionA design team led by ATI Project, in collaboration with A-fact Architecture Factory, Weber Architects and Parcnouveau, has won an international competition to create a sustainable social housing district in Bologna.The proposal, commissioned by the Municipality of Bologna, aims to foster a resilient urban ecosystem in the citysBertalia-Lazzaretto neighbourhood.The 6,200sq m project prioritises landscape enhancement and sustainable mobility, with the design centred on connecting green spaces like Reno Park and the Ghisiliera Canal to surrounding areas.MasterplanSource: a-factFront elevationSource: a-factBioclimatic SectionSource: a-fact1/3show captionAccording to the design team, the new layout will support public space and foster social interactions, aiming to revitalise the community through shared courtyards and communal green areas.The schemes core feature, a north-south greenway along the Ghisiliera Canal, is intended to support sustainable transport options, linking local neighbourhoods to Bolognas city centre within a 15-minute walk.According to Giovanni Sanna, founding partner of A-fact Architecture Factory, the design seeks to respond to housing demand while integrating the development in the existing landscape and architectural context of Bologna.Rooftop terraces and communal greenhouses are incorporated to allow for urban agriculture and climate adaptation measures, with bioclimatic principles guiding the layout to maximise daylight and natural ventilation.

Front facadeSource: Pixel GraphRear facadeSource: Pixel GraphEntranceSource: Pixel GraphLevel 1 LobbySource: Pixel GraphLevel 3 Lift LobbySource: Pixel GraphStudySource: Pixel GraphWine librarySource: Pixel Graph1/7show captionSerie Architects has received planning approval for a five-storey residential block in Woodberry Down, near Manor House Underground Station in north London.The scheme is inspired by the art deco housing blocks that define the area. It will also have extensive planting throughout, providing residents with access to greenery from the entrance to individual units.The blocks design incorporates larger-than-standard unit layouts, exceeding the London Housing Design Guide by 28%, including seven triple-aspect units, one quadruple-aspect unit, and one double-aspect unit.The hallways in each unit have been designed to be particularly generous. Christopher Lee, principal of Serie Architects, explains that the design avoids tight and dark entrance hallways common in London, proposing instead a generous work from home space, or perhaps a gym or childrens playroom.With landscaping embedded into the building structure and extended across the site, the project promises a 320% increase in onsite biodiversity, including a 341 m communal garden, a 104.7 m biodiverse green roof, and 17 solar panels.Arthur Aw, executive director of developer Kimen Group, noted that the project aims to bring a living in nature approach from Singapore to London, creating what he describes as a new form of luxury a personal sanctuary and a home in the community.The projects sustainable features reportedly align with and exceed Hackney Councils guidance for small housing developments, emphasising biodiversity, renewable energy, and community spaces.Project DetailsLocation: Woodberry Down, Hackney, LondonDate: 2026 (estimated completion)Use: ResidentialGIA: 1,243 sqmSite area: 948 sqmDwelling units: 9Client: SEEDoE Woodberry (an affiliate of Kimen Group)Architect: Serie ArchitectsStructural Engineer: Webb Yates EngineersM&E Engineer: Mendick Waring LimitedLandscape Architect: Farrer HuxleyFire Strategy: SemperSurveyor: Red Laser ScanningDaylight/Sunlight Consultant: Schofield SurveyorsCost Consultant: Tim PierceArboriculture Consultant: Marcus FosterTransport Consultant: TTP ConsultingCGI: Pixel Graph

The concept design for the 12-storey scheme was developed by Hawkins\Brown, with delivery overseen by CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG ArchitectsSource: CPMG Architects1/6show captionThe 45 million Design and Digital Arts building at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has completed, with design delivery led by Nottingham-based CPMG Architects. Originally conceived by Hawkins\Brown, the 12-storey building aims to position NTU as a leader in digital arts and filmmaking education.Opened to students in September, the building houses advanced facilities including editing suites, a performance capture studio, and virtual production resources. Aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the building is designed to support courses in fields such as film, television, animation, UX design, games design, and graphic design.Michael Marsden, executive dean of NTUs Nottingham School of Art & Design, highlighted its potential impact, stating, This new building pushes the boundaries, not only through the architecture and technologies used to create it, but through the courses on offer, the opportunity for collaboration, and the graduates it will produce.CPMG Architects, appointed in December 2021, collaborated closely with main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland to refine and implement the concept, focusing on interior redesigns to support NTUs emphasis on digital arts.According to Alex Walker, project lead at CPMG, the project underscores the firms commitment to high-quality design and collaboration: Collaborating with a local design team to deliver an important project in our home city has been a richly rewarding experience especially as it creates a hub of creativity for the digital leaders of the future.Source: CPMG ArchitectsMichael Marsden, executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University, said: This new building pushes the boundaries, not only through the architecture and technologies used to create it, but through the courses on offer, the opportunity for collaboration, and the graduates it will produce. It will enable NTU to become a global leader in digital arts and filmmaking education, creating a rich talent pool of young creatives who will graduate with sector-leading expertise and hands-on industry experience, and help position us, and the city as a whole, as the most innovative hotbed for digital art and design talent in the UK.In addition to CPMG and Bowmer + Kirkland, the project team included MEP contractor Derry Building Services, structural engineer ARUP, and facade contractor KeyClad, among others.

Planning approval granted for co-living project with affordable housing, commercial, and community spaces on Woolwichs historic Island SiteSource: BB PartnershipBB Partnership has received planning approval and listed building consent for a 485-unit co-living development on the Island Site in Woolwich, southeast London. The scheme, approved by the Royal Borough of Greenwich on 12 November, involves a substantial mixed-use redevelopment across a 1.11-hectare area bordered by Wellington Street, Polytechnic Street, and Thomas Street, featuring residential units, commercial spaces, and conservation of listed buildings.The development, commissioned by Woolwich Island Limited, includes 485 co-living units, 20 affordable residential units, and over 3,000 square metres of flexible commercial and community space.The project emphasises the conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage assets, notably the Grade II-listed former University of Greenwich building, which will be repurposed for residential and communal use.Source: BB PartnershipThe design retains several other listed and locally listed structures within the Bathway Quarter of the Woolwich Conservation Area, aligning the developments height and massing to a six-storey limit to safeguard views of the Grade II* listed former Town Hall from General Gordon Square.In collaboration with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and other stakeholders, including Historic England and the Greater London Authority (GLA), BB Partnership has refined the scheme through a Planning Performance Agreement, incorporating feedback from multiple consultations to address local concerns.Source: BB PartnershipBB Partnerships design aims to connect new public and private amenity spaces with a landscaped central square, accessible from multiple points around the site.The schemes approach to sustainability includes a projected 55% reduction in carbon emissions against Building Regulations and a reported biodiversity net gain of 435%. The design aligns with the GLAs circular economy and lifecycle carbon goals.

Nicholas Boys Smith has said the governments decision to shut down the Office for Place risks ministers marking their own homework on housing design.Yesterday housing minister Matthew Pennycook announced the arms length body would be scrapped, arguing its role could be more effectively and efficiently delivered within the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).Source: Tom CampbellOffice for Place interim chair Nicholas Boys SmithSet up in July 2021 by former housing secretary Robert Jenrick, the Office for Place was tasked with ensuring quality design in new housing projects and driving the adoption of design codes by local authorities.Transformed into an independent body in July last year with plans for a head office in Stoke on Trent, it was envisaged as an enabler for the governments house building targets by promoting public consent for new schemes.Boys Smith, the founder of Create Streets and the interim chair of Office for Place, said the decision to close the body was a mistake and questioned whether the drive for quality in planning policy would be lost.He said: Naturally I am hugely disappointed by this news and think that it is a mistake or I would not have set it up. In the, correct dash for quantity there needs to be an independent voice for quality. Will that voice now be lost within Whitehall? We will find out. I hope not.> Also read:Office for Place seeks permanent chief executive and new Stoke-on-Trent headquartersBoys Smith added that it was a huge sadness that the organisation would not be able to set up its planned office in Stoke on Trent. Other staff on its board included classicist architect Robert Adam and AHMM co founder Paul Monaghan.The body was planning to publish an annual review into place-making and regenerative developments across England which would assess how many councils had adopted design codes, and how successful they were in enabling more housebuilding with public consent.Boys Smith said: Will the Government still publish [the review]? Is there a risk of them marking their own homework?While he admitted the Office for Place did not have a magic wand to speed up the delivery of more homes, he said its role was to drive efficiency by promoting clearer, more visual and more clearly locally popular local policy to permit more homes with more public consent.Pennycook said the decision to close the body had been taken by himself and housing secretary Angela Rayner following last months autumn Budget and the re-setting of departmental budgets.He insisted the move did not mean the government was not downgrading the importance of good design and placemaking, or the role of design coding in improving the quality of development.Instead, he promised it would draw the bodys expertise into MHCLG and fully integrate good design and placemaking into the governments planning reforms.I also believe that embedding this work within MHCLG will allow experience to be better reflected in decision-making, as well as integrated within an existing delivery team in Homes England already focused on design and placemaking, Pennycook said.The decision was also criticised by Jenrick, who said by ditching the building beautiful agenda, Labour would reduce consent for new housing and ruin the character of communities.His comments were backed byMichael Gove, Jenricks successor as housing secretary under the previous Conservative government, who said on X that Jenrick hadput beauty at the heart of the case for new development, adding The Office for Place - a centre of architectural excellence - was central to that. I do hope ministers think again.What Nicholas Boys Smith said on the decision to close the Office for PlaceNye Bevan said that While we shall be judged for a year or two by the number of houses we build.we shall be judged in 10 years time by the type of houses we build.We set up the Office was Place to be independent, non-partisan and broadly based. For example, when I started the process, the then Chief Executive of the Power to Change fund, and now deputy chief of staff to Sir Keir Starmer, kindly served as my deputy chair.Naturally I am hugely disappointed by this news and think that it is a mistake or I would not have set it up. In the, correct, dash for quantity there needs to be an independent voice for quality. Will that voice now be lost within Whitehall? We will find out. I hope not.I guess my job now is to keep asking the questions.The Office for Place was going to publish an annual review into place-making and beautiful and regenerative development across England. How many councils have visual design codes and pattern books in place? Are they authority-wide? Can they demonstrate that they are locally popular? Are they linked to fast-track development to help us build more homes with public consent? Are the codes making it possible for attractive intensification of existing streets? Above all, is the publics confidence growing in our ability to create new homes and places without scarring existing neighbourhoods?Will the Government still publish this? Is there a risk of them marking their own homework?No one disagrees that we are going to need to many more homes. The most common request from councils is for more staff. This is not surprising given the highly discretionary and inefficient way we have ended up running our planning system. The Office for Place did not have a magic wand to fix this. But the Government doesnt have one of those either. We were designing the Office for Place as a force multiplier, helping move the democracy forward and work smarter by setting clearer, more visual and more clearly locally popular local policy to permit more homes with more public consent. This means that each individual planning application can be handled more efficiently without losing public good will.If you like, we were trying to help not just force more development water down the planning pipe but to widen the pipe.I wish the new government well in their important work. I am delighted that they are keeping important hooks in the planning system for beautiful and popular place-making. But will those hooks be enough without a small body committed to supporting councils put them into practice with enabling and popular local plans? We are going to find out.Above all I would like to thank my marvellous board, our expert advisors and the brilliant officials who supported us tirelessly. I am so pleased that they will be able to move to new roles. We also had plans to bring in national expertise to support the regenerative development of our home, Stoke on Trent. It is a huge sadness to me that we will not now be able to put those into action.I can only apologise to those in the place-making industry that our attempt to create a small, independent and powerful voice for the importance of place within governmenthashit the buffers. One day we willgetthere. And the mission to create new places and steward existing places to be happy and healthy, resilient and beautiful is never-ending.

The National Trust for Scotland plans to reopen historic cottage to the public in 2025Source: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben AddySource: Ben Addy1/8show captionMoxon Architects has restored the Royal Picnic Cottage on the Mar Lodge Estate, a property once frequented by Queen Victoria during her Balmoral holidays.Situated within Britains largest National Nature Reserve, the project aims to safeguard this Category C listed structure for future generations. Originally built around 1850, the granite cottage has been removed from Scotlands Buildings at Risk Register following conservation efforts.The restoration used locally sourced materials and revived the cottages original architectural elements, including timber twig detailing and larch roof shingles, a rarity in Scotland.Andrew MacPherson, director of Moxon Architects, stated, As an architecture practice deeply invested in the regions heritage, we have proudly worked with The National Trust for Scotland to preserve a significant piece of local heritage on the Mar Lodge Estate. He added that the approach was one of minimal yet durable interventions to withstand the remote and challenging climate.Structural repairs included lime mortar repointing, harling of the walls, and the installation of conservation rooflights. The interior now features new timber flooring and restored fireplaces, with original roof timbers hand-oiled to a dark finish. Historic survey drawings helped guide the sympathetic reinstatement of the wooden porch, once a prominent feature of the cottage.Source: Ben AddySource: Ben Addy1/2show captionDavid Frew, Head of Mar Lodge Estate for the National Trust for Scotland, noted the cottages historical significance: Our archival research and archaeological survey showed that there used to be a porch on the property, and we have tried to reinstate this sympathetically with the help of our architects Moxon.He also highlighted the propertys royal connection, stating, The building is a fascinating look back at how the royals used to spend their free time, and were incredibly proud to see it restored.Set to reopen in 2025, the cottage will feature informational displays and custom furniture, inviting visitors to experience its 19th-century character amidst the surrounding woodland. The restoration was supported by funding from the NTS USA Foundation.

Two practices to work with UK engineering firm Mott MacDonald on first three modules of controversial Saudi megaprojectNeoms vision for the first phase of The LineGensler and Vienna-based practice Delugan Meissl Associate Architects have been handed key roles on the first phase of The Line in Saudi Arabia.The two firms will collaborate with UK engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald on the first three modules of the 170km-long megaproject, itself part of a much larger developing region called Neom.Scheduled to complete in 2045, The Line is envisaged to have a total of 140 modules, each measuring 800m long, 200m wide and flanked by two parallel 500m high walls with the completed scheme expected to house nine million people.Delugan Meissl Associate Architects (DMAA) has been appointed as urban designer by Neom and will lead the concept and detailed masterplan for the first phase.The practice will also continue to support Neom on later phases of the project to maintain its design vision on the first phase as further architects are appointed.> Also read:Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for The Line, say reportsGensler has picked up a role as city planning consultant on the first three modules and will lead on city design coordination and city planning while leading on governance across the project on areas including planning policies, frameworks, land use and design compliance.The worlds biggest practice has also been appointed as city asset design architect for critical city infrastructure, including transport hubs and public realm.Source: NEOMThe linear city will be flanked by two 500m high walls covered in mirrored claddingMott MacDonald has joined as city infrastructure engineer, tasked with driving management and control of the schemes vertical and horizontal structures and utility systems.The Lines chief development officer Denis Hickey said the project had established a unique partnership that brings world-leading city design and engineering expertise to deliverphase one.He added: Collaboration is at the core of this, with a city-wide best practice group that will showcase how innovation can change the way we consider, design and build cities forever. This reflects NEOMs vision and global ambition.Other developing projects in Neom, which will stretch across 26,500sq m of desert in Saudi Arabias north western Tabuk Province, include a floating octagonal industrial complex and the Arabian peninsulas first outdoor ski resort.Neom, Gensler, DMAA and Mott MacDonald have been contacted for comment.

First phase planning application includes two residential schemes, one by M Architects with Studio Multi and another by Archio LtdA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAXA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAXA rendering of Studio Egret West's Lewisham masterplanSource: WAX1/3show captionLewishams 1970s shopping centre is set to be reimagined as a vibrant, landscape-led town centre under a 17-acre masterplan developed by Studio Egret West in collaboration with Landsec U+I. The proposal, submitted last week, seeks to integrate 1,700 new homes, enhanced public green spaces, and a 500-person live music venue to boost the local cultural scene.The redevelopment plan, which includes detailed applications for the first two residential buildings designed by M Architects Studio Multi and Archio Ltd, aims to transform Lewisham into a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly district. Key features include eight acres of accessible green spaces, including a central urban meadow, along with wildflower planting and over 300 new trees to promote biodiversity.The scheme seeks to prioritise sustainability and resilience, with designs centred around pedestrian zones, local retail spaces, and community areas that have been designed to reflect Lewishams character.Plot N1, designed by Mae with Studio Multi, will deliver 445 co-living studios with retail space at ground level. N2 by Archio Ltd will provide 119 homes in a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments.N1 by Mae and Studio MultiSource: Mae / Studio MultiN1 shown within the site wide illustrative planSource: Mae / Studio MultiN1 shown within the site wide illustrative planSource: Mae / Studio MultiN2 by Archio LtdSource: Archio LtdN2 by Archio LtdSource: Archio Ltd1/6show captionLucas Lawrence, Director at Studio Egret West, commented: Lewisham Shopping Centre dramatically redefined the Lewisham town centre in the 1960s. Sixty years later, we feel very fortunate to be charged with redesigning its future, both as an improved neighbourhood town centre but also as a major new place for South London.The development will bring homes, shops, restaurants, public realm and a music venue into the heart of Lewisham, all focused around a new multi-levelled landscape that offers a greener, healthier place to be. Lawrence added that the project emphasises retaining and retrofitting existing structures where feasible, including notable buildings such as Lewisham House and sections of the high street.Community engagement was prioritised during the projects development, with over 3,000 residents involved in shaping the masterplan. Landsec U+Is CEO, Mike Hood, highlighted the significance of local involvement, stating: This submission marks an important milestone to create a new green centre for Lewisham. A place that people will love, that brings immense social and economic change, thousands of much-needed homes, and a beautiful green meadow on top of a revived shopping centre.Jon Watson, Development Director at Landsec U+I, echoed this, describing the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people who live in and around Lewisham town centre and across the wider Borough.Watson added, Right from the start of our journey to rethink the centre, we heard loud and clear from thousands of locals what mattered most to them: Better housing, for everyone; more green spaces; music and culture; more places to eat and hang out; a better mix of shops with more choice; a place where everyone can feel welcome and safe. The final designs reflect all of this and more.

Acmes scaled back proposals to cost a third less than previous plans and will be submitted within next two monthsAcmes new vision for the station will cost around a third less to buildNetwork Rail will appoint a new development partner for its overhaul of Liverpool Street station after receiving planning permission, the boss of its property arm has said.Robin Dobson said Network Rail Property is currently in discussions with all development partners that are in and around the private sector market on its radically different Acme-designed proposals for the station announced last week.Firms the transport operator is talking still include Sellar and MTR, Network Rails partners on a former version of the scheme designed by Herzog & de Meuron which was aborted following a backlash from heritage groups.Robin Dobson said Network Rails new team was working at unprecedented speed to get the planning application ready for submissionBut Dobson told Building that Network Rail was now running the application ourselves and a new development partner will not be appointed on the scheme until post consent.To get the right solution, we have taken, I think, the bold decision and the right decision to lead the application ourselves and to employ a new team, Dobson said.We have taken stock over many months to work out how we best move forward with the project. We as Network Rail Property are leading the new application, and we are speaking with the developer market and the investment market as we would do with any application.He added: Thats Network Rail Propertys focus, the new application.Dobson, who joined the business as group property director in 2022, said the new team was working at an unprecedented speed on its redesign of the station.Plans are expected to be submitted within the next two months in what Dobson claimed would be one of the fastest planning applications of a project of this scale and this complexity in the City of London.This could allow the new proposals to be assigned a planning committee date as soon as next summer, with Network Rail aiming to start construction within two years of the plans being approved.Robin Dobson said Network Rails new team was working at unprecedented speed to get the planning application ready for submissionDobson also revealed new details of how the scheme differs from Sellars existing plans, submitted to the City last year, which proposed a 20-storey office tower controversially built above the grade II*-listed former Great Eastern Hotel.Acmes proposals would be significantly cheaper to build, coming in at a cost of around 1bn, a third less than the 1.5bn price tag attached to the Sellar scheme.Cost savings would be achieved primarily through a more efficient construction programme which would not touch the listed hotel and retain more of the stations 1980s extension.The overstation office tower would also be reduced in size by three floors and contain around 650,000sq ft of floorspace, compared to the 800,000 sq ft building proposed by Sellar, and would no longer be cantilevered over the listed hotel.Network Rail has been developing the new proposals, described by Dobson as quite a move on from the previous application, since the summer at the same time as Sellar and Herzog & de Meuron has been amending its own plans.The latters original proposals were widely criticised by heritage groups including Historic England, which argued the scheme would profoundly damage the character of the station as a whole if built.Concerns focused mainly on the impact of the scheme on the grade II-listed station, the adjacent listed hotel and on views of St Pauls Cathedral.The application amassed more than 2,200 objections from members of the public and was also recommended for refusal by two neighbouring councils, Westminster and Hackney.Building Design first revealed Sellar and Herzog & de Meuron were making changes to their submitted scheme in May this yearbefore further details of the now shelved redesign were outlined last month.Network Rails new project team includes Aecom on engineering and transport, Certo as project manager, Gerald Eve on planning, Gleeds as cost manager, Donald Insall Associates on heritage and townscape, GIA on daylight and sunlight and SLA as landscape architect.Scott Brownrigg, which had been working with Sellar as transport architect, is no longer working with Network Rail on the scheme.

Report for the Centre for Social Justice found 52% of frequently lonely adults did not believe buildings are designed to encourage communityA think tank has called on the government to combat loneliness through planning reforms after finding more than half of people who are often lonely partially blame architects and planners.A poll of more than 2,000 adults in April this year for the centre-right leaning Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found 52% of people who often felt lonely disagreed that buildings are designed in a way that encourages a sense of community.Out of all adults surveyed, the number was 43%, which would equate to 23.7 million people if the survey sample was expanded to the size of the UK population.The CSJ report found a strong correlation between loneliness and negative feelings about the built environmentThe poll found 53% of frequently lonely people believed architects and planners are out of touch with what local people want their community to look like, while 49% of all adults surveyed believed this to be the case.The study, published this month, found that people who are lonely are also more likely to feel negative about the built environment and those responsible for creating it.More than half, 51%, of frequently lonely people disagreed that buildings are generally beautiful, compared to 38% of all adults surveyed.But loneliness is prevalent across the population, with nearly six in ten adults feeling lonely at least some of the time, and over one in five reporting feelings of existential loneliness and a fundamental separateness from other people and the wider world.The CSJ, an independent think tank co-founded in 2004 by former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith, has urged the government to launch a new loneliness strategy that includes commitments to tackle loneliness through the built environment.The think tank has also called for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to require every local authority to produce a community ownership strategy which would allow communities to lead housing redevelopment projects.

Planning officers had recommended refusal for Milton Studio-designed scheme due to urbanising impactHow the scheme would look if builtA council in Kent has promised to robustly defend its opposition to a major new housing development after the scheme was called in by housing secretary Angela Rayner.Swale Borough Council had been set to give its verdict on the 8,400-home Highsted Park on Friday (7 November), with officers recommending the scheme be refused. However the decision was taken out of its hands just hours before its scheduled committee meeting.Planning officers recommended refusal on the basis of the urbanising impact which they said was harmful to the intrinsic amenity value of the countryside. However the housing secretarys intervention means there will now be a public inquiryheld into the proposals, following which a report will be submitted to ministers to determine the case.The scheme has been brought forward by master developer Quinn Estates, with Milton Studio as masterplan architect. The project team also includes Corstorphine & Wright as masterplanner for a business park, Murdoch Wickham as landscape masterplanner and Montagu Evans as planning and heritage consultant.The mixed-use development is split across two sites, each with its own outline planning application.> Also read:We wouldnt be doing it if it wasnt wanted: Duchy of Cornwall project team defends 2,500-home Faversham schemeThe northern site application seeks permission for the phased development of up to 96ha to the west of Teynham, and includes up to 2,200sq m of commercial food space.The southern site application seeks permission for phased dedvelopment of up to 579ha of land to the south and east of Sittingbourne, and includes 170,000sq m of commercial space.Both parts of the scheme include schools, open spaces, community buildings and relief roads.Planning officers recommended refusal on the basis of the urbanising impact which they said was harmful to the intrinsic amenity value of the countryside.Elliott Jayes, vice chair of Swale Borough Councils planning committee, said: We will work closely with the Secretary of State as they make their determination, but we will robustly explain the councils reasons for recommending refusal.We understand the importance of these two applications but would appreciate being informed of the Secretary of States decision before less than three hours until the planning committee meeting so we can adequately prepare our response.A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: As the case will now come before ministers, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Source: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVC1/7show captionStudio AVC has completed Frame House, a new home within a predominantly Victorian conservation area.The design respects the heritage of the neighbourhood, incorporating materials and architectural details that reference nearby Victorian architecture.Key features include angled brick soffits and recessed glazing inspired by local decorative eaves brackets, along with dog-tooth brickwork that echoes the intricate patterns found on surrounding buildings. The front faades geometry also aligns with the canted bay windows characteristic of nearby homes.Ayca Vural-Cutts, founding director of Studio AVC, said: Frame House embodies an innovative architectural approach that celebrates light, views, and openness while balancing privacy within a contemporary urban setting. At its core, the design is distinguished by an angled faade that both frames and directs the interiors connection to the outside world, enhancing natural light and creating dynamic sightlines.Inside, the layout maximises light and space, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a central open-plan kitchen and dining area. Large sliding doors open to a terraced garden, integrating the indoor and outdoor spaces.Bedrooms on the upper floors are framed by Juliette balconies, providing views of the surrounding landscape. Reflective solar-control glass on the front faade enhances privacy while maintaining a visual connection to the street.Source: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVCSource: Studio AVC1/6show captionConstructed from handmade bricks and sustainable materials, Frame House emphasises craftsmanship and energy efficiency. Insulated building fabric, a new heating system, and a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system reduce energy consumption, while a biodiverse roof supports local ecology.According to the designers, the buildings environmental performance marks a significant improvement over previous structures on the site, with solar studies guiding the integration of rooflights and shading to prevent overheating.Project dataStart on site: August 2023Completion date: October 2024Gross internal floor area: 190 mGross (internal + external) floor area: 240 mArchitectural team: Studio AVCStructural engineer: Anderson Consulting EngineersPrincipal designer: Studio AVCApproved building inspector: Stroma Building ControlMain contractor: Onebuild Group LtdPhotographs courtesy of Studio AVCSuppliersFacade: Vande Moortel (brickwork)Sliding door systems: MinimaAll furniture and lighting: SCP ContractsFloors: The Natural Wood Floor Company and Lazenby for polished concreteKitchen: The Wood WorksMVHR design: Green Building Store

Source: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze VisSource: Haze Vis1/6show captionArchitectural practice GPAD has submitted planning for the restoration and modernisation of a 1917 Neo-Baroque building on Colmore Row, Birmingham.In partnership with Marlborough Property Company and V7, the proposal aims to preserve and enhance the historic structure within the Colmore and Environs Conservation Area as part of the Snow Hill Masterplan. The project aims to deliver a sustainable office retrofit that respects Birminghams architectural heritage while prioritising occupant well-being.78-90 Colmore Row was built between 1915 and 1917, designed by the architectural firm Ewan Harper & Brother & Co.The Portland stone exterior will undergo a light refurbishment to retain its character, while a fifth-floor zinc-clad extension steps back from the faade, minimising its visual impact. Additional changes include replacing existing mansard walls with textured Portland stone to harmonise with nearby historic buildings, including the Grade I listed St. Philips Cathedral.The design also incorporates a 2,700 sq. ft landscaped roof terrace and a ground-floor business lounge, with views over Cathedral Square. Accessibility improvements focus on a more prominent corner entrance.Source: Haze VisThe interior, influenced by nineteenth and twentieth-century design, will feature local cultural references and colours drawn from a palette by Birmingham artist Stacey Barnfield.Sustainability targets include LETI B minimum for upfront embodied carbon, BREEAM Excellent status, NABERS 4.5*, and an EPC B rating. Smart technology and renewable energy solutions are integrated to support AirRated Platinum and WELL certifications, as well as a 10% biodiversity net gain.Zak Veasey, director at V7, commented on the collaborative approach: The team we have appointed to design and rebuild 90 Colmore Row is a diverse senior team fully committed to our vision for the project People the reason I love what I do in Real Estate!A local practiceEwen & J. Alfred Harper, also known as Ewen Harper, Brother & Co., was an architectural partnership established in Birmingham in 1897 by Ewen Harper (1853-1920) and his brother, James Alfred Henry Harper (1866-1952). The Harper brothers, dedicated Methodists, designed a significant number of non-conformist churches, along with a variety of commercial, industrial, public, and residential buildings, primarily in the Birmingham area. One of their notable works includes the Methodist Central Hall in Birmingham, completed in 1903.Ewen Harper retired in 1919, and his son, Leonard Ewen Harper (1886-1954), joined the practice, which continued as Ewen Harper, Brother & Co. until 1937.

Homes England has approved a 124m funding package for L&Q and the Mayor of London to help deliver a total of 20,000 homes at Barking Riverside.The Barking Riverside plan is set to deliver 20,000 homes in totalSo far 3,500 homes have been delivered or are under construction at Barking Riverside, a 443-acre brownfield site. With the new funding, an additional 16,500 homes will be built.A minimum of 35% of the 20,000 homes will be designated as affordable.Last month, L&Q submitted a planning application with Stantec as lead consultant to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to add another 9,200 homes to the scheme, on top of the 10,800 homes that were originally approved in 2008.>> See also:Permission sought to double Barking Riverside delivery to 20,000 homesThe Homes England funding is a combination of loan and grant funding and will help the master developer Barking Riverside Limited , a joint venture between L&Q and the Mayor of London, to prepare the site for construction.This includes building flood defences, an energy centre and parks.The 3,500 homes that have already been built or are under construction at the former Barking Power Station site are being constructed by housebuilder Bellway.Transport infrastructure to deliver the initial 10,800 homes has already been completed following a previous funding from Homes England in 2020.The new Barking Riverside overground station opened in 2022, while the development will also give the community access to a network of footpaths and cycleways.Future homes built at Barking Riverside will be powered by a low carbon District Heating Network, which means that heat and hot water is generated locally and brought to homes through an underground network of insulated pipes, an environmentally friendly alternative to gas boilers.Once completed, Barking Riverside will have seven new schools. Four of these have already been completed, including two primary schools, a secondary school and a Special Educational Needs school.Fiona Fletcher-Smith, chief executive of L&Q described the new funding as a vital boost for the scheme.She added: With demand for affordable housing soaring, housing associations like L&Q are essential to delivering solutions but real progress depends on government support. Thats why this investment is so important: it allows us to do more, faster, and at a scale that truly meets the needs of local people.Fletcher-Smith stated that Barking Riverside shows what is possible when ambition meets collaboration.Through strong partnerships and a shared vision, we are transforming this brownfield site into a sustainable community, prioritising quality homes, green spaces, and new opportunities.The progress here is a testament to what two like-minded organisations can achieve together, and were excited to move forward with the next phase of homes and infrastructure for the people of east London.Tom Copley, the deputy mayor of London for housing and residential development, said: Im delighted that 124 million has been secured to help unlock 20,000 new, high-quality homes. This will help support the mayors plans to boost homebuilding across London and build a fairer, more prosperous city for everyone.

RIBA has announced three finalists for the 2024 RIBA International Prize, with projects in Germany, Spain, and China competing for the global award recognising transformative architectureRIBA has unveiled the three finalists for its prestigious 2024 International Prize, highlighting projects in Germany, Spain, and China.The shortlisted buildings Jacoby Studios in Germany by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, Modulus Matrix in Spain by Peris + Toral Arquitectes, and the Lianzhou Museum of Photography in China by O-office Architects represent innovative approaches to design and community impact.The RIBA International Prize, established in 2015, honours buildings that demonstrate visionary thinking, originality, and a commitment to users and communities.RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said, The conservation of the planets resources and the provision of the best housing in which people can grow and thrive remain two of the central concerns of architects around the world.From a timber-framed social housing building with an inventive use of space, to two projects focused on the repair, restoration and transformation of buildings to create new and useful space to work or participate in culture, these three inspiring projects demonstrate the ability of architecture to meet shared, global challenges head on.Jacoby Studios, Paderborn, GermanyDesigned by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, this project transformed a historic gothic monastery in Paderborn into an office space that sought to preserve and celebrate the original stone and brick structure while integrating modern timber and concrete elements. David Chipperfield remarked, Our project, deeply rooted in its complex historical context, brings together fragmented elements to create a cohesive urban whole. The jury praised its beautiful execution in mixing repair and restoration with disciplined new-build, presenting a model for sophisticated office design.Modulus Matrix, Cornell, SpainPeris + Toral Arquitectes Modulus Matrix in Barcelona sought to redefine social housing with an innovative timber-frame construction that houses 85 rented units around a communal courtyard. The structures modular matrix of communicating rooms is designed to foster a strong community spirit. Co-founder Marta Peris stated, This project proposes an alternative way of living in a matrix of undifferentiated rooms without hierarchies, without corridors, without gender distinctions. The jury commended its efficient use of cross-laminated timber and practical yet poetic design.Lianzhou Museum of Photography, Lianzhou, ChinaO-office Architects Lianzhou Museum of Photography, situated in a former sugar mill, set out to revitalise the citys historic centre with a multi-level structure around a refurbished warehouse. The design weaves galleries and community spaces with a central courtyard that reflects local culture and identity. Jianxiang He of O-office Architects emphasised, This recognition will allow more people to understand the projects significance to the local community as a contemporary art museum. The jury highlighted the buildings integration into the city fabric and its balance of contemporary and traditional design.Each project will be visited by the RIBA Grand Jury, which includes international architects and curators Lu Wenyu, Paola Antonelli, and Tosin Oshinowo.The winner of the bi-annual award will be announced on 27 November 2024.

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Studio Kysons 14-storey scheme the third to be approved on site since 2013Studio Kyson's latest plans for the 1 Vince Street site1/4show captionProposals to replace a row of single-storey food takeaway buildings on Old Street with an office tower have been approved by Hackney council.The 14-storey scheme by Shoreditch-based practice Studio Kyson at 1 Vince Street will provide around 3,700sq m of office space in the developing Old Street roundabout area.It is the third proposal drawn up for the site for family-owned developer Max Barney, which has been eyeing development of the scheme for more than a decade.An initial proposal by Horden Cherry Lee Architects for a nine-storey mixed-use building was approved in 2013 but never built. Studio Kyson then took over in 2015 to design a 10-storey retail and residential building which was also approved and not built.> Also read:KPFs 35-storey Shoreditch tower approvedStudio Kyson were brought back in 2022 to devise a taller commercially led development incorporating three additional plots of adjacent land bought up by Max Barney.Proposed entrance to the towerThe narrow site occupies a stretch of Old Street leading from Old Street station to the centre of Shoreditch. It is currently occupied by takeaway restaurants and a cocktail bar.Hackney councils planning officers said the scheme would be a high quality tall building which successfully optimises the use of the site.Officers added that the schemes height, despite increasing by five storeys since the initial application, was appropriate for the emerging context around Old Street which includes KPFs consented plans for a 35-storey office tower at 99 City Road.The project team includes planning consultant Rolfe Judd Planning, structural engineer Symmetrys, heritage consultant KM Heritage and building services engineer Ridge & Partners.

Eric Parry Architects has completed a substantial retrofit of 11 Belgrave Road in Victoria for investor-developer Quadrum Global.Source: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk LindnerSource: Dirk Lindner1/10show captionThe project, which retained 35% of the original 1950s structure, was designed to enhance the buildings environmental footprint and improve its functionality within the Pimlico Conservation Area. Eric Parry Architects, in collaboration with MEP engineer Max Fordham, structural and civil engineer Heyne Tillett Steel, and landscape architects Gillespies, transformed the outdated structure into a net-zero, user-centred office environment with increased floor space, natural light, and extensive biophilic features.11 Belgrave Road exemplifies how modern office buildings can achieve both sustainable and operational excellence while providing spaces that enhance employee experience, said Lewis Benmore, Associate at Eric Parry Architects.Originally constructed in the late 1950s to replace a bomb-damaged 19th-century church and Victorian townhouses, 11 Belgrave Road had become incompatible with conservation area standards. The retrofit preserved significant portions of the existing concrete structure, reducing lifetime embodied carbon by 38% below the RIBA 2030 target, with projected whole-life emissions at 466 kg CO2e/m. A new steel and cross-laminated timber penthouse office level added 31% more floor space, including garden terraces with panoramic views of London.The project a 150,000 sq ft Grade A office space has achieved the UKs first NABERS Design for Performance rating of 5.5 stars, as well as certifications for BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, Wiredscore Platinum, and Smartscore Platinum.11 Belgrave Road demonstrates that low operational energy buildings can be delivered while retaining many structural elements of an existing building, said Dean Irvine, Senior Engineer at Max Fordham.Source: Dirk LindnerLandscaping by Gillespies incorporates biodiverse courtyards, planted terraces, and edible gardens to promote nature engagement. Together, weve crafted a workplace that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, where human wellbeing and natures networks are intricately connected, said Gillespies Partner Eugenia Grilli.The buildings design includes adaptable facades intended for future disassembly, with a self-supporting stone faade that harmonises with the traditional stucco terraces nearby. Engineered oak curtain walls enhance indoor acoustics, while bio-based materials, such as hempcrete, have been used extensively throughout.Project Team:Client: Quadrum GlobalArchitect: Eric Parry ArchitectsDevelopment Manager: Bankfoot APAMPlanning Consultant: Gerald EveStructural Engineer: Heyne Tillett SteelMEP Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Vertical Transport and Smart Buildings Consultancy: Max FordhamQuantity Surveyor: AbakusFaade Engineer: FMDCLandscape Architect: GillespiesFire Consultant: The Fire SurgeryTransport Consultant: Pell FrischmanAcoustic Consultant: Sandy Brown AssociatesAccess and Maintenance Consultant: Reef AssociatesWELL Consultant: EkkistBREEAM: Delta Green Environmental Design

Nursery forestSource: Maccreanor LavingtonSource: Maccreanor LavingtonLibrarySource: Maccreanor LavingtonClassroomSource: Maccreanor Lavington1/4show captionMaccreanor Lavington, alongside landscape architects Erect Architecture, has been appointed by Populo Living to design a new primary school and adjacent residential building, adding over 100 build-to-rent flats as part of Newhams Carpenters Estate regeneration.The project will replace the existing Carpenters Primary School with a modern, three-storey building designed to accommodate future expansion from one to three forms of entry. Populo Living, Newhams development company, will oversee delivery, with new housing revenues helping fund the schools redevelopment.The designs will enable the existing school to grow easily over time from two forms of entry to three, whilst still maintaining a friendly small-school feel, said Tom Waddicor, associate architect at Maccreanor Lavington. Communal spaces will offer a civic presence, aligning with Newhams broader commitment to social infrastructure.Play-focused landscape designs by Erect Architecture known for their work on Tumbling Bay Playground at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will enhance the outdoor environment with activity areas designed around existing and new trees. This green space, along with the new school layout, will provide pupils with outdoor play facilities and integrate with the wider estates planned community centre.Source: Maccreanor LavingtonTeachers roomMayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz noted that the plans for Carpenters School are a smart solution for a dated building, with enough space to add new homes that will help fund the project all without impacting students experiences. Its a flexible, forward-thinking way to achieve our goals, especially with todays financial challenges.With a planning submission anticipated by late 2025, the project will be delivered independently from the broader Carpenters Estate Masterplan.>> Also read:Hawkins Brown appointed to lead next phase of Carpenters Estate regeneration

Comer Homes 200-home site in Woolwich handed enforcement notice last year after breaching planning permissionSource: Royal Borough of GreenwichThe built-out version of the 23-storey Mast Quay Phase II in Woolwich, compared with the consented versionThe Planning Inspectorate has promised a decision by the end next month on an appeal by a developer on a 204-home scheme in Woolwich which was handed a demolition order when it was found to have breached its planning permission.Greenwich council issued Comer Homes with an enforcement notice in September 2023 calling for the Mast Quay Phase II development to be taken down following the discovery of 26 main deviations from consented plans.The south-east London scheme, which was designed by Southwark-based Upchurch Associates and consists of three blocks up to 23 storeys, was approved in 2012 and completed in 2022 by Comer Homes after its original developer went into administration.It is already occupied by residents, who have set up a campaign group called Save Our Sails calling for the buildings to be saved from the wrecking ball.Comer launched an appeal against the enforcement notice in October 2023 with the Planning Inspectorate starting inquiry hearings in July this year and finishing in early September.> Also read:Developer rejects council claims over mutant Woolwich towersThe Inspectorate has now said it expects a decision on the appeal to be announced before Christmas.Comer Group said in September that it remains confident a sensible decision will be made for all residents of Mast Quay.The developer, which does not dispute the scheme breaches its planning consent, has previously blamed post-Grenfell fire safety regulations as its motivation to change elements of the scheme during construction.Lawyers for the firm said in their opening statement at the inquiry that it had informed the council of plans to change the schemes cladding in 2021, arguing Comer Homes was convinced it needed to build differently to the pre-Grenfell permission.However, Greenwich argued the changes to the facade were just one element of the scheme which breached its planning permission.The council said two of the schemes three blocks had larger footprints than the planning consent permitted and that supposedly accessible features had not been incorporated into accessible apartments.The completed development was also said to have missing roof gardens and a childrens play area, while a surface car park is occupying land intended for a landscaped garden area.Comer Homes has been contacted for comment.

Independent panel set up by government and chaired by Michael Lyons issues call for evidenceThe New Towns Taskforce is seeking views on potential locations for new settlements of more than 10,000 homes.Homes being built for Ebbsfleet Garden City, one of the more recent new towns in the UKThe independent panel, chaired by Sir Michael Lyons (see box below), was set up by the government to advise ministers on appropriate locations for significant new communities, including large-scale urban extension and regeneration schemes.In a call for evidence issued this week, the taskforce said it is looking for proposals for large developments. A core part of the Taskforces work will be to consider how to fund and deliver new settlements and it will deliver a shortlist of recommended schemes to ministers by next July.It said: The taskforce is interested in proposals that are regionally significant for both housing numbers and economic growth.The unifying principle will be that each of the new settlements will contain 10,000 homes, at the very least, and that most, if not all, will be far larger in size. We are aiming for a gold standard of 40% affordable housing.The taskforce is asking for submissions of up to 1,000 words on each potential development, answering a number of questions about the location and proposed scheme, how it meets the taskforces remit and what the barriers are to delivery.The call for evidence will be open until 13 December.New Towns Taskforce MembersSir Michael Lyons (Chair)Dame Kate Barker (Deputy Chair)Bill HughesDame Diane CoyleEamonn BoylanHelen GordonKate HendersonNick RaynsfordSowmya ParthasarathyDr Wei Yang

Source: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey Spaces1/5show captionHopkins Architects has completed a Science and Technology (SciTech) centre at Haileybury, the independent school in Hertfordshire, which seeks to support the delivery of science education through interconnected, sustainable design.The development, doubling the schools science teaching provision, has been conceived as a way to improve connectivity between STEM disciplines within the historic collegiate campus.The project, awarded through a design competition, integrates a cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam-framed extension with Haileyburys existing buildings around a central courtyard. The schools grade II-listed Herbert Baker building has been modified, creating an axial link to newer facilities that are intended to help unify the campus.Mike Taylor, principal of Hopkins, remarked, Historically schools have tended to divide up subjects into separate accommodation to encourage specialisation. This project breaks down those barriers by linking existing buildings with new architectural elements to form a single science and technology department.A new teaching block for biology and computational labs forms part of the extension, while a research block with a butterfly rooflight completes the courtyards structure. Classrooms at each end of the building feature windows on three sides, maximising natural light and views.Reflecting Haileyburys sustainability aims, the project incorporates green roofs, ground source heat pumps, natural ventilation, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) in lab spaces.Source: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey SpacesSource: Airey Spaces1/6show captionThe use of CLT for the structure achieved up to 56% reduction in embodied carbon, demonstrating a significant environmental advantage over traditional methods. Offsite manufacturing of timber components facilitated efficient integration with the heritage buildings on the occupied site.The SciTech centre hosts extensive facilities, including laboratories, robotics and design technology suites, a VR room, media room, and a geodome.A dedicated research centre will support projects such as Stan-X, a genetics study using fruit flies in collaboration with Stanford University and the University of Oxford, with Haileybury as the first European school involved.Master of Haileybury Martin Collier commented, SciTech is an amazing and beautiful building which brings together, in a seamless and historically appropriate way, several new and existing teaching functions.The real benefit goes beyond the physical classrooms the collaborative space enables our pupils to not simply learn science, or read about engineering but become scientists, engineer new creations and use their cross-disciplinary knowledge to become true innovators.Through a partnership with Haileybury Turnford a nearby state school sponsored by Haileybury the SciTech centre is also intended to serve the wider community, providing collaborative science-based learning opportunities for students from both schools.Project teamProject manager: Gardiner & TheobaldCost manager: Gardiner & TheobaldPrincipal designer: Gardiner & TheobaldStructural & civil engineer: Integral Engineering DesignMEP engineer: Atelier TenLighting designer: Atelier TenFire consultant: Atelier TenAcoustic consultant: Adrian James AcousticsPlanning consultant: TurleyBuilding control: Hertfordshire BCEcology consultant: Richard Graves AssociatesTransport consultant: Caneparo AssociatesLandscape architect: ME LandscapesMain contractor: Kier Construction Limited

The construction sector is sleepwalking towards the next cladding tragedy because of a culture of silence, according to a non-profit organisation tasked with raising standards in the industry.The Considerate Constructors Scheme makes 10,000 monitoring visits to construction sites every year in an effort to raise standards, and its logo is seen on the hoardings of thousands of construction sites across the country.Source: ShutterstockConsiderate Constructors logo can be seen on hoardings across the UKToday (Tuesday), its executive chair has come out with a dire warning that frontline construction staff are being deterred from speaking out about dangerous or sub-optimal materials.We want to sound the alarm that we are still sleepwalking towards the next industry tragedy. The Grenfell fire occurred because of a culture of chasing profits over performance and speed of delivery over safety, said Amit Oberoi, executive chairman of the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).But also - beyond this - a culture of silence in the industry, which deters frontline construction staff from speaking out about dangerous or sub-optimal materials they are being asked to use in builds.The Grenfell Phase 2 Report, which was published on 4 September this year, found that incompetence in the construction sector and a casual approach to contractual relations had paved the way for the disaster in which 73 people lost their lives.The inquiry also determined that the failures in the refurbishment job that led to the fire were likely widespread in the construction industry at that time.>> Read more: Three in five buildings with dangerous cladding have yet to be identified, warns watchdogOberoi said that every week since the report was published, CCS had been approached by workers of all backgrounds to tell them that there were concerned and even frightened about the poor quality of materials they are being asked to use, either because of cost-cutting or simply trying to build more with less.These are good people trying to deliver high quality buildings that will last safely for generations, he said.But many cannot - in good faith - carry on in an industry which does not want to raise standards.These issues of quality and safety impact way beyond the public good, but also speak to why many skilled people are leaving the building industry at the very moment we need them the most.He urged the government to heed the recommendations of the Grenfell Phase 2 Report and create a single independent body to oversee the sector, headed by a construction regulator.

Architecture school launches its first new programme in ten yearsSource: Image courtesy Caruso St John/Ren DrrThe Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture has launched a new postgraduate programme in conservation and reuse, beginning in September 2025. The MA/PGDip course, which is the AAs first new programme in a decade, aims to address climate change by cultivating practices centred around reuse and material conservation.The Conservation and Reuse programme will explore conservation through historical and theoretical frameworks, aiming to redefine value and heritage in architecture. As Amandine Kastler and Rod Heyes, heads of the programme, explained, There is a pressing need for a new generation of practitioners able to radically reimagine existing structures and situations. They emphasised that the course will be rigorous and will challenge orthodoxy by combining material culture and design practice, addressing contemporary demands for sustainable conservation.Incorporating buildings, landscapes, and wider material culture, the programme intends to cultivate an understanding of resource conservation and cultural significance.Students will investigate these issues within a structured curriculum that includes practical workshops and seminars, ultimately developing a design thesis to address a chosen situation. The AA believes that this approach will equip future designers with the ethical, critical and technical skills needed for transformative work with existing structures.

Login or SUBSCRIBE to view this storyExisting subscriber? LOGINA subscription to Building Design will provide:Unlimited architecture news from around the UKReviews of the latest buildings from all corners of the worldFull access to all our online archivesPLUS you will receive a digital copy of WA100 worth over 45.Subscribe now for unlimited access.Subscribe todayAlternatively REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts

The firms controversial Wimbledon expansion was approved in SeptemberBooming UK workloads helped send turnover at Allies and Morrison up by more than a fifth last year.The architect, whose 200m plans for a new court at Wimbledon have finally been given the green light, saw income jump 22% to 45m with revenue from the UK increasing a quarter to 35m.Pre-tax profit for the year to March 2024 was down 3% to 9.3m giving a pre-tax margin of 21%.Workloads from the rest of the world, which are its schemes outside the UK and Europe, went up to 9.2m from 8.3m. Business in Europe was also on the rise, from 587,000 to 922,000.> Also read:Relief for Wimbledon as City Hall overturns local councils rejection of 200m expansion plansThe accounts, which were filed at Companies House yesterday, show staff numbers were up 8% to 331 employees.

Kevin Hollinrake has been appointed shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.Hollinrake, elected as MP for Thirsk and Malton in 2015, was appointed to the role as new Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch announced her full shadow cabinet.Hollinrake was the chair of estate agent Hunters until 2021. The firm, which he founded with John Waterhouse in York in 1992, now has more than 200 branches across the UK. He has been promoted from shadow secretary of state for business of trade, Badenochs former government role, which he had held since July.Kevin Hollinrake has been an MP since 2015In August, Hollinrake criticised the new Labour governments planning proposals to lower targets in London and increase building on green belt land classed as grey belt.He posted on Facebook: Labours cynical and flawed approach to increasing housing supply reduce housebuilding in cities and stick them all in rural areas.In other appointments, Badenoch appointed former work and pensions secretary Mel Stride as shadow chancellor, replacing incumbent and former chancellor Jeremy Hunt.Badenoch has also appointed Gareth Bacon, the former leader of the Conservative party in the Greater London Authority, as shadow secretary of state for transport.> Also read:Is this the end of the road for beauty? Labours National Planning Policy Framework revisions explainedBacon was elected in 2019 and previously served as under secretary of state for sentencing at the Ministry of Justice in Sunaks government.Claire Coutinho, the former secretary of state for energy security and net zero, held onto her brief in opposition and has now been kept in the role by Badenoch.Coutinho has been a vocal critic of Labours plans to decarbonise the UKs electricity grid by 2030, describing the target as mad, bad and dangerous during the 2024 general election.

Jack Pringle calls move elitist and ill-judged in latest attack on regulators education reformsRIBA has described a proposal by Arb to restrict which learning providers can award qualifications as elitist and ill-judged.The institutes latest attack on the regulators educational reforms has come in a response to an Arb consultation proposing a change to the wording of Accreditation Rule 4.2 from qualification awarding powers to degree awarding powers.Jack Pringle said the proposed reforms were elitist and ill-judgedThis would require any learning provider applying for accreditation of a masters level or equivalent qualification to have degree awarding powers, or a formal agreement with a body with such powers.It means that learning providers which do not hold degree awarding powers or a formal agreement with a body which has such powers would be immediately disqualified from Arb accreditation, according to RIBA.> Also read:ARB launches comprehensive overhaul for registration of international architectsThe proposals are part of Arbs reforms of architectural education aiming to diversify the profession by increasing access to qualification.A key plank of the reforms would be replacing part 1, part 2 and part 3 qualifications with a two-part approach to improve access to the profession, and basing this on a new set of competency outcomes putting emphasis on what an architect can do instead of what they are taught.But while RIBA has supported the reforms in principle, it has been a long-standing critic of the regulators strategy for the changes.> Also read:RIBA says Arb education reforms lack detail on climate and building safety skillsRIBA board chair Jack Pringle said the changes to accreditation rules could seriously hamper the development of new pathways into architecture at a time when the need for more flexible routes to qualification have never been greater.The change risks haemorrhaging talent and threatens the future diversity of our profession, Pringle said.He said RIBA supports Arbs plan to move to an educational system based on outcomes rather than qualifications in a robust and self-regulated way.But he added: This elitist and ill-judged proposal is a barrier to learning providers that supply innovative and diverse routes to the required professional qualifications.Indeed, such alternative routes are welcomed and nurtured in the accountancy and legal professions.RIBA currently provides its own architectural education through through the RIBA Part 3 and RIBA Studio programme. It said the terms of its agreement with Oxford Brookes University, which manages the RIBA Studio programme, would mean the proposed amendment to Accreditation Rule 4.2 would be satisfied.Arb has been contacted for comment.

Login or SUBSCRIBE to view this storyExisting subscriber? LOGINA subscription to Building Design will provide:Unlimited architecture news from around the UKReviews of the latest buildings from all corners of the worldFull access to all our online archivesPLUS you will receive a digital copy of WA100 worth over 45.Subscribe now for unlimited access.Subscribe todayAlternatively REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts

The chancellor is planning to overhaul Britains pensions system in an effort to increase infrastructure investment by billions.The Treasury has confirmed reports suggesting pension reform to boost growth will be one of the key messages of a major speech that Rachel Reeves is set to make in the City of London on 14 November.Source: HM Treasury / FlickrThe chancellor has reportedly been taking a detailed look at how UK pension funds can be put to better useAccording to The Times, Reeves favours Canadian-style pension reform, which would mean merging 400bn worth of local authority pension schemes.The chancellor met with the executives who run these schemes in August.> Also read:Government continues to work on long-term deal for TfL to fund major schemes like Bakerloo extensionThe newspaper quoted city sources as wanting further reforms to free up 225bn worth of surpluses held by defined benefit pension schemes.Reeves speech could also include detail on how the government plans to use the extra borrowing created by changes to the governments debt rules in last weeks Budget.Markets had a shaky reaction to the Budget, with ten-year gilt yields spiking after the chancellor left the Commons chamber on Wednesday before stabilising on Friday.A Treasury spokesperson said: Following this weeks budget to fix the foundations of the UK economy, the chancellor is focused on growth. Central to that are the next steps on pension reform, which will be set out in her Mansion House speech. This will unlock more private investment to fuel the governments growth mission.The annual Mansion House address is often used by the chancellor to set out the governments plans for the economy and the financial sector.

HTA Design and housing association Clarion proposing to replace local east London landmark with23-storey towerHTA Design's plans for a 23-storey tower on the site of the existing Clare HouseThe existing Clare House was built in 19681/8show captionHTA Design has submitted plans to redevelop a 1960s tower block in Bow, east London which was evacuated due to building safety concerns.The scheme for housing association Clarion would see a 23-storey residential scheme built on the site of Clare House, a building known locally as Pink Block because of its distinctively coloured facade.The existing 22-storey tower is the last survivor of three identical blocks built by Tower Hamlets council in the late 1960s as parts of its modernist masterplan for the Monteith Road estate, which was extensively redeveloped in the early 2000s.Clare House was evacuated in October 2021 after surveys carried out by Clarion found significant structural and fire safety issues, and it is now vacant.All former residents have been granted a right to return to the new 145-home development and invited to community engagement events including a youth project called Reimagining Pink Block.Surveys found that the fire resistance of wall and floor slabs at Clare House, which was built using a Large Panel System, is wholly inadequate and the building could be at risk of collapse in the event of a fire.The tower also has only one staircase and has a poor energy performance.The existing Clare House was built in 1968A study undertaken by Clarion and HTA in 2022 found a full redevelopment of the building was the preferred option for the site due to the challenges of refurbishing the existing tower.> Also read:Ben Derbyshire admits to feeling deeply uneasy at Londons growing number of tall buildingsThe design of the new scheme, which consists of a central tower and two flanking five-storey pavilion buildings, has been inspired by a nearby trio of mid-twentieth century housing towers designed by Berthold Lubetkin on the Cranbrook Estate.It will be 100% affordable, providing a mix of one to four bed homes at social rent, along with new community spaces, private and public green spaces and upgrades to the adjacent Jasmine Park.The project team includes cost consultant Rund, structural engineer OCSC, planning consultant HGH, transport consultant WSP, fire consultant OFR and townscape consultant Lichfields.

Some unsafe buildings may never be identified, National Audit Office saysThree in five buildings with dangerous cladding have yet to be identified, according to a report by the National Audit Office.The watchdog said that the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) had estimated that cladding remediation would not be complete until around 2035.Source: MHCLG / FlickrHousing secretary Angela Rayner with new building safety minister Alex NorrisIt also found that hundreds of thousands of residents were in the dark about their own buildings, due to a failure to publish milestones.It recommended that the government publish an official target date for completion of works and provide greater transparency on remediation performance.The report is the NAOs first on the governments remediation portfolio since five different programmes were unified in 2023.Last weeks Budget included a 1bn funding boost for remediation work.According to the NAO, the government now has programmes to address dangerous cladding for all the estimated 9,000 to 12,000 buildings over 11 metres it considers need remediating.It said there had been a substantial increase in activity since its 2020 Investigation, with 4,771 buildings so far brought into the portfolio.However it said it was taking longer than expected to identify the remainder, with some likely never to be identified. Roughly 7,200 buildings or more (up to 60%) are still to be identified, the NAO estimates.As it previously reported, incomplete building records, construction materials that differ from those on plans, and difficulties tracing owners can make identifying affected buildings difficult.Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been progress, but considerable uncertainty remains regarding the number of buildings needing remediation, costs, timelines and recouping public spending.There is a long way to go before all affected buildings are made safe, and risks MHCLG must address if its approach is to succeed.Putting the onus on developers to pay and introducing a more proportionate approach to remediation should help to protect taxpayers money. Yet it has also created grounds for dispute, causing delays.To stick to its 5.1 billion cap in the long run, MHCLG needs to ensure that it can recoup funds through successful implementation of the proposed Building Safety Levy.In order to cap taxpayer contributions to 5.1bn, MHCLG plans to recoup 700 million through refunds from developers for remediation works the taxpayer has already funded, and around 3.4 billion from a new Building Safety Levy.However, payment mechanisms have yet to be confirmed and the department does not expect to introduce the levy until autumn 2025 at the earliest.

The scheme for CHD Living has secured Surrey Heath Borough Councils approval for a 70-bedroom care centre at MindenhurstSource: Pollard Thomas EdwardsMidenhurst Care HomePollard Thomas Edwards new care centre for CHD Living has received planning permission from Surrey Heath Borough Council, marking a significant development for Mindenhurst, a growing neighbourhood in Deepcut, Surrey. Set on over 3 acres of woodland near the former Ministry of Defence Princess Royal Barracks, the care facility will provide specialised 24-hour care for older residents, including those living with dementia and individuals requiring post-operative convalescent care.The 70-bedroom centre is designed around four residential wings, each accessible from a central barn that serves as the entrance and communal space. The layout also includes two glazed pavilions connecting the wings and three courtyard gardens surrounded by pine trees. Additional amenities such as a gym, hydro-pool, cinema, salon, and bistro will support residents well-being, while centrally located staff areas are intended to streamline workflows.Pollard Thomas Edwards Later Living partner, Stephen Morris, highlighted the firms approach to the project: We are delighted to be working with CHD Living to develop their vision for Mindenhurst Care Centre, drawing upon our extensive experience in sustainable Later Living design and placemaking to create an inviting residential care exemplar.Source: Pollard Thomas EdwardsMidenhurst Care HomeCHD Livings Commercial Director, Shaleeza Hasham, said: Were absolutely delighted with the councils decision, which allows us to bring Mindenhurst Care Centre to life. This project represents our commitment to raising the standard of care within Surrey, and were incredibly grateful for the support weve received from the local community and the council throughout this process. This is not just a building its a vision for compassionate, forward-thinking care, and we look forward to providing a space where residents can feel truly at home.Councillor David Whitcroft commended the project, noting that the scheme takes full advantage of its location and is going to provide the residents of the care home with a huge amount of tranquillity and peace. The councils case officer described the development as a demonstration of design excellence and a valuable addition to the Mindenhurst site.Set to open in 2027, the Mindenhurst Care Centre will be part of a larger masterplan for the area, led by Skanska, which includes 1,200 new homes, a primary school, sports pitches, and a village pub.

Buildings part of wider masterplan set to complete next yearFoster & Partners' Bangkok office has completed the first phase of a residential masterplan on the outskirts of the capitalThe buildings have been inspired by traditional Thai architecture1/7show captionFoster & Partners has completed a series of luxury villas in Thailand for local developer MQDC.The development in a Bangkok suburb is the first phase of the Six Senses Residences The Forestias masterplan, which aims to offer residents an unparalleled living experience.Inspired by Thai architecture, the buildings are raised off the ground to improve natural ventilation and enhance views of the surroundings while providing space for car parking and MEP services below.Large, undulating aluminium roofs with timber soffits top each building, inspired by natural forms and installed with photovoltaic panels.Each villa features a private infinity pool, a shaded courtyard and a series of terraces and outdoor spaces surrounded by bamboo screens.The buildings have been inspired by traditional Thai architectureInside, sliding louvres allow living spaces to be opened up or closed off while providing increased air circulation.Residents will also have access to their own clubhouse, with a private health centre and large infinity pool that connects with an adjacent lagoon.Sunphol Sorakul, head of Foster & Partners Bangkok office, said the villas offer access to the very best services and amenities to promote physical and emotional wellbeing while providing a strong sense of community.Every villa has been designed to optimise views of the spectacular natural surroundings, with an emphasis on quality materials and highly flexible living spaces that work for the whole family unit, Sorakul added.The wider masterplan will span 785,000sq m and is set to complete next year.