uwe enterprise studio launches academic research project based on gcp initiative

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Lawrence Weston Community Hub

A Healthy City Week 2016 event organised by gcp Chartered Architects has created a far ranging multi stage research project between University of the West of England Enterprise Studio and Ambition Lawrence Weston.  The project will look at the benefits the Lawrence Weston Community Hub will bring to the people of Lawrence Weston. The hub comprises of a range of public and voluntary sector services including a gp practice, pharmacy, public health offices, library, community rooms (meetings, dance, exercise etc), shared consulting rooms and office space for Ambition Lawrence Weston.

The project, to be undertaken by a number of Masters interns in successive years, will examine the benefit the hub is expected to deliver concerning community health and well-being. The project will look at three clear phases to the project, namely before, during and after implementation of the Hub with the first year of the study essentially a baseline and planning year.

Jonathan Platt, director at gcp, part of the wider research support group said

“Having been part of the original group that managed to safeguard the development site for the hub, we are delighted the potential benefits of such an intervention (the hub) are central to this research project. So often capital investments are committed without hard evidence as to the real benefits the idea will deliver. Hopefully this research will demonstrate that such One Public Estate projects can bring real benefits to both public finances, but also the host community they are designed to support”.

The project is expected to start on site in early 2018 with a planning completion before the end of the year.

st monica trust looks to the future

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Cote Lane site. St Monica Trust

Cote Lane site, St Monica Trust

St Monica Trust is a long-established provider of retirement accommodation in Bristol offering over 55 flats on lease hold or a rental basis to long term nursing and dementia care.  They operate five sites in and around Bristol, with their Cote Lane site in North Bristol forming the hub of their activities.  The Cote Lane site, established in 1924 by the Wills family, now provides accommodation for over 320 residents in a range of fantastic buildings within a beautifully landscaped nine-acre site. The site also accommodates the Trust and over all the sites employs over 500 staff including care, hospitality and administrative functions.

gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop a far ranging Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the site.  The Enhancement Plan is looking to upgrade many of the on-site facilities and create an ‘open retirement village’ where the gym, swimming pool, coffee shop, restaurant and hall are open to local people, schools and businesses.

The Trust is ambitious and is keen to future proof the site by ensuring it continues to provide sector leading facilities and standards of care. If approved by the trustees the works will be delivered over a five-year period starting in 2018.

During 2017, gcp supported the Trust with the development of B Block and Somer Dining, a restaurant forming part of the £60m Chocolate Quarter development in Keynsham.

new homes for local families in Pilton get the thumbs up!

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Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Eavis with residents in Pilton

Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Eavis with residents in Pilton

Recently completed, Margaret Bondfield Close in Pilton received some important visitors this week. Michael Eavis and Jeremy Corbyn toured the site and met new residents to look around the houses and give the scheme their seal of approval. Land for the development has been provided by Mr Eavis, along with local stone from Worthy Farm quarries.  The development provides 13 affordable homes for local families, developed by Guinness Partnership and constructed by EG Carter Construction.  All the visitors were impressed by the size, quality and character of the homes designed by gcp Chartered Architects to reflect the character and typical details of Pilton Village. gcp worked closely with Guinness Partnership and EG Carter through the Public Consultation, Planning and Construction stages of the project.

https://www.egcarter.co.uk/news/jeremy-corbyn-officially-opens-new-homes-built-on-land-donated-by-michael-eavis

http://www.guinnesspartnership.com/

 

chocolate quarter nears opening

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Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Signage for BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

St Monica Trust have invested over £60m in the redevelopment of the former Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham (between Bristol and Bath) in creating a new retirement community, The Chocolate Quarter.  As part of the soft launch and pre-opening staff training, staff at gcp enjoyed a wood-fired pizza in B Block, the gcp designed bistro / bar that forms a suite of facilities open to the public.

B Block and sister restaurant, Somer Dining, will open on Monday 6th November.

Following on from their work at The Chocolate Quarter, gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop A Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the Trust’s prestigious Cote Lane site in North Bristol, the jewel in the Trust’s crown.

welcome Bruce French

gcp is delighted to welcome Bruce French to the team.  Bruce joins us straight from the University of the West of England where he has just successfully navigated a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Planning.  When he is not hard at work, Bruce likes nothing better than popping a tinnie and riding the Cornish waves on his surfboard. 

welcome Esther Brown!

Esther Brown

gcp is delighted to announce that Esther Brown has joined the team.

Esther has just finished her Part 2 Masters in Architecture at Canterbury and has previously worked for Atkins.

Welcome Esther

gcp 30th anniversary cycle ride

gcp staff and families on The Strawberry Line

gcp staff and their families enjoyed a pleasant 10mile cycle ride along the Strawberry Line last weekend from Yatton to Cheddar, ending with a picnic at Cheddar Reservoir. We enjoyed seeing the wetland landscape near Yatton, the cider orchards of Sandford, wooded valleys up to Winscombe, and some great views of the Somerset Levels from the higher ground. This was another part of the events organised for gcp’s 30th anniversary celebrations. http://www.thestrawberryline.org.uk/

A showcase for our low energy design of six houses in Othery, Somerset.

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Velox Blocks at Othery site, Somerset

gcp director Colin Powell supported South Western Housing Society and Man Green Solutions showcasing our scheme at Othery this week. The scheme, currently under construction, is being built using an innovative construction system from Austrian Manufacturer Velox.  This is our fourth project using Insulated Concrete Formwork – a system we believe can deliver very low energy and high quality homes with a speedy construction. The project will deliver 6 new affordable homes with extremely low energy bills, that are comfortable and easy to run.  The construction system was explained by Man Green’s Director Ian Bartlett and his site team who will be delivering the completed homes by the end of the year. The invited audience of Housing Associations and Developers were all very impressed with the robustness and simplicity of the construction system and we expect to see more projects being developed with this innovative approach.

Links:

http://velox-systems.co.uk/

http://mangreenhomes.com/

Hot Weather Endorsement for Practical Advice

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Doug Douglas, CEO & Owner, Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park MegaFan Installation

After a month of hot weather, the children, parents and management in the Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park play barn near Bristol are delighted with the MegaFan installation as suggested by Jonathan Platt, Director at gcp.  Doug Douglas, Managing Director of Avon Valley outlines the main benefits for his business.

gcp Chartered Architects are currently working with Avon Valley to create a masterplan for the site. The aim of the plan is to improve user experience by using people flow analysis to help avoid bottlenecks at key points in the site by introducing new attractions and changing sightlines that encourages circulation around the site. The work includes further upgrades to the play barn, the introduction of party rooms, re-planning the visitor entry and exit and developing out of park facilities such as the farm shop.

The masterplan improvements will also enable Avon Valley to further develop their off-summer season events such as their multi-award winning Fear.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park gets a little cooler

MegaFan in play barn at Avon Valley Wildlife & Adventure Park

MegaFan in play barn at Avon Valley Wildlife & Adventure Park

Having been appointed to develop a masterplan for the long-term development of Avon Valley Country Park, park owner has sought gcp advice on other operational issues such as the overheating of the main play barn in summer due to sun heating up the roof and lots of children running about.

gcp suggested a range of low cost interventions including the installation of a slow moving destratification fan to help circulate air within the barn. Having taken this advice Avon Valley are currently trialling a destratification fan from Megafan Technologies Ltd and are experiencing promising results: cooler environment, fresher air and happier parents! In winter, the fan also works to push warm air down to ground level thereby reducing heating bills. It looks like with gcp’s practical advice this relatively simple intervention will a win in the summer and a win in the winter for Avon Valley. See the video on how this technology works.

Welcome Ann Sharp!

gcp are really pleased to welcome Ann into the administrative team. Ann will be covering reception and lending a hand whilst Natalie goes on Maternity Leave. Give us a call and say hello !