Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park has been invited by the Rural Development Programme to the next stage of grant funding application, which will help to provide new and improved facilities at the park. We’re excited to continue supporting Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park in this, with the detailed application due in late September.
Sport & Leisure
gcp working with the ECB
gcp are working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to support the delivery of their recently launched 11-point action plan to better engage with South Asian communities, which aims to diversify the game, remove barriers to participation and use cricket to make a positive difference to society.
Through the creation of the action plan, ECB identified that the most significant barrier to South Asian participation is limited access to cricket facilities in urban areas – where the vast majority of these communities live. To address this, ECB plans to provide year-round access to facilities, tackling the challenges of availability, quality and cost, by installing affordable community cricket facilities in urban locations where demand is highest. A key component of this action, is the piloting of three indoor Urban Cricket Centres during the next two years, with the ambition of creating more than 20 Centres over the next five years.
gcp have worked alongside ECB to develop the Urban Cricket Centre delivery model, and Ridge and Partners have worked with gcp and ECB to advise on costs.
This exciting opportunity follows up on gcp’s previous work with the ECB to develop the technical guidance note for indoor cricket facilities.
20+ new Urban Cricket Centres to be developed by 2024
st monica trust looks to the future
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.
chocolate quarter nears opening
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.
Hot Weather Endorsement for Practical Advice
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.