Exemplar Scheme Receives Planning Approval

January 20, 2017

 

We are delighted to announce that our new build housing project at the Tops Club site in Grays received planning approval from Thurrock Council Planning committee last night. The 29-unit Residential Scheme received CABE approval and was complemented by council members as a ’brilliant design’. The Scheme will now be Tendered under a design and build contract and the design Team (including ECD) novated to the successful Contractor.

ECD was appointed to this project as architect and lead consultant following a design competition at which our winning design was selected by the Council. The Council’s brief was to deliver an exemplar scheme which maximised the site and provided new affordable homes. Our design solution consists of a 5-storey tower, providing a mixture of 2 and 3-bedroom flats, alongside a series of 3-bedroom maisonettes. As such, the development creates the opportunity for intergenerational occupation. It opens up the front of the site to create a generous communal garden and sensitively relocates the existing playground to enhance the local flora and fauna with a carefully designed landscape that enriches a child’s experience of play.

A tough brief for sustainability is achieved via a highly insulated and airtight building fabric, large areas of photovoltaic cells on the roof, MVHR and grey water recycling. The dark London Stock brick is reminiscent of Dockland’s Victorian industrial structures and a nod to the rich napped flint texture of St Peters Church near to the site. Generous anodised aluminium balconies provide south facing views towards the River Thames whilst creating a sensitive accent for the river facing facade. The scheme is Thurrock Councils first BIM level 2 project and is due for completion in 2019.