New Homes for People in Pill

July 26, 2021 in Housing

Chapel Pill | Image prepared for Community Consultation

A planning application has been submitted by gcp Chartered Architects on behalf of Pill & District Community Land Trust in partnership with Alliance Homes. We really enjoy the satisfaction of helping to realise the objectives of local community leaders, whose knowledge and passion for their local area is so instrumental in creating opportunities for affordable homes for local people. The site at Chapel Pill is in a sensitive location, on a steeply sloping site on the edge of the settlement. Achieving practical access for both cars and pedestrians, minimising visual impact, and enhancing natural habitats have been very real concerns. Opinion was split between those who opposed the development due to concern over impact on a sensitive green-belt location, and supporters who see the need for affordable houses in a community where it is increasingly difficult for local people to afford their own home.

The project team have put a great deal of effort into understanding the context and constraints of the site and developing a solution to address these issues. gcp’s design response creates a group of 14 high quality homes that are compact in form to minimise impact on the green belt, sensitively landscaped to bring biodiversity enhancements, and provide affordable homes with very low energy bills.

2020 Favourites: Avonmouth Community Centre

December 22, 2020 in Community & NFP

“This has been a really rewarding project to be involved with. gcp have always been enthusiastic about supporting and enabling community organisations to improve their facilities and Avonmouth Community Centre has given us the opportunity to work at length on a project which will dramatically enhance their capability to offer services to the community. The existing Victorian school buildings have been repurposed and reordered as part of a masterplan to provide dedicated meeting spaces, a teaching kitchen, function area and library space. Further phases would look to improve the fabric and include renewable energy provision to reduce ongoing expenditure.”

— Michael Hanson, gcp

We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Michael has chosen this small scheme for Avonmouth Community Centre Association looking to reconfigure and refurbish the existing space.

2020 Favourites: Alternative Secret Santa

December 21, 2020 in Christmas2020

This year has been certainly been different and we are trying to embrace the changes. Although many have lost their jobs this year, gcp have continued with a steady flow of work. We have decided this year to swap out our Secret Santa with creating care packages for the homeless.

Working alongside Streetlife we were recommended what items would be most beneficial including travel sized toiletries, hats, gloves, socks, snacks and either cards or a note book. For every bag a staff member created, gcp matched with an additional bag.

It’s been great to see so many getting involved in the office!

2020 Favourites: Trinity Digs

December 16, 2020 in Community & NFP, Christmas2020

“Working on behalf of Trinity Community Arts, gcp secured planning consent to carry out capital improvements so that the site can host and support more community activities. The proposals, developed and approved following several months of consultations with key stakeholders, will see customised timber clad containers installed on site, to provide affordable, low-cost, sustainable hot-desk space as a base for community partners, emerging artists and local start-ups. The Digs project has minimal impact on the historic setting of the listed building and aims to release space in the exiting building for additional programme related activities, therefore has the real potential to consolidate the long-term financial resilience of the centre”

— Olia Kyritsi, gcp

We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Olia has chosen Trinity Digs, a scheme for affordable office space for the community which was granted planning late last year for Trinity Community Arts.

2020 Favourites: Ambition House, Lawrence Weston

December 01, 2020 in Community & NFP, Christmas2020

“I am proud to have been involved in this project as this is a community driven building, desperately needed in this active but underfunded area of Bristol. This has been in the making for several years and has had many challenges along the way. I am hopeful that the latest scheme being developed with the client, Ambition Lawrence Weston, will be the final design and we can get this building out the ground to provide a well-deserved functional community hub for future generations to enjoy. Public consultation is now well under way with responses due back by 8 December”

— Tom Hubbard, gcp

We asked everyone in the office to name their favourite project of 2020. Tom’s favourite is the new community centre at Lawrence Weston Ambition Lawrence Weston.

Trinity Digs - planning consent secured for providing additional accommodation for desk spaces and kitchen/coffee bar with outdoor seating.

September 02, 2020 in Community & NFP, Commercial & Retail

The Trinity Centre occupies the Holy Trinity St Phillip’s, a Grade II* Listed parliamentary church. Originally built in 1832, the church was declared redundant in 1976 and was appropriated for community use in 1977. Continuing the tradition of a community hub and music venue, the centre today also provides recording and broadcast studios, training around media arts and technology. It also holds a licence to perform civil ceremonies! The centre is run by Trinity Community Arts TCA.

TCA’s mission, which has never been more important than in these really difficult times, is to: “use the Trinity Centre to engage the local community of all ages in imaginative and socially inclusive projects.”

Working on behalf of Trinity Community Arts, gcp secured planning consent to carry out capital improvements so the site can host and support even more community activity. The proposals, developed and approved following several months of consultations with key stakeholders will see customised timber clad containers installed on site, to provide affordable, low-cost, sustainable hot-desk space as a base for community partners, emerging artists and local start-ups. The Digs project has minimal impact on the historic setting of the listed building and aims to release space in the exiting building for additional programme related activities, therefore has the real potential to consolidate the long-term financial resilience of the centre.

Given the Grade II* Listed status of the site planning was complex and demanded working closely with the planning and listed building officers who were keen to minimise the impact of any development on the historic setting. Therefore, the elevations of the listed building have been studied and analysed, leading to the creation of a vertical and horizontal ‘grid’ that informs the timber cladding for the new building.

gcp team is passionate about supporting community groups and voluntary sector organisations, and for over 20 years has helped organisations like TCA make the best used of their assets.

Trinity Digs - planning consent secured

Laying the foundations

July 08, 2019 in Sport & Leisure

With the technical design now complete, we continue to support Beard Construction on site delivering this new community facility for Swindon Town Football Club Community Foundation.

We are now coming to the end of week 18 on this fast-moving project and have already experienced all four seasons. The guys on site have been doing a fantastic job of late, battling through some tough conditions, with the superstructure really starting to take shape.

There has been some impressive workmanship on site with one moment standing out, an apprentice carpenter forming the neat shuttering for the raft foundation. It’s always great to see new talent entering the industry.

The next few weeks will see a big change in appearance, with the standing seam roof on and the first fix trades moving in. We are excited to see the progress, keep up the good work team!

Foundation Park site progress photos

Women in Property are offering a site visit to the pavillion on 10 July. Click this text for more information.

gcp team shortlisted for Southmead Development Trust Competition

June 21, 2018 in Public Housing, Community & NFP

Competition Display Boards for Glencoyne Square Redevelopment

Southmead Development Trust invited architects and design teams to register their interest in taking part in a limited design competition for the redevelopment of the Glencoyne Square area of Southmead.

gcp Chartered Architects teamed up with Alec French Architects and McGregor Coxall Landscape and Urban Design Consultants to prepare a strong submission from Bristol-based design companies. The team was one of four shortlisted practices selected to develop their ideas through to a public and stakeholder consultation carried out over three days last week. This exercise created good interest from stakeholders and the local community, where there is an enthusiasm to support change and develop new facilities around the Glencoyne Square area. This exciting project could have wide-ranging benefits, supporting community organisations, local shops and traders, creating opportunities for new housing and community facilities and regenerating the infrastructure of the area.

All four design teams were challenged to explain and justify their ideas and approach. Southmead Development Trust are expected to announce a preferred design team to move forward for the next stage of the project that will include detailed consultation and planning applications.

Public consultation underway at the Greenway Centre

Planning Application registered for 128 new homes in Lawrence Weston

June 04, 2018 in Housing

gcp have been appointed by Curo Group to develop proposals for two large residential developments in Lawrence Weston which will deliver much needed affordable homes for sale and rent in this part of the city. The first main site for 128 new homes has been developed following detailed consultation with Bristol City Council and the local community.

Working closely with Curo Group and Planning Consultants GL Hearn, gcp developed detailed proposals that have been submitted and registered for planning consideration. This project will create a range of family homes in a landscaped setting that will provide a great place to live and excellent affordability for young people looking for their first property.

Site plan showing new homes and landscape setting.

Consultations for 185 new homes in Lawrence Weston

April 19, 2018 in Housing

gcp have been appointed by Curo Group to develop proposals for two large residential developments in Lawrence Weston, which will deliver 185 new homes in this part of the city. The proposals at Henacre Road and Corbet Close will provide a mix of new homes for sale, affordable rent and shared ownership. Lawrence Weston is one of the first areas in the city to have adopted its own Neighbourhood Development Plan and both sites are key to delivering the residential objectives of this plan.

Having had detailed discussions with Ambition Lawrence Weston; the local neighbourhood planning group, the proposals were presented to the wider community at two separate open consultations in March. The proposals were generally well received with useful feedback and comments from the local community – with a lot of interest expressed in the opportunity that new affordable homes for sale and shared ownership will give to local families.

Further details of the consultations for Corbet Close and Henacre Road are available on the Curo Developments pages at https://www.curo-group.co.uk/house-building/schemes/

Careful inspection of proposals at a well-attended consultation

Consultation boards set up & ready to receive feedback at Corbet Close

bristol open doors

September 07, 2017 in Community & NFP

It is Bristol Open Doors http://www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk/ this weekend and gcp are supporting Trinity Community Arts https://www.3ca.org.uk/.

We have developed a long term masterplan of the site and you can visit the centre on Thursday 7th September and Sunday 10th September between the hours of 10am and 4pm.

Throwback Thursday: West Street, Bedminster

March 16, 2017 in Public Housing

Community Self Build Agency

“The West Street project began in 2010, as a collaboration with Knightstone Housing Association and gcp Chartered Architects. The scheme trained homeless ex-service personnel to build a community, gain new skills and qualifications and meet like-minded people. The Homes and Communities Agency provided £660,000 of funding to help kick-start the project, which features 14 homes for social rent. ”

— Community Self Build Agency, Projects

Place, Time + Architecture (Bristol)

October 25, 2016 in Community & NFP, Commercial & Retail

Image: Frances Gard. The Trinity Centre, Bristol

“A lot has happened since the Architecture Centre first opened its doors onto Narrow Quay in 1996. Trace the changes in Bristol over the past two decades along a timeline that focuses on how significant buildings, places and people have shaped the city. Look ahead to consider what the future might be for one of the city’s most contested places – Castle Park – and find out about the different elements that contribute to making a successful place.”

— The Architecture Centre Programme, Celebrating 20 Years, Autumn 2016

The Architecture Centre is celebrating 20 years of people and places in Bristol with their exhibition running between 9 September & 13 November 2016.

Three projects we have been involved in feature in this exhibit: Trinity, J3 and Filwood Green.

Beautiful images taken by Frances Gard, check out her website or follow her on twitter.

#HealthyBristol: another great event !

October 20, 2016 in Commercial & Retail

Another busy morning discussing #health #wellbeing and #productivity in the workplace. Delighted to be able to hold this in the recently completed Bristol Water HQ. Such an inspiring place and right-on message for this seminar !

We've had a great time participating in Healthy City Week 2016 - a roundup of the weeks' events written by our very own James Pilling to follow soon.

Follow Bristol Green Capital on Twitter.

A Community in Transition

August 31, 2015 in Health & Care

gcp have submitted a planning application on behalf of Ambition Lawrence Weston for a Community Hub.

Lawrence Weston Community Hub is a 'bottom-up' community-led development. It incorporates a doctors' surgery, pharmacy, café, library, studios, space for other health and council services, small businesses and a crèche.

Ambition Lawrence Weston is a resident-led Development Trust, established as part of the Community Planning process. Within the Community Plan, completed in 2013, residents expressed a desire for a new community facility. With funding support from the HCA and SIB, the project has developed in close consultation with local people.

The Hub incorporates a fabric-first, low energy approach, reducing running costs for the future. The project is now part of the NHS future plan for primary care in North Bristol. A planning decision is due at the beginning of July 2015.

If you would like more information please contact Jonathan Platt.