The directors are delighted to appoint Philip Baker, an experienced Architect, as a full time member of the gcp team. Phil last worked for the business in the late 1990’s but now brings lots of practical knowledge of managing large scale construction projects firstly in Cyprus and then in the Middle East.
Jon Briscoe Appointed as Managing Director
The directors are delighted to announce that Jon Briscoe has been appointed to act as Managing Director of gcp Chartered Architects effective from 1 September 2021. Jeremy Pilling has stepped down from the role in preparation for ceasing to be a director of the business by March 2022. After this time, Jeremy will remain an employee of the business and provide project related support.
Jon looks forward to providing the leadership needed to develop the business as an Employee Owned Trust supported by co-directors Jonathan Platt and Tom Mellor and the wider management team.
Investigations into whole life carbon analysis
gcp are always looking for ways to improve as a business. For years we have analysed the operational energy of our designs, but now we are starting to review our performance as a business by setting up our own carbon strategy which looks at tracking, reducing, and offsetting our carbon emissions. Currently we can track our scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions, however the elephant in the room for design and construction businesses currently is scope 3 emissions and specifically whole life carbon in the buildings we design.
Whole life carbon analysis is currently quite challenging due to the wide range of calculators available, and the level of detail required to accurately measure embodied carbon. Gcp have recently trialed three pieces of software to inform how we can perform embodied carbon assessments in the future. The results from one of these are listed below.
We took Foundation Park Pavilion, Swindon as the test project and ran it through the carbon assessment software to see how much carbon is embodied within the construction. We then ran the same project with a CLT frame rather than traditional construction and 70% GGBS in the concrete mix to see the impact. The conclusion was that using CLT and cement substitutes would have given a 66% decrease in embodied carbon and pushed the design well beyond the RIBA 2030 Challenge standard. [Calculations using FCBStudios carbon assessment tool].
This new form of building analysis can be implemented from Stage 0 and help to inform decisions around construction type, finishes, servicing etc. Moving forward we will be looking to integrate this analysis into our design process to better inform clients and improve the performance of their buildings.
Barton Gardens, Sherborne, North West Dorset
This site is the first for the construction of a terrace of three modular 3 bed houses, designed and fabricated by Rollalong Ltd, based in Dorset.
Rollalong Ltd are partnered with Magna Housing, to provide homes at infill sites in the local region.
The first phase of 5 sites are existing garage block plots, no longer deemed viable and ideal brownfield sites. These vary in size between 6 and 20 units.
Rollalong have developed the various house and flat types to be factory certified approved by NHBC.
The site infrastructure, drainage and external works, as well as the installation of the modular units in place, are by Fisher and Dean Contractors, based in Nailsea. gcp are providing support to Fisher and Dean, with site layout design coordination, external works, site based Building Control and planning conditions discharge.
green gcp
gcp have been an environmentally conscious business for a long time both in terms of designing low energy buildings and with our own business operations. As part of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint we have just installed a new heat recovery ventilation system to our office.
No longer is fresh air provided by opening a window leading to cold draughts and complaints from staff of being too hot or too cold. Our new mechanical ventilation system recovers the heat from old stale air and passes it to fresh air drawn from outside with up to 80% efficiency. Internal comfort is massively improved, and heating / cooling costs will be reduced.
We estimate the new ventilation system will save 2.1 tonnes CO2 each year reducing the office energy demand by 25%.
Additional benefits come from greater levels of fresh air creating a healthier office with lower levels of CO2 in the air keeping us more alert and reduces the chance of infections spreading through the air.
gcp have been supported with this installation by a Green Business Grant from the West of England Combined Authority funding 35% of the overall costs. WECA support SMEs to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and business operations. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can save businesses money on energy bills. Green Business Grants are funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the West of England Combined Authority's Recovery Fund.
Planning Granted at Silcox Road
in Regeneration
gcp are continuing their works for SERS/Rateavon Ltd to upgrade Bristol City Council’s existing tower block housing stock. The latest blocks to be regenerated are Hayleigh House, Millmead House and Middleford House in Hartcliffe which have recently received planning approval to upgrade the windows/doors, improve the external wall insulation and update the external appearance following design consultations with the residents and Bristol City Council Major Projects team.
Works are currently underway with completion scheduled for July 2022
Work Life Week 2021: Using National Awareness Days to Evaluate Our Progress
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At gcp, supporting mental health has always been at the core of devising sustainable working practices. We have long had family-friendly working policies in place and support flexible working requests for a variety of reasons from caring responsibilities to personal development, knowing that there is no “one size fits all” solution to improving work/life balance.
For the last few years we have used Work Life Week to evaluate our progress, celebrate achievements in this area and set targets for the following year. In a busy, hybrid working environment, it is helpful to use National Awareness days and weeks as a way for the whole team to think about and discuss our mental health at the same time.
In 2019 we held a mindfulness and creativity week, where we took some time out to be creative together. This was a great opportunity to have fun, take a break from our screens and chat with members of the team we might not work with on a day-to-day basis.
In the midst of a pandemic, Work Life Week saw a change of focus to physical activity breaks: we set ourselves a 1,000,000 step challenge for the week and encouraged everyone to take time off from their screens to get some fresh air. Working virtually, we also held coffee mornings as an opportunity for some chit-chat amongst the increasingly work-focused Teams meetings.
It is important to highlight that these weeks aren’t just one-off events, but something gcp are keen to continue to improve on. In the past year, we have signed up to Thrive at Work West of England and have embarked on a two year commitment to improve and evaluate our working procedures in a way that puts keeping our team mentally healthy at the core of what we do.
One year into this commitment we have made some subtle shifts in established working practices to support mental health, wellbeing and balance. At the beginning of 2021 we introduced private health insurance for everyone, to provide easy access to medical support for physical and mental health issues.
Long supporters of Mind, all members of the Senior Management Team have already completed Mental Health Awareness Training for Managers in 2021. This training will be provided to the rest of the office during 2021s’ Work Life Week.
This year we also ran an Employee Satisfaction Questionnaire to let us know what we are doing well already and what we need to improve, on an individual and organisational level. This will now become an annual undertaking, with benchmarking questions used to track trends amongst our team. As a result of this survey, we have:
Put mental health at the forefront of one-to-ones and reviews
Committed to putting wellbeing plans into place for anyone who needs it
Reinforced our one-to-one chats, now scheduled every 6 weeks (these are informal chats with directors outside of the formal review system, when any issues or concerns can be raised or feedback given)
Checked in on the wellbeing and mental health of staff via an anonymous survey
Arranged mental health awareness training for the Senior Management Team
Collaboratively planned for return to the office / bubble mixing
Attended a RIBA CPD Wellbeing session, with action points fed back to the wider team
Encouraged coffee breaks Tuesday & Thursday @10.30 for drop in (online – or in office for those in an office-based bubble)
Empowered staff to set up challenges, breakout rooms, coffee breaks, informal meetings as and when they need / want them
To follow, we will in the next 6 months:
Arrange mental health awareness training for the whole team
Devise a wellbeing & mental health policy, using our survey results, research and findings from year 1
Run the annual Employee Satisfaction Survey & report on trends / actions to wider team
Undertake a review of our appraisal system
Our Events Team will:
Define a place to play games, do puzzles, sketch at lunch (when closer contact is permitted)
Plan architectural/cultural day trips
Plan lunchtime events: games, exercise, Lego, pub – a mix of events to appeal to a wide audience
It is fair to say that the pandemic has highlighted both the positives and the challenges of virtual working and so this year for Work Life Week, we have changed the focus towards discussions about what sort of working environment we want to create as we move towards 2022.
gcp became employee owned in 2020 and now more than ever the wellbeing of our colleagues is central to us being a successful business. In Work Life Week 2021 we will be having daily discussions around the following:
Flexibility:
What does flexibility mean to me?
How does it impact my colleagues?
Mental health:
What can I do to help my mental health?
What can gcp do to help my mental health?
Practicality:
How do we see the new flexible and hybrid system working?
Creative and collaboration:
How do we see creative and collaborative design working in the new flexible and hybrid system?
Burn-out:
What is the best way to avoid burn-out? How do I work best?
For this week and beyond gcp continues to place employee wellbeing and keeping our team mentally healthy at the core of our company values.
Planning Granted for new Cricket facilities in Bradford
The second ECB Urban Cricket Centre is one step closer to reality having been granted planning approval earlier this month.
Working with existing buildings is rarely straight forward and that was the case with this project in Bradford. In December 2020 we submitted designs to planning for two new cricket lanes and other community facilities at Parkside Sports Centre. During the planning process a huge attenuation tank was discovered beneath the proposed site which tested the project’s viability and ruled out large sections of the site for construction. With a bit of creativity and lots of design reviews, we managed to come up with a viable alternative which positioned the cricket lanes at first floor level, cantilevered out in front of the existing building as a prominent advert for cricket.
As a Bradfordian this has been a fantastic project to work on and it is very encouraging to see the ECB investing in urban areas with such incredible potential but limited existing facilities. This is what the ECB Urban Cricket Centre Initiative was set up to do, and hopefully projects like this will continue to pop up across the UK in coming years.
by Matt Bonney, Project Architect, gcp Chartered Architects
Planning application submitted for the development of 10 new affordable homes in Station Road, Holt
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The site presents an opportunity for the positive use of land abutting an established settlement, in the interests of sustainable development. The design of the scheme responds fully to the site context, whilst contributing to the long-term social sustainability of the neighbourhood.
The proposed new homes are arranged around a central green space, while frontages of the buildings are creating an enclosure, overlooking the shared space. As a result, the shared open space will benefit from passive surveillance, defining an inclusive safe space for people to meet and socialise. The new housing will be designed aiming to meet the Passivhaus standard, offering energy efficient homes that provide excellent indoor comfort levels. The scheme is also designed to exceed the Nationally Described Space Standards, providing a homeworking space in all units.
It’s not a bungalow!
At the gcp designed Stonewater development in Sutton Benger, Winsley White are constructing the roofs at first floor level! They are then craned off to allow the wall panels to be erected. The roofs are then lifted into place. It’s a little confusing the first time you see it, but great for health and safety as working at height is reduced.
Welcome Jane Burgoyne!
The directors are delighted to welcome Jane Burgoyne as an Independent Trustee sitting on the board of gcp EOT Trust Company. Jane brings a wealth of experience as a Chartered Accountant and from her day job working to help fund and establish start-up businesses.
The Fulwood flythrough
Please click the link below to check out the spectacular flythrough of our recently completed project.
The Fulwood, Midtown — x+why flexible workspace London (xandwhy.co.uk)
We love these features to explore the finished project, which we think you will agree looks pretty amazing!
Unique mix of brickwork patterns for Oakfield’s homes
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The scaffolding has been struck to reveal the brickwork in all its glory. These will be the first houses completed at Mi-Space’s Oakfield development for Nationwide Building Society in Swindon. We cannot wait for the full effect when the windows are unmasked and the Juliet balcony and front door canopies are installed.
Planning Granted for a modest residential development in Blackhorse Place
in Housing
A planning application has been granted by South Glos Council for a small development of 3 bespoke homes on Blackhorse Place, Vinney Green. What was initially seen as a relatively uncontentious and modest development for 3 new homes, actually required a relatively complex planning application and multiple design iterations.
gcp conceived and developed a pre-application followed by the planning design. Particular attention was paid to the immediate context, neighbours’ concerns, a sustainable urban drainage system, site ecology and sustainable transportation.
The team constantly developed the design, in close liaison with all parties and proactively managed the planning process, negotiating directing with the planning team. Ultimately, delivering a planning approval for a design which both met the client’s aspirations and was acceptable to the local authority.
Castle Cary looking fantastic upon completion.
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Another successful housing project completed with Halsall Construction. This development of 50 dwellings for Abri is on the edge of the Somerset town of Castle Cary and comprises a mix of apartments and houses. gcp worked on the construction stage delivery of this scheme, including developing the energy strategy with the contractor.
Great news for those wanting more community-led housing
The new Community Housing Fund (CHF) will open for applications in August 2021 (but not quite yet – watch here for updates) with £4 million to distribute. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are proving the funds. This fund is not for new groups wanting to get going, but for established groups wanting to make meaningful progress. The fund will assist in helping to cover a wide range of costs associate with promoting community-led housing projects including:
Preparing detailed applications to become a Registered Provider
Preparing and submitting capital funding bids
Getting ready to start on-site work
Submitting Full / Detailed Planning Applications or Reserved Matters Planning Applications
Development/ refurbishment of pre-built stock
For detailed assistance on items 1 to 3 above contact Community-led Homes West.
For help with items 4 or 5, contact gcp Chartered Architects and ask to speak with Esther Brown or Sarah Makroum.
Watch out for our updates or email to register interest.
New Homes for People in Pill
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.
Foundation Park Dome - a fantastic new facility on the horizon.
Following the successful delivery of Foundation Park Pavilion, we are excited to be supporting Swindon Town Football Club Community Foundation again.
“We are very excited to announce that we have now formally submitted a planning application to build a covered sports facility on the disused bowls club at Foundation Park.
This covered facility would be another fantastic addition to the sporting hub at Foundation Park, offering more opportunities to the people of Swindon.
”
The site, occupied by Swindon Borough Council, is located on the north side of the newly built Foundation Park Pavilion. The site is 0.31hectares and had been used by County Ground Bowls Club, which was founded in 1925 until 2017. For the last three years the site has been disused and left abandoned.
The choice of site is driven by its adjacency to Swindon Town F.C Community Foundation’s new ‘state of the art’ pavilion building. The new site will offer immediate adjacency to allow for the further expansion of the foundation.
The proposals are for an engineered covered structure and specialist all-weather multi-sports facility. There will be three small-sized sports pitches, two running east to west with a full-size 5-a-side football pitch running north to south. The proposals include a glulam structure with a tensile covering which will be translucent to allow natural light into the facility, with the materials used on the bowls club refurbishment will match the cladding used on the adjacent pavilion building.
New covered pitch proposals with existing pavilion in foreground.
The development’s primary objective is to serve the needs of the local people in Swindon. The Community Foundation provides fantastic support to the people of Swindon to improve their physical and mental well-being. This facility will provide a platform for people to thrive.