Congratulations to Interserve / Kajima JV and Schools Team as Financial Close reached on HLR

Great to hear Financial Close has been reached on RT's Herts Luton & Reading Schools PSBP project with Interserve/Kajima.  Full steam ahead now!

Rock Townsend are designing four of seven secondary schools  across Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading. Maber Architects are designing a further three. This is one of the first batch of schools to be funded using the Government’s new PF2 private finance model

The scheme, which was procured under the Priority School Building Programme, has a capital value in excess of £135 million. More than 8,900 pupils across the South East region will benefit from this investment, with almost 900 additional places for 11-18 years old to be created in modern, purpose-built buildings.

The secondary schools included in this tranche are Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School, Hatfield; Goffs School, near Cheshunt; Kings Langley School, Kings Langley; Longdean School, Hemel Hempstead; Reading Girls’ School, Reading; Stopsley High School, Luton; and Westfield Academy, Watford.

Construction started on all the schemes last month with the first due for completion in August 2016. All of the new schools will be open by November 2016.

Fulbourn project shortlisted for CIH Outstanding Development of the Year

Rock Townsend are delighted to confirm that our sheltered housing project with Metropolitan Housing at Cambridge Road, Fulbourn has been shortlisted by Chartered Institute of Housing Awards in Outstanding Development of the Year - Up to 24 homes category. The project for Metropolitan Housing Partnership replaces 6 tired semi-detached 1940’s houses with 18 new one and two bedrooms homes for residents that require supported housing.

Forming part of a wider programme to re-house vulnerable residents within the supported housing sector, the design provides an environment that gives residents improved living conditions, increased independence and greater privacy whilst preserving existing communities and maintaining existing networks of support. The site is set within the Green Belt and on the edge of a conservation area.  Residents, the Parish Council and the Local Authority favoured the traditional almshouse concept as a way to permit increased development within the Greenbelt.

Built by Hill, the new development is of a discrete scale and character that sits gently within its wider setting and was welcomed by local residents.

Rock Townsend appointed to Network's Architects Framework

Congratulations to Network Housing Group on the finalisation of their new Architects Framework. Rock Townsend are among 17 practices who have been appointed to the four year framework for the London Housing Association.  Network Housing Group is one of the largest housing associations in London and the South East, managing 19,300 homes across 36 local authorities. The group has plans to build 3,500 new homes over the next 5 years.  Vicky Savage, Group Development Director, said:

“I am delighted with the high calibre of firms who have successfully made our framework. I am confident the firms will work closely with us to produce outstanding award winning designs which our customers will feel proud to live in."

Rock Townsend are delighted with the appointment and look forward to working with Network to support them in their aim to deliver great places to live.

For further info, please see Building Design & Network's website.

Brynn Mill receives Planning Approval

Rock Townsend's scheme for the restoration of a Grade II listed Mill and modern pavilion house near Rock in Cornwall has been approved by the Parish Council. Brynn Mill and Cottage was once a corn mill and dates from approximately 1810. Forming part of the wider restoration of the farmland and a new house, the two storey mill and cottage are to be restored using the traditional building methodology found on site.

Rock Townsend wins place on Circle Housing's £25m Architects Framework Agreement

Rock Townsend has been selected for a major new framework for one of the country’s largest affordable housing providers.

Philip Browne, Group Development Director said: “At Circle Housing, we are stepping up our development programme over the next few years and the winning firms will play a key role in helping us to deliver our plans. We are open for business and currently have a £40million revolving land fund that we are looking to invest across the full range of tenures to build our future programme.

“We are pleased with the mix of expertise and calibre of the panel and the major benefit of this new updated framework for us is that homes can be built more quickly.”

Rock Townsend is appointed to the South East and East of England Lots.

"A perfectly genius proposal"

Rock Townsend and Telford Homes Plc have received planning approval from the Mayor of London to redevelop the Holy Trinity School in Dalston. The innovative scheme will rebuild and expand the existing Holy Trinity Primary School from one form entry to a two form entry primary school, funded by the delivery of 101 residential units in the airspace above. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, hailed the development “ a perfectly genius proposal” and went on to say:  “The design for the redevelopment of Holy Trinity School is pioneering and cleverly tackles the need to provide more housing and more primary school places”.

The solution is a contemporary and pragmatic approach to making a new school possible and delivering extra primary school places within a dense urban context.  The design is defined by the creation of a ‘sky gap’ over the two storey Primary School form with residential cover. This arrangement allows the roof of the school to be explored as an outdoor learning landscaped area, providing varied playspace on the tight urban site.

The design also provides a glazed façade with translucent glazing flooding the ‘big’ community and central spaces with light.

Early SOAS Perspective

Early sketch proposal for the  redevelopment of the existing listed Charles Holden Senate House site with careful refurbishment, improved M&E services and and a new build social hub intervention.