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Promotion for Leigh!
We’re starting 2025 with some exciting team news! As mentioned in our recent newsletter, we’re delighted to announce the promotion of Leigh, one of our talented Architectural Assistants, to the role of BIM Manager. Leigh has always had a strong interest in BIM (Building Information Modelling), the advanced 3D modelling software we use to design…
Latest John Port Planning Submitted
The next phase of work at John Port Spencer Academy in Etwall, Derbyshire, has been submitted for planning approval. We are providing a building with new hall containing dining facilities within the existing campus. The double height space includes retractable bleacher seating to provide a space with great flexibility, along with a new kitchen and…
Happy New Year!
The festivities might start to feel like a distant memory, but we have a great photo to help us remember the good times! Before we finished for Christmas, we all had great fun at a festive medieval banquet held at Coombe Abbey Hotel near Coventry. With our stylish costumes, we sang silly songs and feasted…
Mixed Use Planning Submitted
Our last pre-Christmas project update – this exciting mixed used scheme close to Oxford has been submitted for planning approval. The scheme makes more efficient use of an existing commercial site, re-planning and organising the layout to provide a replacement office building along with a separate 9 unit apartment building. The scheme is finely balanced…
Season’s Greetings from Thinking Buildings
Modern design baffles Santa…..”Easy parking, tricky access!” Stylised, festive image of a contemporary extension by Thinking Buildings for a private client It’s almost time to say that 2024 at Thinking Buildings is a wrap! A big thank you to all our clients, contractors, consultants, and suppliers that we have had the pleasure of working with…
New Teaching Shelter For School
We’re delighted to confirm full planning approval has now been granted for a much needed timber teaching shelter at a Derbyshire primary school. Middleton Community Primary School is set in the wonderful Derbyshire Dales on the edge of the Peak District. These timber structures are all season, being great in the summer for providing shade…
Supporting Role For School Project
Admittedly, it’s not a glamorous image, but work continues apace at John Port Spencer School in Etwall, Derby and this reinforcement is vital. Bailey Construction are almost out of the ground, with work focusing on retaining walls and foundations in the past month. Thinking Building are supporting the project, but the picture shows the new retaining…
Family Barn Conversion Avoids Planning
Did you know that under Part Q of Permitted Development rights you can convert an agricultural barn into a dwelling? This barn is being developed as a four-bed family home, and will be have a high level of insulation and low energy technologies to minimise its carbon consumption. Permitted Development rights are a faster way…
Bloxham School Sports Extension
We are hoping for a good result in planning shortly, with this scheme to significantly improve sporting facilities at Bloxham School. The project involves new front and rear extensions to the school’s existing sports hall to provide a new entrance and arrival space, first floor studio, additional changing rooms, and a new state of the art…
Just Building One House? You Still Need To Know About CIL!
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a development tax introduced in England and Wales in 2010 to support local authorities in funding the necessary infrastructure for new developments in their areas. Local governments can impose this charge on most types of new development, allowing them to secure funds for essential services that will benefit the…
Oxfordshire Primary School Extension
It continues to be a busy time for our Education team. Our latest project has just been submitted for planning and involves a 2 classroom extension, new synthetic surface Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), a new Forest school class base, new school car park, as well as significant alterations and remodelling of the existing school…
Stunning Cotswold Extension
This week, for pure indulgence, we wanted to show you a recently photographed project ahead of a full feature and case study. This project involved a substantial kitchen extension to a large country residence in the Cotswolds. Full height sliding doors, provided by Sightline, and a floating zinc roof, create a dramatic and light filled…
Cromford Offices on the BBC again!
Our wonderful offices at Cromford Mills, featured on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow again this week. If you tune in to the programme at 15.33 you can hear all about The Arkwright Society, who saved the dilapidated site in the 70’s and who have recently finished working hard on the project to bring waterpower back to…
Heyford Park School Planning Submitted
A fantastic milestone has been achieved with the planning application now submitted to expand Heyford Park School in Oxfordshire. This exciting project has been in development for the last 2 years, carefully working with the school, Eynsham Partnership Academy Trust, and Oxfordshire County Council to explore and develop solutions to increase secondary pupil places to…
What Our Clients Need To Know About The Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act 2022 represents one of the most significant overhauls of construction regulations in recent memory, introducing stricter rules to enhance safety standards across the built environment. If you’re planning a building project, you may have come across the role of the Principal Designer, a term that might sound familiar from the Construction…
Bloxham Primary Continues On Site
The new school hall at Bloxham Primary School is progressing at pace, with the main structure and exterior up, and work commenced on the existing parts of the school too. It’s great to see the new hall space, and you can really see how it is coming together. We will continue to update you on…
Construction Continues at School Site
Work is progressing well at John Port Spencer Academy in Etwall, Derbyshire, where we’re working with Bailey Construction to build an extension to one of the science buildings. The site presents some challenges, as it is of archaeological interest and it has a noticeable slope. The contiguous piled retaining wall and the concrete piles that will support…
Sports Development for Bloxham School
Our latest education spotlight focuses on our experience of designing sports facilities in the independent school sector. Following on from our £5.5 million sports building for Kingham Hill School, we have been working hard to develop a site wide sports masterplan for Bloxham School. Recently submitted to planning, the scheme provides much enhanced facilities to…
Congratulations on 10 years Gareth!
We are so pleased to share that our Associate, Gareth, has been a valuable member of our team here at Thinking Buildings for 10 years this week! Gareth studied architecture at De Montfort University in Leicester and joined us in 2014. His wide portfolio of work spans the residential, community, commercial and educational sectors. His…
Building Your Dream Home In The Countryside
For many, the idea of building a new home in the countryside is a dream that seems out of reach. However, the little known Paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) offers a possibility that few might have considered achievable. This provision allows for the construction of new isolated homes in the countryside under special circumstances, offering…
School Site Improvements To Bring Real Change
Thinking Buildings continues to work with The de Ferrers Trust to help them deliver changes and improvements across their schools. We’re currently working with them at Granville Academy in Woodville, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Working with Davlyn Construction and SA Consulting, we’re helping to vastly improve the main external social space at the academy. The works comprise of external steps, ramps,…
Our Derbyshire Offices On The BBC!
At the beginning of the month, the offices which our Derbyshire team use, were featured on the BBC Antiques Roadshow. Constructed in 1771, and now a World Heritage Site, Cromford Mills in Cromford, Derbyshire, became the birthplace of the factory system which would change the way things were made around the world to this day. …
Office and Warehouse Remodelling, Banbury
We are delighted to have received planning consent for the significant remodelling of an existing office and warehousing building in Banbury for the Brady Corporation. Working with Hawkins, Thinking Buildings have developed the design for this Design & Build contract. The project includes full fabric upgrading to meet current Building Regulations, which will significantly improve energy…
Nursery School Part Q Barn Conversion
This is a project with some real vision behind it. Our client owns an existing agricultural barn, and came to us to help with the design to convert it under Part Q permitted development rights, into a new commercial building. The proposed building will provide a new premises for an existing popular nursery, providing them…
Sensitive Landscape Integration For A New Home
Here we have the site plan from another successful planning permission, obtained earlier this year. Thinking Buildings worked with Savills planning consultants and NDLA landscape architects to reach a positive outcome for our clients on this challenging site. The plot is a small paddock attached to a larger dwelling, which had previously been developed with…
Contemporary New Build in Cheltenham
Whilst we are busy working on several school projects at present, it’s not all education at Thinking Buildings. Our other main area of work is in higher end homes, often for private individuals or smaller luxury developers. This is a new build contemporary house that recently gained planning consent in Cheltenham. The design provides 4…
Planning Approval For Heanor Gate Sixth Form
Today’s education spotlight is on the new sixth form and teaching building at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy in Derbyshire, that recently gained planning consent. This project provides a striking new focal point on the site for the school’s post 16 provision with a new social space, study areas, and seminar rooms. Our team are currently…
Science Expansion Build Sequence
This week we have a new video for you, showcasing another of our education projects. This is a build sequence model and video of the new science building at John Port School, in Etwall, Derbyshire. The project has recently started on site and this shows the main sequencing of how the science expansion will be…
Praise from Hatherop Primary School
“I wanted to write on behalf of the School with sincere thanks for all your hard work and significant contribution towards the successful planning application submitted for Hatherop School. We are all very grateful for your guidance, support, professional advice and final submission documents – working with us through this process and putting up with…
Contemporary Family Home In London
We’re delighted a project in north London, which has been with us for over 8 years, is very close to completion. This project, for a new family home in north London, came to us after a failed planning application. The local planning authority have proved very difficult to work with, but after much persistence, we…
Northamptonshire Village Pre-School
This week’s education spotlight focuses on this fantastic project to provide a new pre-school building alongside an existing village hall in Northamptonshire. This a complex project, located in a conservation area, with challenging topography and site constraints. The design approach is to provide a familiar and sensitive building form, but with a number of contemporary…
What is a Certified Passive House?
By now, you may be familiar with the general concepts of what makes a Passivhaus or Passive House. A high quality home which prioritises the comfort and wellbeing of it’s occupants through superior air quality, and which is energy efficient with cheaper running costs. In order for a home to become certified, it must be…
5 Years For Jess!
We are very pleased to say that our Architectural Technologist, Jessica Moore, is celebrating being with us here at Thinking Buildings for 5 years! Jess graduated from The University of Derby with a BSc in Architectural Technology and Practice, and joined us in 2019. Based in our Derbyshire team, Jess was recently heavily involved in…
Alexandra Park School Sixth Form Video
Our Education project spotlight continues with a fly around of this new sixth form building at Alexandra Park School in Haringey, London. Construction is due to start on site this summer and we’re really excited to see this one rise up from the ground. Obtaining planning was a challenge on an extremely constrained site located…
Luxury Cars Sales Site Moves Forward
We’re delighted to confirm that our luxury cars sales site in Leicestershire is moving ahead, with Thinking Buildings now commissioned to develop the detailed design to meet the technical standards, and support the tendering process. The scheme is for the construction of a purpose designed site for luxury car sales in Leicestershire. Our client, Hillmoren, currently…
The Thinking Buildings Summer Social 2024!
It’s not quite all work this month as we have just come back from a great trip away in the Lake District for our annual summer get together. We took in the magnificent cathedral cave on one of our walks and also took part in some Canadian canoeing. We canoed up Lake Coniston to a beautiful island,…
New Case Study – John Port Spencer Academy Post 16
This week we bring you another case study, this time of our recently completed educational expansion at John Port Spencer Academy in Etwall, Derbyshire. Thinking Buildings were initially appointed by the Spencer Academy Trust to develop a site-wide masterplan to expand the John Port Spencer Academy school in order to provide additional pupil places. The…
Contemporary Garden Room
This stylish project moves onto site this week. The scheme, to provide a new, contemporary garden room to the rear of an existing Oxfordshire cottage, will replace a dated traditional style conservatory. The project is being built by Barr Construction, and will feature slimline glazing, and a bronze coloured zinc roof. The garden room vastly…
John Port Post 16
Ahead of another full case study soon to be added to our website, a little teaser image of our recently competed Post 16 building at John Port School in Derbyshire. This is a fantastic new facility and centre point for the schools sixth form provision. The building is purposely collegiate and grown up in its…
What does your building say about your business identity?
As a business, your physical office is a key part of how you make an impression, both on clients and on employees. An attractive environment can help you win work, and attract and retain the best talent. We have just submitted an application for this office refurbishment scheme, to refresh the corporate identity of the…
The Right Time for Heat Pumps?
The Passivhaus Trust have recently released best practice guidance on ‘The right time for heat pumps: decarbonising home heating in a staged retrofit’. Their document discusses the how and when to make the switch from gas boilers to heat pumps in order to avoid unintended consequences, such as increased running costs or a reduction in thermal comfort.…
Oxfordshire site redevelopment
This exciting mixed use site redevelopment close to Oxford is taking shape as it progresses towards a planning application. The scheme redevelops an existing commercial site with 2 new proposed buildings; a 3 storey, 500m2 office building, and a 9 unit apartment building. The design includes soft tonal brickwork and zinc standing seam cladding with…
New Case Study – Holiday Let Development
A new case study for our commercial works is this development of holiday lets for farm diversification. Thinking Buildings have been working with this client over a number of years, first to design a new farmhouse, which opened up the site for this development, which was the location of the previous farmhouse. The farm already…
Welcome to the team Paul!
We are delighted to have welcomed Paul to Thinking Buildings this week. With such a busy outlook, we have decided to strengthen the team. He joins as an Architectural Assistant, whilst he also completes his final year of part 2 architectural study. He will bring much needed assistance to projects which both Gareth and Darren…
Listed Building Consent For Care Home
We’re excited to share our latest project update with you: our continued work in the care home sector, specifically our collaboration with an existing client on a scheme for listed building consent at a care home. Thinking Buildings recognises the importance of managing historic buildings and the necessary process of change, especially in sensitive environments…
Integrated Photo Voltaic Panels
Here’s an interesting idea. Building integrated Photo Voltaic panels. What’s that I hear you ask? When it comes to fixing solar panels to a roof, it’s all about making sure they stay put, while also being mindful of the roof’s structure. For sloped roofs, which are the most common, roof hooks or brackets are securely…
Listed Townhouse Case Study
We have another case study to share! We’ve recently added to the portfolio of developer housing projects, this Grade II* listed building conversion. The original building was a schoolhouse, and is located in central historic Cirencester. With declining use, and having fallen increasingly into disrepair, Thinking Buildings were appointed to provide proposals for reuse of…
Dementia Unit Planning Approval
Thinking Buildings has been working with a Derbyshire care home provider for over 3 years. They currently operate 2 cares homes in the Derbyshire Dales. In 2021 it became clear an extension was needed to one of their care homes to address the under provision of specialist dementia care spaces in the local area. Many…
Planning Permission For Super Car Site
We’re delighted to announce that one of our projects has been granted full planning approval! The scheme is for the construction of a purpose designed site for luxury car sales in Leicestershire. Our client, Hillmoren, currently operates from a small site approximately 1 mile from the application site. The existing site is constrained by an…
Works To Start On New Science Building
Thinking Buildings are delighted to confirm works will soon be progressing to building a new Science facility at John Port Spencer Academy near Derby. Local contractor Bailey Construction has been appointed and will start work in June. John Port is undergoing an expansion to increase its capacity for both 11-16 and sixth form students. This is the 3rd…
Contemporary Home, Cheltenham
We want to share another peak at our new house project that was recently submitted for planning consent. Whilst the front is strongly articulated by a series of interlocking architectural forms and overhanging first floor, the design to the rear is simpler, focusing on good proportions, soft tonal materials and the use of subtle brickwork…
Low and zero carbon technologies – what does this mean and what are the options?
Carbon-neutral and Net-zero Carbon are two similar terms. In both cases, parties are working to reduce and balance of their carbon footprint. However, Carbon-neutral refers to balancing out the total amount of carbon emissions, while Net-zero Carbon means no Carbon emission from any activity. Most of the industries and governments become Carbon neutral through the…
Percy Gee Case Study
Our latest case study on the website is the Percy Gee Building at Leicester University. The shell and core design provided by Shepheard Epstein Hunter was built out by Stepnells contractors, who then appointed Thinking Buildings to help deliver the interior fit out package. A key building in the wider re-development of the university’s student…
Bloxham Listed Cottage
Thinking Buildings are delighted to have been involved in this project to renovate and extend this beautiful Grade II listed cottage in Bloxham. The works included gaining planning and listed building consent for a beautifully crafted oak framed bay window extension to the rear to connect the new kitchen to the lovely cottage garden. The…
Marlborough moves to technical design
It’s been a busy start to 2024 with numerous education projects coming forward for Thinking Buildings. Technical design has just started on the proposed expansion of The Marlborough School in Woodstock. The works include a new 6 classroom teaching block, internal re-modelling and reconfiguration of existing spaces, a new sports changing room extension, and significant…
New House, Kent
This week, for pure indulgence, we bring you what is still one of our favourite views of this new house project in Kent. This image wonderfully illustrates how the house steps to respond to the sloping site. The interplay and separation of building form was also really important to minimise visual impact, perceived mass, and…
New Case Study – Passivhaus Home
The latest addition to our detailed case studies is this fantastic house in South Staffordshire. The house replaced an existing cottage on the site, which had been repeatedly, unsympathetically extended, and suffered from damp, and poor insulation. The client asked us to use Passivhaus principals to create a modern, high-performance replacement dwelling. The local authority…
What is a Mechanical Ventilation With Heat Recovery System (MVHR)?
Put simply, MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) provides fresh filtered air into a building whilst retaining most of the energy that has already been used in heating the air and building. This is different to most natural ventilation scenarios where stale hot air (from kitchens and bathrooms) is simply exhausted outside along with the…
Pre-School goes to Planning
This great scheme for a new pre-school building has just been submitted for planning approval. The design has been developed to fit with the traditional architecture of the surrounding conservation area, but with a contemporary and fun twist. The entrance is framed by a pop up zinc roof that allows for a discreet signage zone…
Luxury Cotswold Country Home
We wanted to share another view of the stunning new Cotswolds country home that recently gained planning consent. Located within the village conservation area, and adjacent to a number of listed buildings, this substantial new house is traditional in character using a palette of local materials, with limestone walling under a diminishing stone slate roof.…
Congratulations Leigh!
We are very proud to say that our Architectural Assistant, Leigh, has now been with us here at Thinking Buildings for 5 years! Leigh graduated in 2012 from the University of Lincoln as a Bachelor of Architecture and started working with us in 2019. Based at our Oxford offices, Leigh is responsible for a lot…
Post 16 Building Opens!
We’re delighted that our very own Jess has officially opened the new Post 16 building at John Port Spencer Academy in Etwall, Derby. Jess was invited to open the building due to being a former pupil, and having been actively involved in the delivery of the new Post 16 building. She has personally overseen much…
Spring Revamp for Bloxham School
We’re happy to share that Bloxham Primary School’s new hall will be going to site this spring. Thanks to approved funding, Oxfordshire County Council will appoint Beard Construction to build out the scheme, which got planning approval in April 2023. Thinking Buildings, Solid Engineering, CBG and our other consultants will spend the next few weeks…
Hook Norton Barn
Our new barn design near Hook Norton is progressing well on site with the slate roof now complete. Whilst we are not involved in the site phase it is great to see the build emerging. This new dwelling is part of a farm diversification and improvement scheme. Thinking Buildings has experienced a big growth in…
New Case Study – Apartment Building, East Oxford
Our latest case study we have shared to the website is this development of nine apartments in East Oxford. Planning permission was obtained in 2022 for this challenging single aspect, gap site. Find out more about this project and how we can help developers get the best return from complex plots in the full case…
Sustainable Office Breakthrough in Falkland Islands
We’re thrilled to announce our continued collaboration with Consolidated Fisheries Limited (CFL) in the Falkland Islands as we embark on designing their cutting-edge new office building. Our journey with CFL began in 2018, exploring possibilities for a groundbreaking office space. After obtaining outline planning approval in 2019 for a prime location on the outskirts of Stanley, we’re…
Jess To Officially Open JPSA Post 16!
Our Technologist Jess, who left John Port Spencer Academy in 2012, has come full circle, having been actively involved in the delivery of the new Post 16 building. She has personally overseen much of the process, from the initial design and planning stages, to construction information, along with regular site meetings. After leaving the school,…
Congratulations Rachel!
We are very proud to celebrate the fact that Rachel has been an Architect here with us at Thinking Buildings for 10 years!! It proves we can’t be too bad to work with! Rachel has built up a wealth of knowledge since becoming qualified in 2010 and has worked on some fantastic projects while she’s…
Eco Glamping Pods
The trend of glamping appears to be growing year by year. Glamping, for those who haven’t experienced it, is an increasingly popular type of holiday that combines the freedom and adventure of the great outdoors with the comfort and luxury of a cottage holiday. It’s a way to camp while still enjoying modern and comfortable…
Luxury Cotswold New Build
This wonderful new build house is located in the Cotswolds, towards the edge of an existing village, with enviable views out over open countryside. The site is located within a conservation area and in fairly close proximity to a listed building. The client’s brief was to maximise the site to create a substantial, new build,…
Triple Glazed Windows: Are they the future?
In the ever-evolving world of architecture and sustainable living, the quest for energy efficiency has led to innovations in building materials, with windows becoming more important in the pursuit of greener, more sustainable homes. Walls, floors and roofs have come a long way, so for windows, the next step is triple glazing. The transition from…
Bespoke Oak Framed New Build
Large one off houses and oak frames are one of our main areas of work. This project in Hook Norton builds upon our oak frame expertise, and our experience of designing substantial bespoke houses for our clients. This beautiful house, close to SOHO farmhouse, is situated in a lovely, yet sensitive, edge of village location.…
New pre-school design
A happy way to start the new year by sharing this really fun and interesting design for a pre-school. Notice the green roof, as we have very little opportunity to meet the biodiversity net gain requirements on this constrained site. We suspect that this will become a more popular feature on sites like this, where…
Bloxham Primary work to start
It’s great to see our exciting school project at Bloxham Primary school receiving some publicity in the Banbury Guardian This project will really transform the school providing a new school hall and full production kitchen, together with a multi purpose studio space. The project has been developed with Beard, SOLID Structures & Infrastructure and CBG…
Cirencester School Conversion
Powell’s School House is a Grade II* listed property (particularly important buildings of more than special interest) located close to the centre of Cirencester. Thinking Buildings were initially appointed as architects for a feasibility study for the conversion of the school house from education to residential use. The existing school house was significantly compromised for…
Heat Pumps: Is This The Future of Home Heating in the UK?
As concerns about climate change intensify, heat pumps are much talked about in the media. The spotlight on sustainable low-carbon technologies grows brighter, and heat pumps emerge as potential green heating solutions. But, what exactly is a heat pump and how do they work? You may not know much about them and they tend to…
Season’s Greetings from Thinking Buildings!
“Even sixth formers still believe in Santa!“ Stylised and festivised image of Thinking Buildings project for John Port Spencer Academy, 2023 And so here we are at the end of another great year at Thinking Buildings! Huge thanks for the continued support from our clients, contractors, consultants and suppliers. There have been some truly memorable projects…
Planning Application for New Post 16
Exciting news as a planning application has been submitted for another new post-16 and teaching building for a large multi Academy Trust in Derbyshire. The project originally started in 2019 as a school development plan and feasibility study to explore options to expand the school to support anticipated demand for increased pupil places from nearby…
Oxfordshire Home Transformation
Ahead of a more detailed case study piece, here’s a snapshot of a recently completed project close to our Bloxham office. This project has transformed a tired, post war house, into a fantastic contemporary home for our clients. This photo shows the re-modeled front elevation with a new covered entrance, over-rendering, new and adapted window…
10 Things To Avoid When Building Your Dream Home
Building a house is a complex and costly endeavor, and mistakes can be both financially and emotionally taxing. It will likley be the most expensive undertaking of your life. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid: 1. Poor PlanningInadequate planning can lead to design flaws, budget overruns, and delays. Thoroughly plan every aspect of your…
Cotswold School Expansion Planning Submitted
We continue to be busy in the education sector and have recently submitted a planning application for this significant school redevelopment. This project involves a primary school in the Cotswolds in a conservation area surrounded by listed buildings. It is traditional in shape but with contemporary detailing – making it legible as a new addition…
Contemporary House, Cheltenham
This fantastic new contemporary house in Cheltenham has been submitted for planning approval. Working with the client and James Griffin of Zesta Planning Ltd the design responds to a number of challenging site constraints. A private driveway leads to the parking area and entrance, and a sense of drama is provided by the overhanging first…
QM Audit Passed!
We are very pleased to announce that we have passed our annual QM audit this year and the practice remains fully QM 9001 and QM 14001 certified through our accreditor QMS Connect. ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System Standard that is recognised throughout the world. It’s a powerful business improvement tool, providing the framework…
New Build Barn, Milton, Oxfordshire
We are delighted with the professional photos we have had done by Andrew Hatfield Architectural Photographer featuring this super cool interior. This is the entrance to our new barn project with the curved oak clad walls providing WC, utility, and storage spaces to support the open plan living space. Thinking Buildings were shortlisted with this project…
Oak Framed Bay, Oxfordshire
We wanted to give you a follow up to our previous post about this project now it’s nearing completion. This is a relatively small and modest project for us, involving a new oak framed bay to a Grade II listed house. Whilst small in scale this type of work is big in terms of detail…
London Sixth Form Planning Submitted
We have fantastic news that this scheme for a new sixth form building at a London secondary school has been submitted for planning. Part of the land is designated as Green Belt Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and Thinking Buildings and Edgars have been carefully masterminding a ‘needs’ case to gain the support of the Planning Authority with…
Work continues at John Port Sixth Form
Admittedly this is not a particularly glamorous picture, but it does show work continues apace on the expansion to the sixth form building at John Port Spencer Academy in Derby. The steel frame and roofs are now complete and work continues on the external walls, windows and internal fit out. It’s not apparent from the photos,…
The Use Of Zinc For Homes & Houses
At Thinking Buildings we often use zinc elements in our residential projects. It is a versatile material suitable for various architectural styles and design applications. It can be used in contemporary, traditional, and historical building projects, looking equally appropriate and attractive in various contexts. Zinc has a long history of use in construction. Zinc’s earliest…
Berkshire Farm Diversification
Our next farm diversification project is confirmed, and it involves the restoration and conversion of this beautiful and interesting listed building. The wider project involves a strategic masterplan and option appraisal for a courtyard of existing traditional barns; the project will explore and consider conversion to offices, holiday lets, a wedding venue and potentially a…
10 Reasons To Build a Passivhaus
Building a Passivhaus, also known as a Passive House, offers several benefits: 1. Energy Efficiency: Passivhaus design principles prioritise high levels of insulation, airtightness, and high-quality windows/doors. This leads to significantly reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling, resulting in lower utility bills. 2. Comfort: Passivhaus buildings provide consistent indoor comfort throughout the year, with…
Cotswold Barn Conversion
We’re happy to be able to share that this scheme near Fulbrook has recently been granted planning permission. The complex of existing barns are proposed to be converted to a four bed house, with a two bed guest suite, home office or gym space, and extensive garage and storage space. The main house benefits from…
Steel Frame Underway At John Port School
Work continues at John Port Spencer Academy School in Derby, where we are involved in the expansion of the sixth form provision. John Port is undergoing an expansion to increase its capacity for both 11-16 and sixth form students. The sixth form works involve the construction of an extension to the existing sixth form building and other…
Oak framing, Oxfordshire
Not all of our work is large scale. We work on smaller scale projects where our skills and experience add value to the process for our clients. This image is a traditional oak frame for a new bay window and French doors on a listed cottage close to our Bloxham office. Whilst small in scale,…
National Park Barn Conversion
This project is for a new dwelling in a National Park to replace an existing ramshackle agricultural barn. It’s one of two really exciting projects we are currently developing with a large landholder as part of a strategic masterplan for the Estate. The architecture is landscape led, discretely designed to reflect the shapes and materials…
Education, Education, Education….
We have some fantastic education projects in the pipeline including three new sixth form buildings. This particular scheme is for a new sixth form building at a London secondary school. It will provide a new focal point for the sixth form on the site with a fantastic new social space with café and outdoor dining…
New Offices For Falklands
We’re delighted to once again be working with a company in the Falklands to design them a new office building. Thinking Buildings have been working with Consolidated Fisheries Limited since 2018/19, looking at options for building a new office building. Outline planning approval was granted in 2019 for the development of a new site on the outskirts…
The Thinking Buildings Summer Social 2023
The Thinking Buildings team work very hard, but we can also play hard too! At the end of last month we had our annual summer get together and we took ourselves off to Wales for 2 days. First up was a very memorable trip to Zip World in Bethesda. The intrepid team (minus Amanda,…
Secondary School Expansion, Woodstock
We are excited to have submitted a planning application for the expansion of The Marlborough Secondary School in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The project includes a new 2 storey teaching building to provide an additional 6 classrooms plus supporting accommodation, various internal works and an extension of the sports building to provide 2 new sports changing rooms.…
Cottage Project Obtains Consent
We have had the fantastic news that planning has been granted for this cottage project involving a full renovation and significant side and rear extensions in a traditional style. A detached, oak framed out-building provides car parking, garden store and a home office within the loft space. We look forward to bringing you more as…
Listed Buildings Have Many Uses . . .
The core of the Listed Building Consent process is to establish if the proposed works and use are compatible with the historic significance of the existing structure. Part of this is the function of the building. Sometimes changing the function or use of a building is a bigger hurdle than any other part of the…
