Month: July 2022

Planning Approval Granted!

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We’re delighted to confirm full planning approval has now been granted for the John Port Spencer Academy in Derby. The image above is one of the projects which has been granted approval. This is the extension and expansion of the Post 16 (sixth form) building. Planning approval has also been granted for the expansion of the science facility.

Our education work is booming, especially feasibility studies for the expansion and improvement of existing schools. We are currently heavily involved in delivering projects at various stages for our Academy Trust clients, and in the independent schools sector we are working on our next sports building, following the success of the sports centre at Kingham Hill school.

Low Energy Refurbishment

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Not all of our work is new buildings. We’re often involved in the improvement of existing buildings.

We’ve recently submitted planning approval for substantial changes to an existing house in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The current house, a bungalow, will be converted to a 2-storey family home by removing the existing roof and installing a new timber frame first floor with roof. The whole building will then be insulated, including insulated render at ground floor over the existing brickwork. The new house will be fitted with energy-efficient double glazed windows.

The scheme will enable us to hugely improve the energy efficiency of this existing building without having to fully demolish, saving many tons of carbon which are locked up in the existing ground floor and foundation construction.

If you have any questions or are thinking of something similar do give us a call to discuss.

New Oxfordshire Home Approved!

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Fantastic news as planning consent has been granted for this substantial new house in West Oxfordshire. The project is built on an existing paddock and a successful planning case was presented by Miriam Owen of Edgars planning consultants that the development represented infilling of the existing village. A great result for the client and a big milestone in fulfilling their ambition of building a  lovely traditionally styled country home for their family.

Thinking Building Team Summer Social

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The TB team set out on the water a few week ago. We took to the water in kayaks for a team day, learning how to keep above the water line!

Our journey was along the river Leam helpfully guided by Leam Boat Centre. For the more adventurous of you, we’d certainly recommend it. I’d like to say that we were all well behaved and there was no splashing……but some got a little excited.

The day was finished off with a great meal in Leamington Spa to share stories of almost sinking, aching arms, and unusual bruises.

Low Energy Tourism Development

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Thinking Buildings are delighted to be appointed to help with the the development of an Eco-Tourism site in Derbyshire. The site is set in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales, on the outskirts of a market town. The wider site already benefits from a variety of trees, ponds, and other natural features. The owners are looking to further enhance this, creating a bio-diverse and attractive environment for visitors.

The site will offer holiday accommodation in a number of different forms. There will be 4 eco-lodges, glamping units and tents.

The underlying principles of the whole site will be limit energy use and aims to generate as much energy on site as possible. Solar PV panels, bio-mass boilers, battery systems and heat pumps are just a few of the systems being considered to reduce energy use or use low carbon technologies. Visitors will have a wide variety of facilities on site, including solar-powered electric vehicle charging points.

We’re really looking forward to helping develop the site.

Annex Accommodation

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Annexe accommodation is massively popular at the moment with the lifestyle shift to home working and having family members close by. This image is a new annexe looking fabulous in the sunshine which was part of our recently completed farmhouse redevelopment. 

It is also typically much easier to secure planning consent for annexe accommodation compared to a new independent residential dwelling. Please do get in touch if you are considering an annexe and we can guide you through the steps

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New Farmhouse Northamptonshire

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Great to see the photos of this new Farmhouse for a working farm up on the Oxfordshire-Northamptonshire border. The form of the 4-bed house is based on an agricultural Dutch barn with lean-to elements, to sit well in the rural setting. On the ground floor there is a generous open plan living, dining kitchen, to suit modern family life, as well as a substantial boot room and office as suits a working farm.

There is something satisfying about the layering of roof shapes, with a mixture of steel corrugated sheeting to the curve, natural slates to the lean to and a standing seam cladding to the entrance pod. Project case study to follow shortly.