Month: December 2024

Mixed Use Planning Submitted

Posted on by Thinking Buildings

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 to meet the various planning requirements for amenity, parking, trees, ecology and Bio-diversity Net Gain, and a clear overall masterplan was developed in order to maximise the site’s development potential. 

The architecture is intended to be simple, yet elegant, using soft tonal brickwork and detailing, with the upper floors stepped back and clad in zinc. The two buildings are designed as a complimentary pair whilst having individual design cues to reflect their differing uses. 

The project has been expertly developed with collaboration with Savills, and Cole Easdon for civils and highways.

Season’s Greetings from Thinking Buildings

Posted on by 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 this year.  We have worked on some wonderful projects and we look forward to a busy 2025 working with you all.

Our team will be having a nice break over Christmas and our offices will be closed from 5.30pm on Tuesday 24th December, reopening at 8.30am on Thursday 2nd January 2025.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy festive period and all good wishes for the forthcoming year. 

New Teaching Shelter For School

Posted on by Thinking Buildings

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 from the sun (if we get any!), but also shelter from the Derbyshire rain.

Ordinarily, they can be installed without planning permission, but in this case, the school site is within a Conservation Area so a full planning application was required.

Always ask if you need planning permission before setting out with any building project.

Supporting Role For School Project

Posted on by Thinking Buildings

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 wall designed to provide support to the existing science building which is being extended. Some may say there is enough reinforcement to sink a battleship, but the wall plays a crucial function in preventing the existing building from moving whilst we dig down over 2m to the side of the existing building.

We are looking forward to bringing you updates on this project as the new science block takes shape.