Thinking Buildings

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…