Archive

Purley Downs Road, Sanderstead

Mar

The Oakwood Group negotiated the purchase of this residential site, on a subject to planning basis.

The 0.39ha Site sits to the south of Purley Downs Road and to the west of Merrin Hill, Sanderstead. It was previously occupied by a single detached dwelling, which was in a state of disrepair.

A planning application for the demolition of the existing property and the erection of eight detached houses was submitted to the Local Planning Authority in August 2016.

The design was informed and assembled through a detailed assessment of the wider context of the surrounding area and developed through focused consultation, involving analysis of the opportunities and constraints of the Site, and incorporated advice and opinions of all key stakeholders.

The layout and scale of the scheme was established so that it delivers an architectural typology that was consistent with the surrounding residential uses, whilst also ensuring any potential impact on residential amenity were addressed.

The layout comprises three rows of detached dwellings. The height of all of the dwellings are two storey with accommodation within the roof space and ensures the scheme integrates properly within the existing built environment.

It is considered that the traditional design is visually striking and the quality of the design enhances the street scene of Purley Downs Road. Interest and definition is provided through a simple, but high quality palette of materials and finishes. The proposed finishes relate well to the materials visible around the Site whilst complimenting each other.

Planning Permission was granted in January 2017 and work commenced on site in July 2017.

Copley Park, Beckenham

Dec

The Oakwood Group purchased this former industrial site off Copers Cope Road, on a subject to planning permission basis.

The previous industrial use of the site was not appropriate in this location and did not sit comfortably with the predominantly residential uses which surrounded it.

We saw an opportunity to dramatically improve the existing built environment and worked in conjunction with the Local Planning Authority and key stakeholders to come up with a proposal for 8 x five bedroom houses, with emphasis on providing high quality accommodation to meet the local need.

The layout comprises four pairs of detached dwellings with assigned car parking. The height of all of the dwellings are two storey with accommodation within the roof space and will ensure the scheme integrates well into the built environment.

The houses are traditional in design with pitched slate roofs, London stock brick, bay windows and with sliding sash windows. Traditional corniced eaves, stone cills, flat gauged arch lintels and chimneys provide a richness and depth of detail. Front doors are recessed with clerestorey lights over. Dormer windows are modest in scale and lead clad. Individual front gardens are hedged and laid to lawn to provide privacy and defensible space on the entrance drive.

The application was submitted in August 2014, but owing to the Council’s failure to make a decision within the statutory timeframe, an appeal was lodged with the Secretary of State in January 2015. The appeal was then allowed in July 2015.

Works on site commenced in October 2015 and were complete in June 2017.

Station Approach Road, Coulsdon

Sep

The Oakwood Group agreed to purchase part of the Coulsdon Town Station Car Park from Network Rail, on a subject to planning permission basis.

Planning Permission was granted under delegated powers for a single block of apartments comprising 16 x 1 and 2 bed units. Twelve car parking spaces were also re-provided for use as Network Rail customer car parking.

We worked tirelessly in the spirit of the coalition Government’s localism agenda to engage with the local community and the planning authority during the pre-application stages to ensure the scheme submitted was acceptable.

The layout is imaginative and it is considered that the proposed building is visually striking and the quality of the design enhances the centre of Coulsdon.

All of the homes met the Building Research Establishment’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 Rating and forty per-cent of the predicted annual energy consumption of the dwellings will be generated from on-site renewable energy sources, principally photovoltaic panels.

The development was formally opened in December 2016 by Councillor Alison Butler, Croydon’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning. Further details of the opening event can be found via our News Page.

Construction commenced August 2015 and work was completed in December 2016.

Station Road, Belmont

Sep

The Oakwood Group agreed to purchase this site despite the extensive planning history of two failed planning applications and dismissed appeals.

The 0.14 ha. Site contained eight units providing a mix of light industrial and workshop space, all of the units were in a state of disrepair and were uninhabitable. The former buildings contributed nothing in the way of quality to the local townscape and only served to detract from the pleasant character of the area.

The proposal for fourteen apartments and four houses was undeniably steered and informed by the feedback received through the public consultation and the Local Authority’s pre-application service.

In terms of visual amenity, we saw an opportunity to significantly enhance the street scene and dramatically improve the existing built form.

The four proposed houses are traditional in design with pitched slate roofs, red brick and bay features, with sliding sash windows throughout. Gable fire walls with traditional stone cills, dentil course eaves and flat gauged arch lintels provide a richness and depth of detail.

The appearance of the apartment block has more of a contemporary feel in order to reflect the different character of Station Road. A red brick with aluminium copings has been chosen to tie the development into the wider area, matched with dark grey windows and metalwork which complement each other. The set back top floor is a dark grey metal cladding to accentuate the difference in approach.

The application was submitted in May 2016 and a resolution to grant permission was awarded by the planning committee in early September 2016.

Work on site was completed in May 2019.

Wallace Crescent, Carshalton

Sep

The Oakwood Group negotiated the purchase of this former industrial site off Wallace Crescent, on a subject to planning permission basis.

The previous industrial use of the site was not appropriate in this location and did not sit comfortably with the residential uses surrounding it on all sides.

We saw an opportunity to visually enhance the street scene and dramatically improve the existing built environment and worked in conjunction with the local planning authority and key stakeholders to establish a proposal for 9 x four bedroom houses, with emphasis on providing high quality accommodation to meet the local need.

The layout comprises a row of semi-detached and terraced dwellings, which are traditional in design with pitched slate roofs London stock brick, single storey bay windows and sliding sash windows throughout.

The height of all of the dwellings is two storey with accommodation within the roof space. The design ensures that there is sufficient space between the end units and the Site boundary line to ensure the Development does not have an unacceptable impact on neighbouring residential amenity.

The application was submitted in early June 2014 and was granted by the planning committee nine weeks later. Construction started in February 2015 and was completed in March 2016.

Beulah Hill, South Norwood

Sep

Our Client, Kitewood Estates, purchased this site made up of several back gardens and secured detailed planning consent for 37 one and two bed apartments in three individual blocks, with associated level access parking for 27 cars.

We priced and won the scheme in competition and entered into a back to back arrangement with Tower Homes who purchased the freehold of the site.

We delivered the units to Tower under a design and build arrangement procured via a JCT Standard Form of Building Contract with Contractors Design.

The enabling activities comprised demolition of existing dwellings, site clearance and reducing levels. The buildings were constructed on piled foundations, using a timber frame with facing brickwork and reconstituted stone elevations. External works included extensive hard and soft landscaping.

Approximately 65% of the units were provided for shared ownership and the internal fitting was completed to a high standard to suit the Employer’s Requirements.

The scheme was the first residential development in London Borough of Croydon to attain an ‘Excellent’ EcoHomes Rating and was been designed to incorporate building materials selected from natural renewable or recycled sources.

The energy efficient design included super insulation, careful consideration of orientation, recycled rainwater to minimise mains water consumption and semi porous pavings to provide natural surface water run off.

The project was completed in February 2007.

Butter Hill, Carshalton

Sep

The Oakwood Group was introduced to this site, following failure by one of our competitors to secure planning consent. The site had been dismissed at a Public Local Inquiry, prior to our involvement, and presented a series of very complicated challenges related to privacy and overlooking of neighbouring residential properties.

The building design demanded a very sensitive solution and we worked very closely in conjunction with the planners and design officers at the Local Planning Authority [LPA] to overcome the Inspector’s concerns in dismissing the previous appeal. After several months of negotiation and following two separate detailed planning applications, the LPA finally recommended the scheme for approval, however it was refused at Committee by Members, rather bizarrely on grounds of insufficient parking, which had never been cited as a reason for refusal.

An Appeal was lodged against the decision of the Planning Committee, and the Planning Inspectorate granted permission for the scheme. Full costs were awarded by the Inspector.

The scheme comprises twenty-one, 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments, together with a terrace of 5 family sized houses. The site was developed in conjunction with one of LB Sutton’s partnering Registered Social Landlords, The Orbit Group, who purchased the freehold of the completed development.

Enabling activities comprised the demolition of a three-storey reinforced concrete framed commercial building and two houses.

The site lies within an area of archaeological interest and we were required to carry out a field Investigations to assess and record the nature and importance of any archaeological remains on the site. These works were carried out in conjunction with the Local Authority and English Heritage.

The buildings have been designed using Modern Methods of Construction and were manufactured ‘off-site’ using timber frame technology.

The homes were designed to meet the Building Research Establishment’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 Rating and twenty per-cent of the predicted annual energy consumption of the dwellings is generated from on-site renewable energy sources, principally photovoltaic panels.

Water saving devices were incorporated into the design, such as low flush cisterns in wc’s, spray taps and low volume baths to reduce water wastage in the buildings.

The project completed in April 2011.

Little Birches, Kingswood

Sep

The Oakwood Group constructed this truly exquisite 10,000 square foot traditional style seven bedroom house in one of Kingswood’s premier private roads.

With an unrivalled specification the house was constructed using traditional loadbearing masonry and precast concrete upper floors. Elevations comprised high quality facing bricks, stone quoins and timber sliding sash windows. The steel framed roof was finished with hand made plain clay tiles.

Set over 3 floors, this stylish property is linked by a stunning galleried staircase, capped with a glass roof to allow natural light to cascade through the property.

State of the art building services included a specialist Lutron lighting system, underfloor heating and comfort cooling to all principle rooms. The home boasts an indoor swimming pool and sauna, gym and dedicated media room with fully integrated audio and video system providing full cinematic experience.

To enhance the buildings environmental credentials the design incorporated rainwater harvesting and air source heat pumps providing the building with energy from on site renewable sources.

Internally sumptuous finishes include Italian designed kitchens and bathrooms, marble, hand finished wooden floors, bespoke joinery and fireplaces.

The home enjoys an attractive and leafy aspect set in around two acres. A sweeping carriage driveway provides access to the integral triple garage and exceptional landscaped gardens and tennis court.

We worked tirelessly to create this exemplary building using skilful design techniques to develop a home of unique character, in tune with its surroundings and in a manner consistent with environmental requirements.

Works were completed in December 2012.

Mollison Drive, Wallington

Sep

The Oakwood Group assembled this site comprising 6 semi-detached houses with substantial back gardens via a series of Option Agreements with each of the registered proprietors, on a subject to planning permission basis.

The site presented a significant challenge in planning terms following refusal of the initial planning application on grounds of overdevelopment, excessive building height, non-conformity with building line, insufficient parking and perceived incongruence with the character of the area. Detailed negotiations with the planning, highway and design officers informed a revised planning application, however, despite good progress being made, the Council once again refused the scheme.

The Oakwood Group lodged a Public Local Inquiry against the decision of the Council and following a complex and lengthy process, the Planning Inspectorate granted permission for 54 affordable apartments.

We worked in partnership with one of LB Sutton’s Housing Association Partners, Hyde Housing, to deliver the buildings, which now provide homes for individuals from the Council’s housing waiting list.

The construction was procured via a design and build contract, managed under a JCT Standard Form of Building Contract.

The buildings were designed using Modern Methods of Construction and were manufactured ‘off-site’ using timber frame technology. The homes met the Building Research Establishment’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 Rating and twenty per-cent of the predicted annual energy consumption of the dwellings is generated from on-site renewable energy sources, principally photovoltaic panels.

We carried out extensive research in to recycling rain water, which is stored in underground tanks and used to flush wc’s and to irrigate external soft landscaped areas.

Water saving devices were incorporated into the design, such as low flush cisterns in wc’s, spray taps and low volume baths to reduce water wastage in the buildings.

The project was nominated by the NHBC for a ‘Top 100 Award’ and was completed on time and on budget in April 2011.

Vantage Point, South Croydon

Sep

The Oakwood Group procured funding to purchase this former car park site with outline planning consent for 24 residential apartments. We secured a revised detailed planning consent for thirty apartments, eighteen of which were sold on the open market. The ‘affordable’ element, required as part of the Section 106 Agreement, made up the remaining 12 units.

We entered into a Development Agreement with Tower Homes to deliver the affordable housing.

The building benefits from secure underground car parking, passenger lifts and remote controlled entrance shutter doors and is situated within a stone’s throw of Sanderstead Road BR Station with its excellent links into Central London and the South Coast.

Few developers presently regard the environmental performance of their buildings as a strong selling point. Homes being built today will have a lifespan of 80 to 100 years, exceeding the timeframe set by the Government for achieving significant cuts in emissions [60% cut in emissions by 2050].

Once constructed it is both difficult and expensive to make significant improvements in areas such as thermal efficiency and ventilation losses.

Vantage Point embodies a holistic approach to sustainability, with the aim being the creation of a ‘carbon neutral’ community.