At RRA architects

This month the Chancellor’s budget is supposed to, not harm economic recovery, and reduce the government deficit, at RRA we believe the economy needs all the support it can get and we remain unsure this budget does enough. We have seen little upturn in the planned recovery in recent months and there is still no speculative development confidence, and what with governments continued tinkering with policy whether it be, economic or planning, we believe construction and design services are still in a state of stasis.
 
However, what we do know is, it is education projects that have provided much work in the design and construction industries and RRA is happy to report positive news relating to our education projects – find out more about the planned projects below.
 
Also this month, is now the time to plan and start a capital project? With VAT set to rise to 20%, we recognise that construction costs and professional fees are set to rise and be an added cost to construction. If you are planning a project then now is the time to save 2.5% VAT on the construction costs and on all the professional fees, before the new VAT rate is applied in January 2011.

Hereford • Cheltenham • London

Consultation - Holme Lacy campus

HCT is the largest education and training organisation in the County of Herefordshire. Following on from the HCT’s recent £32m development at Folly lane, the college is now moving focus to its agricultural and sports based campus at Holme Lacy. RRA has designed the masterplan and detailed the designs for the new faculty buildings that will form the proposed new campus at Holme Lacy. Public consultation is taking place in the month of June and July. If you would like to view the scheme and talk to the design team you can do so by contacting consultation@mplanning.co.uk.

Progress - Redditch Church

This month the project team are meeting with the PCC of St Stephens Redditch to progress a scheme design to re-order the church’s interior spaces. The project initiative is being supported by the PCC, the Local Authority and several other interested user groups. English Heritage and the Diocesan Advisory Committee will comment on the nature of the scheme. The aim is to facilitate community group meetings and ecumenical meeting spaces and start the funding drive to progress a project to completion – watch this space.

Cluster Homes

This month RRA submitted plans to develop a site for adults with learning difficulties. The Charity Aspire Choices is proposing an exciting scheme at Moor Park Hereford. The proposals seek to remodel a dated looking existing 1980’s structure making way for a more approachable and more sustainable building in terms of energy use whilst providing residents with comfort and enjoyment. For more information contact Jon.

Planning - Cheltenham Approval

RRA secured a successful approval for a controversial contemporary design remodelling a house in Cheltenham. Following much local debate the project was taken to committee by the Local Member and after much deliberation they decided to come down on the side of good contemporary design and approved the scheme stating: ‘It is good contemporary design and we should except more applications like this with families wanting not to move but to modernise their home and make their homes more sustainable’ - RRA couldn’t agree more. Contact Mark.

Garden Grabbing - Gone

The Government has announced new measures to declassify gardens as ‘brownfield’ land and has also scrapped minimum density targets for housing. The garden-grabbing practice, which has seen many green suburbs turn grey, is officially now over. According to the Communities and Local Government Department, the number of new houses being built on gardens rose from 10% to a 25% between 1997 to 2008. Will this mean the return of car based lower density settlement wrapping itself around our towns and villages? – we think so.

City of London Corporation Planning Department - Full Marks

RRA congratulates the City for validating a planning application in just 2 days…this must be a national record. Well done all those at the City planning department for producing a speedy turn around.