planning approval granted for Heavitree Road, Exeter - PBSA + co-living accommodation
We’re delighted that Exeter City Council has approved the PBSA and co-living scheme on Heavitree Road. The project will bring forward 399 PBSA studios and 414 co-living studios, supported by a suite of high-quality amenities including gyms, a wellness studio, co-working spaces, and theatre kitchens.
brown + company were appointed in early 2024 to reshape the proposals following a previous architects unsuccessful application. Councillors praised the renewed architectural strategy, which distributes the accommodation across seven sensitively designed buildings that respond to local character and the adjacent conservation areas.
We’re excited to move the scheme into the next stage and progress toward delivery on site.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this project.
planning approval granted for Lake and Orchard Residences
After a long period in planning, our proposal for 11 houses at lake and orchard residences, Riccall has been approved. With contemporary architecture drawing inspiration from the nearby village of Riccall and rural vernacular architecture, the scheme will provide high quality housing in this rural brownfield site.
The scheme preserves existing mature trees and sustainably builds on existing land, preserving and enhancing existing biodiversity along the riverside and ensuring sensitive massing in this rural site in the Ouse Valley Character Area.
Congratulations to the whole team and we’re very much looking forward to seeing this project move forwards in the future.
competition success
congratuations to our associate Rob Miller on winning the design ideas competition for portobello promenade in Edinburgh. The community led scheme explores the refurbishment of the existing building on site and introduction of a contemporary extension built in locally sourced timber.
Judges comments:
A quietly confident, realistic choice, combining flexibility and simple charm to create an attractive community anchor. brown + company’s Porty Cooperative Café convinced the jury with its unassuming clarity. A modest café, social hub, and practical toilet block, it embraces the brief’s call for community driven simplicity. Its buildable design, with scope for kayak storage or boat club admin, fits the promenade’s gentle curve without crowding its salty openness.
planning approval granted at church street
Planning Approval has been granted for brown + company’s modernisation of a prominent commercial development on Church Street in the heart of York.
A modest 20th century building sitting awkwardly in the historic characters areas, it was in need of a fresh, richer identity to drive a more commercially viable retail frontage on the pedestrianised corner plot.
The design brings forward a unified frontage, with nods to historic plot widths that responds to current market requirements. Reduced pseudo-vernacular by removal of oriel windows and poor-quality shop frontages, incongruous with the character area, subtly brings forth a contemporary aesthetic. Whilst replacement materials are vastly improved. The shop frontages are an interpretation of the traditional shop front present elsewhere along Church Street, comprising a projecting cornice and fascia sign section at upper level, with vertically defined grid like pilasters. By wrapping round the corner of Church Street onto Swinegate the frontage sets up a contemporary visual plinth for the building.
The upper floor will be enhanced with replacement of existing windows and materials to uplift the building from its currently unloved state.
new residential scheme submitted for planning consent
We have recently submitted a planning application for eight new residential flats on Shipyard Road in Selby.
After two previously unsuccessful applications for the site, the client engaged Brown + Company to bring a fresh perspective. Our new proposals adopt a contextual approach, drawing inspiration from the site's industrial heritage and the character of the city.
planning application submitted for PBSA and co-living development
A planning application has been submitted for a new development comprising 399 Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) units and 414 co-living units on the site of the former police headquarters on Heavitree Road, Exeter.
brown + company were appointed in early 2024, following the refusal of a previous proposal at appeal. Working in close collaboration with planning consultants DPP and landscape architects Oobe, we have carefully designed a high-quality scheme that reflects the local character and thoughtfully addresses the key concerns raised in the earlier submission.
refurbished pavilion enjoys summer of cricket
As the summer term comes to an end it is the perfect time to celebrate the success of the refurbished cricket pavilion.
The 1960’s building was given a new lease of life through a comprehensive renovation of the ground floor to create modern changing facilities for players and umpires alongside a new multi use social space for players, spectators and wider school use.
Visiting and home players alike have commentated on the quality of the changing facilities which will be used throughout the year by the various sports teams at St Peter’s School.
The view from the social space across the pitch is spectacular and has created a new favourite meeting space for staff and visitors.
cricket pavilion refurbishment approved at st peter’s school
As part of our ongoing relationship with St Peter’s School we are please to announce that we have achieved planning approval for the refurbishment of the existing cricket pavilion.
Our proposals include a comprehensive rennovation of the ground floor to create modern changing facilities for players and umpires alongside a new multi use social space for players, spectators and wider school use.
Externally we have proposed render to the current disjointed brick ground floor facade in a bright white to complement the existing burnt timber cladding above. To the players terrace area leading to the new changing rooms we have proposed a light brown timber cladding which will in turn be reflected in the new windows and doors to the ground floor space.
coney street riverside approved at committee
Our plans for Coney Street Riverside were approved at committee last night, 24th October 2024. It has been a pleasure to work with Helmsley Group and the whole team on such an ambitious forward thinking proposal which will reinvigorate Coney Street and transform the city’s relationship with the River Ouse.
Helmsley were commended on their collaborative and consultative approach and this will continue into the next stage to ensure that the new Coney Street Riverside is open to all.
coney street riverside at york unlocked
On Saturday 6th October our director Neil Brown led guided tours of the Coney Street Riverside as part of York Unlocked 2024.
With the scheme due to be presented at planning committee before the end of the year the timing of the event couldn’t have been better, giving Neil an opportunity to explain the city wide benefits that the proposals will bring.
Thank you to all that attended, for those that couldn’t make it information on the proposals and York Unlocked can be found below:
https://coneystreetriverside.co.uk/
https://www.brownandcompany.uk/coney-street-riverside
floating river park for york
Following the news that plans have been approved for a floating wildlife habitat on the River Ouse, lets have a Throwback Thursday to our concept proposals for a floating walkway connecting King’s Staith with Dame Judy Dench Walk.
Developed in 2022 during the pre-application process for our Coney Street Riverside scheme we floated this idea with the council to gauge enthusiasm for our proposals. The pontoon was envisaged as a city scale destination attraction; this floating park would work alongside our proposals for Coney Street and the Riverside to draw people in to help reinvigorate the area.
We proposed using the natural topography of Dame Judy Dench Walk and King’s Staith to provide level access onto the floating platform which would pass underneath Lendall and Ouse bridges. We designed a series of landing points connecting with the riverside walkway running parallel to Coney Street which would echo the historic Waterlane access points which historically would have been entry points into the city for goods arriving from the river.
The walkway would be connected to a series of posts allowing the pontoon to float up and down in response to the changing levels of the River Ouse.
pc of kitchen and dining hall, st peter’s school, york
St Peter’s School students returning after their summer break will be greeted today by a fully reconfigured kitchen and dining hall at Main School.
The improvement of the dining areas is phase 1 of a multi-phase masterplan leading towards the transition to a two school model by September 2027.
brown + company have worked throughout the summer holiday, supporting the school and the main contractor Harecroft construction to provide a new kitchen with state of the art equipment and an enlarged, fully refurbished dining hall.
Three new servery stations will allow pupils and staff to move more efficiently through the space and have allowed for increased capacity in the hall.
The design concept by Koncept interiors is elegant and reflects the ethos of St Peter’s School; four rectangular feature ceiling coffers are mirrored by the design of the floor and help to break down the large space, whilst also drawing the eye to the new media display cabinet to the end wall. The side walls have new display spaces for pupil’s art and new furniture has been provided throughout.
8 weeks from strip out to practical completion shows how much can be achieved when everyone pulls in the same direction.
site update: st pauls, leeds
Exciting progress is being made at St Pauls Street, Leeds. Following completion of the site strip and removal of the existing cladding and roof, contractor MLC has turned their attention to piling and forming the foundations to the rear of the site. It is expected that the first steelwork will be erected in May.
brown and company are working in close collaboration with contractor and design team to deliver an exception new headquarters for W Denis
planning application submitted at beech avenue
Our scheme for 4 houses on Beech Avenue York, was recently submitted for planning consent.
The proposals unlock an under used parcel of land through creatively responding to a number of constraints such as flood and outlook of neighbouring properties.
The facade design, including brick detailing, bay windows and dormers respond to the historic ‘tudor style’ precedents surrounding the site.
brown + company are delighted to welcome Rachel Crooks to the growing team
Rachel was awarded the RIAS Rowand Anderson Silver Medal for Best Scottish Architecture Graduate 2023, having graduated last year from the prestigious Mackintosh School of Architecture, and already has several years’ experience working for commercial practices, celebrated for their design credentials, in both Durham and Glasgow.
Fantastically talented, Rachel is already proving to be valuable addition to the brown + company team.
brown + company are proud sponsors of York Rugby Club’s Under 10s Team
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the coaches and parent volunteers whose dedication and talent are guiding the York Under 10s Team on their continued journey to success.
The RFU core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship define the game of rugby, and align closely with brown + company’s team-first ethos, to engender a culture of high-performance collaboration.
Long may the York Under 10s Team continue to develop and enjoy their well-deserved success!
spa and member’s club in grade II* hotham hall submitted for planning
The heritage led proposals for a new events space, members club, accommodation in a grade II* stable block and new build spa are part of the comprehensive restoration of the hotham hall estate. The design sensitively introduces new interventions which will enable public appreciation of the estate and secure a sustainable future.
didem joins brown + company
Welcome Didem Hatton to our team in York! With a wide range of experience in commercial and large scale heritage projects she will become an invaluable member of our growing team!
coney street riverside update submitted for planning
brown + company have recently submitted revised planning and listed building applications for the Helmsley Group’s major regeneration of both Coney Street and the west bank of York River Ouse, between Lendal Bridge and Ouse Bridge.
Proposals include the creation of 250,000 sqft of mixed-use development through the introduction of a series of new riverside buildings and the sensitive repurposing of several Grade II listed buildings along Coney Street. Uses includes retail, leisure, commercial, and student residential, and the proposals also incorporate a new, fully accessible riverside public realm.
The project team, which includes Montagu Evans and local planning consultant O’Neill Associates, has worked very closely with both the council and local stakeholders to provide a fantastic new vision for one of York’s most prominent and sensitive sites. A decision is expected by mid-2024.
planning success at 8 st paul’s street
brown + company have achieved planning consent for an extensive refurbishment and extension of a 1960’s office building in leeds city centre for client W Denis. The planners praised the contextual response to the new facade.
brown + company will be working closely with interior designer, rucreative and contractors, MLC to deliver the office in 2024/25
new studio for brown + company
brown + company’s new studio is located at 39 Blossom Street, York, just outside the city walls. In this central location this Grade II listed building was previously the well loved Lamb and Lion pub and although now repurposed as workspace, the vaulted dance floor still remains.
With signage expertly hand painted by Brian the Brush, we’re excited to be taking our first steps to making this great space our new home.
planning submitted for mount royal, york
brown + company have submitted a planning application on behalf of Oakgate Group for the creation of two new family homes within the former Mount Royal hotel, and an additional two contemporary new build properties within in groups.
A decision is expect in early 2024, watch this space.
grade I listed cumberland house submitted for planning and listed building consent
Located in York City Centre on King’s Staith, Grade I listed Cumberland House dates from 1710 – 1712. The building was a townhouse for much of its life and our proposals will see it return from its current office use to its original intended use as a residential dwelling.
brown + company are currently working closely with council officers to ensure all matters, such as heritage and flooding are dealt with appropriately, and a decision is expected by spring 2024.
read more here
