The Federation Cemetery Edgware Inauguration

The inauguration of the Federation’s Cemetery in Edgware was held on the 4th of July. It has taken seven years to procure the land, develop the design and complete this new cemetery with Ohel Prayer Hall, Kohanim, a purpose-built Tahara and workshop for the Jewish community.

The Federation Cemetery Edgware

Proposals for Scotland’s smartest, greenest city approved at Perth West

We are delighted to announce that Perth West, Scotland’s largest carbon-neutral development has been recently approved by Perth & Kinross Council.

Designed as a sustainable expansion of Perth, these proposals comprise a mixed-use development including 1,500 homes, a primary school and an Eco-Innovation Park along the Perth Innovation Highway.

Submitted by the John Dewar Lamberkin Trust, the project seeks to make Perth the greenest small city in Europe. The proposals balance the need to build more homes and infrastructure with the need to preserve what is a valuable and beautiful environment. It is supported by a smart energy grid.

The proposals connect to Perth through a mobility hub designed to circular economy principles. This hub sits at the meeting place between the proposed neighbourhood and the existing city of Perth. As a launch point for public transport into the city centre and beyond, it hosts parking, car-sharing and public transport provision, with vehicle charging points, a medical centre and last mile delivery facilities.

The backbone of the project is the Perth Innovation Highway. This is an energy, data and road corridor connecting Perth West to the city centre and enabling the logistics industry, public transport operators, industrial and manufacturing business and residents access to low-carbon, smart energy and mobility infrastructure.

Brooks Murray Architects have worked with a multidisciplinary team on a Designing Streets approach which prioritises people and place. The housing-led element of the proposals, Lamberkin Village, is a series of three integrated neighbourhoods designed to make it easy for residents to lead active lives. Each local centre is designed as a focal point for village life, with shops and public transport within several hundred metres from every person’s home. A school, a health centre, allotments, parks and recreational space are located throughout Perth West and connected by a pedestrian and cycle-friendly network of streets which can enable people who live in the neighbourhoods to take active choices about how they move around and live their lives, and reduce reliance on the private car as a door-to-door method of transport.

Existing local communities, businesses and academic institutions across the region have been and are engaged in the design process, and broadly supportive of Perth West throughout.

Find out more at: https://www.perthwest.com/

Further articles featuring the development:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/2274115/more-than-1000-homes-approved-as-500-million-perth-west-development-gets-green-light/
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/1337153/plans-submitted-for-futuristic-perth-west-project-which-could-boost-economy-by-65m-a-year-and-create-over-2000-jobs/

Bridge House conversion underway

This large Uxbridge office building has been stripped of its metal and glazed façade and all its contents to its bare concrete structure. The development is part of a masterplan site which aims to expand the town centre of Uxbridge. This building is one of three office buildings to be converted into flats. This particular design consists of 115 converted PD flats, 25 new-build flats with a rooftop extension, and a new brick façade including balconies for each flat.
Brooks Murray have worked on all stages of the project, gaining approvals for the façade and extension, coordinating and delivered tender information, and have been novated to see out the construction of the 8 storey development. Following delays in 2020 due to obvious reasons, we look forward to seeing the finished building later in 2021.

Modern conversion and extension success in Bournemouth

The Pearl Assurance building in Bournemouth is an excellent example of 1930s Moderne architecture, an art deco building style. When the client came to Brooks Murray looking to develop or refurbish the single storey commercial building next door, we explored the option of extending the whole 6 storey building over the neighbouring site as it was also under the same ownership. Through the design process, we discovered the significance of this Raymond McGrath and Walter Goodesmith building, and also the original plans that had already considered the extension over the Fir Vale Road site (to the right in picture). The planning department was as excited as we were about this project, and through good design we were able to deliver a proposal consisting of retail, office and residential space worthy of delegated consent.

Photo credit:
Image date 1937. Photographer J Reade.
Image reproduced under licence from the RIBA Architecture Image Library

The Story approved

Brooks Murray have recently had their Brent Street project in Barnet approved by the planning committee by 7 votes to nil in favour of the development. The Story is a community building that incorporates function, learning and religious spaces with a museum and headquarters for Jewish Futures organisation and their affiliated charity groups. After a year of planning that included 3 planning pre-app meetings and 2 highways pre-app meetings, the successful design was supported by planners and the committee panel. It was unanimously agreed that the development would bring a positive injection of architecture to the high street location and provide the community with much needed facilities, while appropriately fitting into the surrounding commercial and residential context.
We hope to see the £20 million project progress to construction phases as soon as possible!

BMA winners at the 2019 Herts Building & Construction Awards

We are delighted to be the winners of the 2019 “Refurbishment Project of the Year” Award” for the the Hertfordshire Building and Construction Awards with our project Essendonbury Barns.

Hertfordshire Building and Construction Awards  celebrates the workmanship of tradesman, businesses and organisations in Hertfordshire.

Congratulation to the team involved including Hatfield House, Nicholas Mee, Synergy and Ekins Builders!

Aspect House under construction

Brooks Murray obtained Permitted Development approval in 2017 to convert the attractive complex of three office buildings into 121 flats. Subsequently we secured planning permission to add an extra floor onto each building, creating an extra 29 flats, with high quality landscaping between the buildings.

The scheme has been designed to the highest specifications and the interior design combines sleek and modern design with tactile materials. The development also embraces smart technology within the design.

To know more about this project click here.

Essendonbury Farm winner of the Commercial RICS Award

Great success for Essendonbury Farm, winner of the East of England RICS Awards in the Commercial Category.

The judges said:
“This is a fantastic commercial development located in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. The level of workmanship, attention to detail and consideration to the surrounding environment is impressive. The buildings have been used to facilitate the tenant’s business in a highly successful way and the relationship between Landlord and Tenant is a modern customer service focused approach. This commercial propriety leads the way by promoting collaborative relationships which are sustainable and beneficial to all involved.”

Congratulations to all the team involved!

https://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/rics-awards/rics-awards-east-of-england/

Essenbonbury Farm featured on Premier Construction magazine

Essendonbury Farm has been featured on the April issue of Premier Construction.

“Essendonbury Farm has a strong concept based upon rigorous historic analysis and a thoughtful approach to re-imagining listed barns in the twenty-first century. The project team re-purposed these buildings to a high standard to suit Aston Martin specialists Nicholas Mee & Co challenging requirements. The result is a bespoke, but adaptable, development, which brings new people, and new purpose, to a beautiful corner of rural Hertfordshire.”

Read the full article here.