Legendre UK’s Post

BPTW has been appointed to design Phases 4 & 5 of the award-winning Rochester Riverside regeneration, with the reserved matters planning application recently submitted for approval. This appointment underscores our continued involvement in transforming this significant waterfront site, in collaboration with Vistry Group and The Hyde Group. This project is a lasting legacy to Chris Bath, who sadly passed away last month. He worked on this major regeneration project from its inception. His passion and enthusiasm for creating great places to live is evident and will continue with his talented team led by Caroline Dommett and Peter Sofoluke. Medway Council's flagship masterplan will provide over 1,400 new homes alongside commercial and community spaces in a landscaped public space network that connects the biodiverse riverside to the historic centre. Central to this vision is the commitment to placemaking which strengthens the local identity and creates a vibrant, cohesive community. The latest phases will introduce 353 new homes, comprising 115 houses and 238 apartments, built by Vistry under its Countryside Homes brand. 79 of the apartments will be provided as affordable homes. In addition, there will be ample car and cycle parking, and innovative public spaces, including an extension to the new river walk and green spaces that enhance connectivity with the historic Rochester High Street. Building upon the scheme’s established design principles, Phases 4 & 5 will further develop distinct designs that respond to the area’s industrial heritage. Phases 4 & 5 will utilise Vistry’s off-site manufactured timber frame structure for the houses, developed by BPTW, featuring standardised components that improve production efficiency and reduce carbon emissions during construction. A striking new entrance gateway at Eventide Park will feature strong frontage with a number of commercial spaces providing valuable amenities for residents. Public realm improvements are central to the scheme enhancing the river walk as a safe and inviting space for community interaction, while also supporting biodiversity. A temporary dock at Limehouse Wharf has been proposed by Medway Council offering the opportunity for river boat access including the Waverley Steamer, the world's last sea going paddle steamer. The project is set to progress through public consultation in the autumn, with a determination by Medway Council expected by winter. If approved, construction on Phases 4 and 5 is anticipated to commence in spring of 2025. Looking ahead, the masterplan will continue to evolve with the subsequent Phase 6, which will complete the regeneration of Rochester Riverside. CGI by Dean Wells #planningsubmission #architecture #regeneration #medway

🛠️ Mission Rock development - San Francisco 🌉 The Mission Rock development in San Francisco is a remarkable project transforming the city's waterfront. This ambitious initiative includes multiple high-profile buildings, totaling over 3 million square feet of residential, office, retail, and public spaces with structural steel playing a pivotal role. The project incorporates an estimated 5,000 tons of structural steel, highlighting the scale and complexity of the construction. Its innovative design aims for LEED Gold certification and prioritizes sustainability while creating a dynamic urban environment. Mission Rock is set to include a mix of uses such as 537 new apartments, office spaces, and a waterfront park. Reflecting the strength of San Francisco’s construction and steel industries, Mission Rock stands as a testament to blending structural innovation with dynamic urban living. An incredible achievement for the city and the teams behind it! 🏗️ #MissionRockSF #StructuralSteel #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #LEEDGold #SanFranciscoConstruction #SteelInnovation #UrbanLiving #WaterfrontDevelopment #SmartCities #ModernArchitecture #SteelIndustry #EngineeringExcellence #ConstructionTrends

We're in the final stages of construction turning a council-owned disused garage plot in Bristol into affordable housing, using the innovative Gap House concept. Our Bristol Director Matt Cooper said: "The Gap House design is a thoughtful way to bring back to life disused urban spaces, & could contribute to addressing the housing crisis & improving local communities. Over Beard's 135-year history, we've been involved in many residential projects, but none quite like this. Working with factory-made panels & within the limits of a small site has presented challenges that the team has embraced. It's been exciting to apply the innovative new methods to create sustainable, contemporary & affordable homes in the city." Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eHE6MbNg #beardconstruction #buildwithambition 📷 Image credit: BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd)

An application we submitted to retrofit and extend Aylmer House in Harlow town centre has been given a resolution to grant, subject to a S106 Agreement.   29 new one, two and three bed apartments will be created, following the recommendation for approval of plans for a two-storey upwards extension and conversion of the building’s second and third floors from commercial to residential. An existing Wetherspoons public house, at ground level, will be retained.   “Harlow town centre is undergoing an exciting transformation and we’re working closely with Harlow Council to help achieve their vision for a more residential-led townscape and, in particular, deliver more new homes within the town centre itself,” comments our associate planner, Hannah Fawdon MRTPI. “This includes redeveloping commercial premises as residential, to mitigate against the continued problem of vacant office space.   “Aylmer House occupies a prominent position within the town centre boundary and was identified within the recently adopted North Development Brief as having the potential for new residential apartments and increased height. It was therefore a credible candidate for redevelopment and we were pleased to bring forward this application on behalf of our client, Martorana Properties.” adds Hannah.   The newly approved proposal will see the height of the building increase to six storeys and has been designed with architectural detailing to match the neighbourhood, including a contemporary sawtooth roof and green cladding.   This design approach is welcomed in the planning officer’s report, which states “the proposed development is considered to significantly improve the appearance of the existing building through the use of contemporary architectural design and materials. It is also positive that it would repurpose and extend an existing building to prevent its demolition, presenting a much more sustainable solution.”   The report further praises the wider benefits the redevelopment will bring, particularly the delivery of new homes within a sustainable location, the introduction of a green roof to enable a 100% biodiversity net gain, adequate noise controls to minimise impacts to residential properties arising from the ground floor pub, provision of carbon reduction measures, and it being car-free. Image credit: Ackroyd Lowrie #planningapproval #planningpermission #planningnews #proudofplanning #resolutiontogrant #upwardsextension #retrofit #reuse #refurbish #regeneration #redevelopment #biodiversity #biodiversityawareness #useclasses #planningadvice #harlow #essex

***POST UPDATE: April Fools*** The UK & Europe’s TALLEST skyscraper set to be built overlooking Hyde Park in London. ✔️ The tallest skyscraper in the U.K. and Europe has been given planning approval. The 464 metre, mixed-use tower will feature luxury accommodation, modern office space, a 5 star hotel, restaurants and a museum of the arts. The tower will be built near Lancaster Gate tube station by the intersection of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The 88-storey tower will have a distinctive facade with a wide base which tapers as it rises and will give ‘unprecedented’ views over Hyde Park. The top 3 floors will feature a public viewing gallery, museum, restaurants and a bar. The tower will be the first ‘all-electric’ skyscraper in the UK. Plans for the tower had been kept under wraps until a recent announcement of a meeting of the City of Westminster’s planning department. In the meeting the development was described as ‘a post-Brexit government-led initiative for a sustainable construction project that will reshape the skyline, create jobs and boost the economy’. At 464 metres the skyscraper is a massive 154 metres taller than the Shard and 2 metres taller than Europe’s current tallest skyscraper, the Lakhta Center, in St Petersburg. Construction is expected to start in early-2027 with demolition works of 5 existing buildings. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said: ‘This engineering marvel will stand for a positive, brighter and taller future for Britain. It will be named ‘Sunak Tower’ and will be taller than any building in Europe.’ IMAGE: a rendering of the skyscraper looking north to Bayswater Road from West Carriage Drive.

The oldest buildings are the most sustainable buildings, and a very satisfying part of our work is being able to give an old building a new purpose and lease of life. Especially when it’s a distinctive brutalist building like this one in Sheffield city centre. Sheffield is known for its brutalist landmark buildings, such as Park Hill, the Moorfoot building, and the Moore Street electricity substation. Division House, the former Westfield offices on Division Street, is not as well-known, but it is a little brutalist gem. Working on behalf of our client MCR, we converted this building from offices into 39 residential apartments whilst retaining the ground-floor retail units on this popular city centre street. The things I particularly like about this scheme are: 🏘️ More new homes in the city centre 💰Local businesses occupy ground-floor spaces, supporting local commerce and activating the street. 🏢 Sheffield is known for its brutalist architecture, so the retention of this building contributes to local identity and distinctiveness. ✅ Breathe new life into a building whose former use had become obsolete, securing its future for many decades to come. 🏬 A good example of mixed use ‘gentle density, buildings ranging between 3-7 storeys. ♻️ Reusing the existing structure was a more sustainable alternative to demolition and the construction of a new building on the site. Division House is a project that can help bring new life into urban centres, and it is a classic example of our work.

🆕 What is Passivhaus? Originating in Germany, the innovative standard has since gained global recognition for its holistic approach to creating high-performance buildings. At its heart Passivhaus is a wholistic system of five key principles that guide the design and construction of these durable and healthy buildings — super-insulated envelopes, airtight construction, high-performance window glazing, and heat recovery ventilation. Passivhaus, also known as Passive House, represents an approach to sustainable building design that prioritises occupant comfort, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The Passivhaus System has 5 key elements >Airtightness >Insulated Building Envelopes >Heat Recovery Ventilation > High-Performance Window Glazing >Thermal Bridge Reduction Join One-Day Introduction to Passivhaus Gain 7 formal CPD points for architects to learn about Passivhaus. Face-to-face in ADL and Melbourne 2025 - limited places. Early Bird: Members $400 | Non-Members $490 Full Price: Members $450 | Non-Members $560 21 March 2025 | Melbourne 11 April 2025 | Adelaide Passivhaus is rapidly gaining momentum in Australia as the benchmark for comfort in all our buildings- don’t fall behind. The number of Certified Passivhaus Buildings grew by 20% in 2024. Register now: https://buff.ly/4bwVT7k

SEVEN incredible skyscrapers set to transform Sydney’s skyline by 2030. 💎 TOP LEFT: A 40-storey skyscraper planned for construction at Cockle BayWharf overlooking Pyrmont Bridge. The 63,000 sqm office tower will be at the heart of the $650m revamp of Cockle Bay. BOTTOM LEFT: 338 Pitt Street. Twin 80-storey skyscrapers connected by a skybridge and comprising 592 residences and a hotel. Planning approval has been given for the $726m project. TOP MIDDLE: The Atlassian Tower. Set to be one of the world’s tallest hybrid timber structures. The $1bn development will be built next to Central Station. MIDDLE: Central Place Sydney. Featuring two commercial towers of 36 and 38 stories, that will be the flagship development of the new Tech Central precinct. It will be one of the ‘most sustainable commercial developments in Australia’ when complete. BOTTOM MIDDLE: 55 Pitt Street. Designed by SHoP Architects and Woods Bagot, 55 Pitt is a $1bn 56-storey skyscraper set to transform downtown Sydney’s skyline. TOP RIGHT: One Circular Quay. A world-class residential tower currently under construction by Lendlease. Featuring 158 luxury apartments and a Waldorf Astoria hotel. Due for completion in 2026. BOTTOM RIGHT: 505 George Street. An 80-storey skyscraper approved for construction. The $1bn development from Mirvac will be the tallest residential skyscraper in Sydney when complete.

Curo Construction has been appointed as contractor for the refurbishment of a central London office building. #Berners Street, in the heart of Fitzrovia Developer Kajima has started works on the reconstruction of 16 Berners Street (previously Orwell House) in the heart of Fitzrovia. #CuroConstruction has been appointed as the contractor for the project, designed by #GibsonThornleyarchitects with consulting engineer Max Fordham. The project includes partial demolition and an upwards extension to increase office space from 28,600 sq ft to 35,000 sq ft. The existing structure will be retained but there will be a new façade, core, internal configuration and services. Work is expected to be completed in 2026. #KajimaEurope managing director John Harcourt said: "One of the most exciting aspects of 16 Berners Street is how we have implemented our approach to sustainability, for example through the use of reclaimed steel oil rig columns. By taking a data-driven approach to sustainability, we've managed to minimise embodied carbon and give new life to industrial elements that would otherwise go to waste. This is a great example of our commitment to #ESG strategies and is a bold step forward in how we think about construction and material resource efficiency.” Curo Construction operations director David Owen said: "We are excited to take the lead on the transformation of Berners Street, a project that truly reflects our commitment to sustainable construction and adaptive reuse. By merging contemporary design with the building's historical significance, we strive to create a workspace that not only meets the changing demands of businesses but also enhances the Fitzrovia community." Curo Construction is owned and managed by Darren Pettitt and Steve Conlin, who set up the business in 2014 with experience gained at #ShepherdConstruction, #ISG and #McLaren.