Watson Batty celebrates 35 years in business

Watson Batty Architects would like to thank everyone who attended our annual client evening held in November this year to celebrate the practices 35th birthday. We hope that you all agree that the evening was a fitting occasion to mark the practices long term and recent success.

WBA selected for Graham Solley Sports Development Centre

Following our successful bid to be appointed on to the Sheffield Hallam University consultants framework, Watson Batty Architects have been selected to undertake the first framework project, the redevelopment of the Graham Solley Sports Development Centre.  The redevelopment of the centre on Bawtry Road will allow students access to high quality sports facilities including Cricket, Football and International Rugby Union. The development will include full size synthetic turf pitches, natural grass pitches, along with a two storey pavilion accommodating changing rooms, bars, function rooms, kitchen, and other ancillary accommodation.

When completed, the facilities will house the Sheffield United Cricket Club, the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) teams and number of Community Sports Clubs.

Canopy takes shape on new elite Throw Centre

Construction is nearing completion on the new Loughborough University and UK Athletics elite performance throw centre on campus. With the structure and canopy now in place only the specialist floor surfacing and  hammer/discuss cage remain to be completed in the next few weeks.

74 Slow Worms Translocated from Morrisons Site

Following an Ecology survey, that identified the presence of slow worms and lizards, on a site to be developed by Wm Morrison Supermarkets in Exeter, a successful operation to ‘trap, capture and relocate’ the slow worms has been successfully completed prior to them hibernating. With the help of the Local Authorities Parks Department a suitable home was identified approximately 2 miles from their existing habitat.


What are Slow Worms?
Slow Worms look superficially like snakes, but are actually semi-fossorial (burrowing) legless 
lizards spending much of the time hiding underneath objects. The skin of the varieties of slow
worm is smooth with scales that do not overlap one another. Like many other lizards, slow worms autotomize, meaning that they have the ability to shed their tails in order to escape predators. Slow Worms can grow to a total body length of 45 cm but 30-40 cm is more typical.


Legislation relating to the slow-worm
Slow-worms are protected against killing, injuring and sale under UK legislation:
Bern Convention 1979: Appendix III
Wildlife & Countryside Act (as Amended) 1981: Schedule 5
Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW 2000)

Elland Nu-swift and Morrisons Superstore go out to Tender

Watson Batty Architects Ltd has just completed the tender package for a proposed new development on Eastgate/ Wistons Lane, Elland. Working on behalf of Nu-swift International Ltd and Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc the project will see a brand new production facility built to re-house the existing Nu-swift operation as well as a Morrisons Superstore.

Construction is due to start on the proposed Nu-swift building early in 2012 with the Morrisons store construction beginning in spring 2012. The store should be open in time for Christmas next year.

New Royal Mail Medway Mail Centre becomes water tight!

The new Medway Mail Centre has now become water tight. This is a crucial stage in the £15m project as the complicated automation machinery can now begin to be delivered and installed.

This new Mail Centre will be at the centre of Royal Mail operations in Kent and is due to complete, on time, at the end of January.

Watson Batty is proud of the ongoing relationship it has with Royal Mail and is delighted to be involved with this major project.

Situated on the outskirts of Strood, the site geography is such that Watson Batty has created an inventive and dynamic design solution with high car parking areas and link bridge into the new buildings entrance. Using up-to-date building methods, the building itself brings a dramatic design to, what could have been, a standard industrial building.

WBA appointed for Nottingham leisure centre project

Watson Batty Architects have been appointed by Gedling Borough Council as Lead Consultant and Project Architect to undertake a detailed options appraisal of Arnold Leisure Centre, Nottingham.  

Working closely alongside WBA and GBC will be design team colleagues Pick Everard,  V4 Services Limited as consultants, and Nottingham City Council as client advisors  The project is due to complete by the end of this year, reviewing and advising upon various refurbishment and redevelopment opportunities for the existing 1981 leisure centre and site.  WBA are delighted to support Gedling Borough Council providing extensive knowledge and experience of public leisure facilities and leading sports and leisure sector design.

For more information click here or click here.

New Athletics facility takes off

Construction of the new Loughborough University and UK Athletics national Elite Throw Centre has recently commenced on site.  This exciting and unique facility for elite athletes is due to be completed in November 2011.

A tensile fabric canopy will provide additional cover and protection from the elements to enable our leading Olympic competitors (Javelin, Hammer, Shot Put and Discus) to practice in the field in all conditions leading up to London 2012 and to provide a future legacy facility.

Stadium steelwork completed on time

Construction of the new Loughborough University Holywell Park stadium gains momentum with the recent completion of the structural steelwork package. 

An exciting outline of the new £3m project is now emerging on site with the main clubhouse steelwork and ongoing installation of the spectator terracing. Completion of the project will provide a first class sports venue facility for the University’s football and rugby teams and is expected in early Spring 2012.

House of the Future

Watson Batty have volunteered our services to develop a recently renovated former derelict terraced house on Lower Rushton Road in Bradford. The project was developed to showcase how a practical approach to sustainability can be applied to an existing dwelling as part of the British Science Festival which was held in Bradford during September.

Technologies and systems showcased at the property included permeable paving to reduce rainwater run off, rainwater recovery and the use of recycled furniture and materials

York St John Fountains Learning Centre Complete

Watson Batty Architects are proud to announce the completion of the £1m refurbishment and remodelling of Fountains Learning Centre at York St John University. It was a 15 week contract completed on time and on budget where we provided an interior design service including graphic and signage design, space planning and furniture layouts and bespoke furniture design.


Please click here for more images of the finished project or click here for further information.

WBA deliver Morrison’s first M-Local Convenience Stores

Watson Batty Architects Ltd were appointed as project Architects for Morrison’s first three convenience stores under their new M-local format. The first store in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, opened on 8th July 2011 with the Wilmslow store following shortly after on the 1st of August. The third store in the M-local format will open in Widnes, Upton Rocks later this year.


The Ilkley store conversion from a former College Building to a modern convenience store was delivered on programme in only 14 weeks with Watson Batty Architects Ltd acting as lead designer for both the shell and fit out contracts. Watson Batty Architects have also been appointed as lead designers of the Wilmslow and Widnes Stores.


These stores are the first of the Morrison’s trial stores that Watson Batty has been commissioned to undertake introducing Morrisons’ expertise in fresh foods but with the added element of convenience. The store provides freshly prepared meat, fish and bakery goods as well as fruit, vegetables from a local hub store. These products are delivered at least four times a day to guarantee freshness.


Watson Batty Architects Ltd worked in close partnership with Morrison’s to delivery this new and exciting venture into the convenience market and over came many technical challenges to provide the stores infrastructure and internal design to meet Morrison’s aspirations.  


The store has been entered into the prestigious Insight NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year Award 2011. For your chance to vote and see a 4 minute video of the store opening please click here


To view Ilkley Store Click Here
To view Wilmslow Store Click Here

Significant win at the University of Huddersfield

Watson Batty Architects have been appointed to work on the new Student Learning and Leisure Centre for the University of Huddersfield. The centre will bring together social, learning and sports activities in the heart of the Queensgate Campus. The new multi-million pound development will significantly enhance the student experience at the University and support their strong academic track record. Huddersfield is the 9^th UK University we have worked with, being appointed for the project ahead of 40 other regional and national practices.

Triton Construction Ltd are on programme to deliver a new Classroom Block for Craven College

Triton Construction Ltd are on programme to deliver a new classroom block for Craven College. The £2 million building will include general teaching classrooms, I.T. learning spaces, 2 laboratory classroom as well as a multi-functioning hall and other facilities. The 2200m.sq new building also features range of sustainable technologies such as rainwater harvesting, solar heat collectors and photovoltaic panels. Being on site for almost 7 months the building is due to complete on Friday 19^th August 2011.

Loughborough Throw Centre gets Planning Approval

Watson Batty Architects are delighted to announce that full planning permission has been granted for the WBA designed new UK Athletics Throw Centre on Loughborough University campus.  Construction is due to be completed on this state of the art £500k facility in the Autumn.  The tensile fabric enclosure will provide protected outdoor training for Team GB’s elite athletes in the lead up to London 2012 for Javelin, Shot Put, Discus and Hammer. 

The Japanese Olympic team, also based on campus, will have access to the facility.

Brackenhall Community Centre

LEGO Evening

House of the Future

Loughboro' University

New Cricket Facilities L'boro'

Library Refurb at St Johns

WMS Ripon

Well done Richard

Code 3 & 4 Show Home Open at Thurnscoe

Code 6 homes come to Calderdale