Shipley Store Wars and Planning Win

Proposals for a mixed use development in Shipley, Bradford were unanimously approved at Planning Committee on Friday last week, ahead of two rival applications that all aimed to build a new supermarket in the town. Watson Batty Architects brought together two of their longstanding clients; Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Skipton Properties Ltd to develop this exciting mixed use scheme which has been named Shipley Exchange. The proposals occupy an 22 acre piece of land adjacent to Shipley Train Station and comprise of a Supermarket, a petrol filling station, business units, 100 dwellings as well as much needed additional station car parking. For further information on the proposal please click here to visit our website.

York St John University Dining Room Extension Submitted For Planning

Having supported York St John University in the incremental development of the Lord Mayors Walk Campus in York since 2010, Watson Batty has been working closely with the University since early 2013 on the second phase of a new £1m Dining Room extension. The scheme will provide essential additional catering space together with an extensive external terrace and new gardens in the heart of the campus. The extension has been designed as a ‘pavilion in the landscape’ making use of traditional rustic red brick and glulam timber structures to compliment the site context. A planning application has been submitted to the City of York Council with approval being sought early next year. The development is planned to start on site in the spring with a completion in August 2014.

To view a walk through video of the proposals please click here.

York St John University Holgate Building Completed

The successful completion of the Holgate Building project sees a variety of different student facing services in the heart of the main university campus brought together. 

The scheme improves links with social and catering spaces to create a more holistic journey through the campus. Purpose designed consultation and meeting spaces, together with the re-organised reception and open plan learning space significantly enhances the warm welcome of the building while improving the pastoral care. 

We have been encouraged by the positive feedback from Students, Staff and Visitors to the building, and we are delighted that the project has added significant value to the University.

For further information visit our website by clicking here.

New Works at Craven College

Watson Batty are currently developing detailed proposals for a new construction and engineering building on the Aireville Campus site, alongside the refurbishment and upgrade of existing buildings, to provide modern up to date facilities. The £6.2m development will be partly funded through the College Capital Investment Fund, allocated by the Skills Funding Agency.

It will be the second major scheme on the campus that Watson Batty have been involved with in the last two years, following completion of the £3m Pen-y-ghent teaching facility in 2011.

We are now developing the scheme towards a planning application early in the new year with a start on site programmed for July 2014.

Associate positions announced at WBA’s Autumn Reception

Watson Batty held another successful Autumn Reception recently at the practice’s headquarters in Leeds. The event was well attended with the usual 2 barrels of Landlord’s bitter being emptied in record time.

The event also saw the announcement of a tier of new managerial staff being introduced into the business. Five Longstanding members of staff all with varied design and technical backgrounds were promoted to associate positions.. Ben Pickersgill, Catherine Blain, Keith Southernwood, Scott Lonie and Scott Lunn will now move into their new roles in helping support the business in continuing its success and expansion over the coming years. Watson Batty Architects have performed well in the recent period of recession with increasing workloads now flowing to both the Leeds office and the more recently established Loughborough office.

For those of you who couldn’t make it to this year’s reception we hope to see you in 2014 at our next event.

Watson Batty enhances Royal Mail’s Customer Experience

Watson Batty Architects have been working closely with Royal Mail Group over the last 6 months to help the organisation improve the experience their customers encounter when they visit there local Delivery Office.

New Customer Service Points are been constructed across the country with Watson Batty installing the first one at the recently completed Croydon Delivery Office.

The initiative also includes improved staff facilities including offices, work time learning and welfare areas.

Croydon Delivery Offices opens its doors to the public in January 2014.

New sports facilities progressing at York St John University

Work continues on site to provide new outdoor sports facilities at York St John University. The floodlit artificial sports pitches and courts are due for completion in 2014 forming part of a new sports park development.

The new £2m outdoor all weather facilities for rugby, football, netball, tennis and a range of leisure pursuits will be further complemented by a new multi-million pound sports hub building also designed by Watson Batty Architects sports specialists.  Working alongside York based sports pitch consultant Richard Macgregor the playing surfaces will meet the current standards of the FA, RFU, RFL, LTA and England Netball.  A new car and coach park also forms part of the current construction work.

WBA helping the Huddersfield Christmas Cheer

GB Building Solutions are approaching the end of the construction programme for the Learning and Leisure Centre at the University of Huddersfield. The handover of this BREEAM Excellent building is due in January 2014. This unique project designed by Watson Batty features an eye catching sports hall which is clad in metal mesh and illuminated with coloured LED lighting. The lights will add to the towns festive illuminations with the big switch on happening today, the 13th December. The Captain of the Huddersfield Giants will be flicking the switch and will see the building illuminated in the Giant’s team colours.

The hall's LED lighting can be programmed in an infinite number of colours and cycles so the building may never look the same twice!

The £22.5m project, which is one of the most complex that the education team has undertaken, on a very challenging site, will become the new heart of the University campus.

Please click here for further information on the ceremony. Alternatively you can visit our website by clicking here for further project information.

Movember - Month of the WBA moustache

In an effort to raise money and awareness of men’s health issues, 4 determined members of Watson Batty joined the Movember cause in growing  a moustache throughout the month of November. Strict rules of engagement, including starting from a freshly shaved top lip were adhered to by all volunteers as they all set out to create impressive and unique pieces of face garnish. With varied rates of follicular success the quartet raised over £250 for the charity with some members deciding to retain their lip warmer for the winter months.

For more information on Movember cause please click here

Vince Cable visits WBA latest food production facility

Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the Morrisons Farmers Boy processing site in Bradford today to see the company’s investment in the future of its manufacturing operation. The visit comes following the opening of the 28,700 sq.ft extension and alteration works, designed and administered by WBA, earlier this year. The Famers Boy facility in Bradford, West Yorkshire was originally designed by Watson Batty in 1998.

For more information please click here

10 Parcelforce Local Depots completed in time for the Christmas Rush

Watson Batty Architects have completed another series of national strategy projects for the Royal Mail Group as part of our ongoing long-term appointment. 

The strategy covered the majority of the country with sites in Basingstoke, Beckton, Bodmin, Coventry, Crayford, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Newport, Norwich and Rotherham.

The project took one year from inception to completion, and all the depot’s were completed in the summer ahead of Parcelforce’s Christmas peak period.

The parcels sector of Royal Mail is the largest growing sector and these Local Depots are a welcome addition to the Parcelforce estate.

Spot the WBA Santa?

Christmas came early to Skipton on Sunday as 1200 Santa’s prepared for their busiest night of the year by competing in the Rotary Club Santa fun run.

Peter White, Managing Director is pictured readying himself for the event, following an intensive warm up routine led by one of Santa’s little helpers!

The race which has been run annually for the last couple of years is a charity event, raising much needed funds for Sue Ryder Manorlands, Martin House Children’s Hospice and The Yorkshire Dales Society.

As ever the race was well supported by ‘bemused’ visitors to the town and the concluded with hot coffee and mince pies!

Watson Batty become a Green World Ambassador

Following our success at the Green Apple Awards held in Swindon earlier this year, where we won the Green Apple Built Environment Award for Medway Mail Centre, Watson Batty  have become a Green World Ambassador.

Paul Ryan from Watson Batty Architects together with Alan Smith-Hill and Keith Tomlinson from Royal Mail Group Property attended an Awards Ceremony  at  the House of Commons on 11th November 2013, where they were presented with an plaque in recognition of their status as a Green World Ambassador, demonstrating environmental best practice to others.

The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political environment group and supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

The award is the culmination of over 20 years of working together with Royal Mail as one of our longstanding clients.

Sheffield Mail Centre Automation Works Complete

Following several years working closely with Royal Mail a key stage has been reached on the North East Mail Centre Strategy.

The installation phase of new intelligent letter sorting machines at Sheffield Mail Centre is now complete. This was the last phase of the extension and alteration works that began in January 2012.

The completion of works at Sheffield Mail Centre is the final piece of the jigsaw on the Mail Centre section of Royal Mail’s North East Strategy. Works are still progressing on Delivery Offices at York, Teesside and Darlington.

Each of the Mail Centres required careful phasing of the work to maintain Royal Mail’s operation. Watson Batty are lead consultant on all the above projects.

Official Opening Ceremony of Sheffield Hallam University’s Sports Centre

In tribute to the late Graham Solley, Sheffield Hallam University's new 22-acre Sports Centre was officially launched on Wednesday by the university's vice-chancellor Professor Philip Jones.

Watson Batty's specialist sports and leisure team worked on this exciting project from inception to completion liaising closely with the University's Estates and Sports Departments to design and detail the facility. Watson Batty were subsequently novated to Henry Boot Construction to complete the project. 

The facilities were completed on time to kick start an intensive programme of sports activities including Football, Rugby and Cricket. The facility will be ‘home’ to both the university and neighbouring community sports teams.

The Graham Solley Centre is the second sporting facility recently completed by Watson Batty on behalf of higher education clients with a number of other projects currently under consideration or being progressed.

WBA Phone line disruption on the 7th of November

We are making vital upgrades to our telephone system which means our phone lines will be temporarily unavailable on Thursday the 7th of November. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you wish to contact the office during the switch over please call us on 01943 871 448.

Leeds Primary School Extension Gets Planning Approval

Planning approval has been gained for the new extension to Rufford Park Primary School in Yeadon.

The design team has worked in collaboration with the school, Leeds Children’s Services, Pinnacle FM, and other stakeholders, to produce a scheme that supports the increasing demand for pupil places in Leeds.

The proposal will increase the original school (constructed by Watson Batty as part of the Leeds 10 PFI schools in 2005) from a one form entry to a one and a half form entry through a two storey extension, containing four classrooms. The extension has been designed to accommodate the needs of the school on a steeply sloping, tight site with the scale and proposed materials being sensitive to the surrounding character and existing school.

Higher Education Clients Shortlisted for University of the Year

Two of our key higher education clients, the University of Huddersfield and York St John University have been shortlisted for a number of The Times Higher Education Awards. The annual awards now in their 9th year celebrate the best in sector with a specific focus on teaching and research. The University of Huddersfield has been shortlisted for outstanding contribution to the local community. York St John University have been shortlisted for excellence and innovation in the arts, outstanding employer engagement initiative, international collaboration of the year, and both universities have been shortlisted for university of the year.

We wish them every success at the awards night on the 28th November 2013, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Please follow the below links for further information.

http://www.the-awards.co.uk/

http://www.the-awards.co.uk/the2013/shortlist

WBA on University of Nottingham Design Services Framework

We are delighted to announce our successful appointment onto the University of Nottingham Architectural and Engineering Design Services Framework. We have partnered with Couch Perry Wilkes, providing environmental design, and Price Myers who will provide engineering support. The team offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the design and delivery of framework projects over the next 3 years. 

The appointment onto the framework strengthens our team’s experience of working with Higher Education Establishments across the country. We are currently delivering projects for Huddersfield, Bradford, York St John and Sheffield Hallam, and recently completed projects for Loughborough, Leeds Met and York Universities.

Heathrow International Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony for the new Royal Mail Heathrow International Logistics Centre took place on Friday 27th September. The event was well attended by Royal Mail Management, Communication Workers Union, Unite Union, Royal Mail Group Property, International Logistics staff, the main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick and Watson Batty Architects.

The building is key to Royal Mail’s international mail operation as it is through this building that all International Mail enters and departs the country. 

The project which opened in August 2013 was designed and administered on site by Watson Batty took a year to complete from inception to completion. 

Farmers Boy ready to roll

Watson Batty Architects Ltd have successfully delivered a new extension to the key production facility at Farmers Boy in Bradford. Originally designed and built in 1998 by Watson Batty Architects, Farmers Boy is a purpose-built fresh food factory. Watson Batty Architects have worked with Wm Morrison Supermarket Plc for a number of years undertaking internal alterations and extensions to keep up with Wm Morrison Supermarket Plc’s growing demands. The new extension will house new state of the art automated pie and quiche production lines.

Working with R N Wooler to construct this complicated extension, undertaking phased works of internal alterations to create new departments as well link in the plant and machinery whilst maintaining the facilities operational capabilities.       

Application lodged for £11m leisure centre in Washington

Watson Batty Architects as part of the Pellikaan Construction team, submitted a Full Planning Application to Sunderland City Council for the proposed £11m Washington Leisure Centre.

The new facility will include a six-lane, 25m pool; a learner pool, including leisure features and two water slides; a four-court sports hall; a multi-purpose hall designed to accommodate trampoline facilities; two glass-backed squash courts; a sauna and steam rooms; a wellness centre with 100-station gym; separate spinning facility exercise studio and two consultation rooms.

The centre will also feature a soft play area and six external 3G small sided football pitches.

Should the proposal be approved before the end of the year, the new Washington Leisure Centre could be open in 2015.

Click here for further information.

Elland Morrisons Final Works Complete

On Saturday 14^th September the Wm Morrison Supermarkets Petrol Filling Station in Elland opened for trade marking the final piece in a construction jigsaw that has taken over 18 months to assemble. 

This complex project comprised of: A new relocation building for Nu Swift (also by WBA); a new Wm Morrison Supermarkets (WMS) Foodstore on stilts, one of the first that WMS have completed; Section 278 highway works; a very demanding asbestos removal and demolition project; and finally, the construction of the Petrol Filling Station.

A big thanks goes to all parties involved in the successful delivery of this project.

Sporting success as Stadium project awarded LABC Regional Finalist status

Watson Batty are delighted to have been shortlisted for the East Midlands LABC regional awards ‘Best Education’ category for our sports stadium project at Loughborough University. 

Completed in May 2012 this new £4m project provides 14 team changing rooms, sports treatment, sports bar and spectator facilities alongside terracing for 3500 people. Teams representing Manchester United, Spurs and U-17 European national football teams from Russia, Slovenia and Portugal have already competed at the stadium.

For more information on the project please click here.

Steelwork Almost Complete at New Jewish Free School, Leeds

Construction work on the UK’s first Jewish Free School in Alwoodley Leeds started on site in May 2013 following a successful planning application, approved earlier the same month. Now 2 months into the construction programme the main strip out and demolition works are complete and the steelwork is almost finished. Phase 1 of the project is still on track to be complete for the school opening in September 2013. Phase 2 work will continue beyond September in order to complete the new extensions in early 2014.

Howzat!

Watson Batty Architects ventured out in to the hot summer weather on Thursday last week for a game of cricket against GMI Construction. In keeping with the current Ashes summer there were many twists and turns over the course of the evening which finally ended in a comfortable Watson Batty victory!

Pictured above are Watson Batty’s opening pairing of Nick Page, Architectural Assistant and Matt Ing, apprentice Architectural Technician. Our sincere thanks must go to GMI and Wrenthorpe Cricket Club for their hospitality. 

If there are any other teams out there fancying a game then do not hesitate to contact Ben Pickersgill our fixture secretary!

Richmond Flats Renaissance

Watson Batty Architects are working alongside Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and Clugston Construction to breathe new life into an existing residential tower block in the heart of Huddersfield Town Centre. Our scheme is underpinned by a robust and exciting design concept that will vastly improve the image of this prominent building.

Each flat will be completely refurbished with all residents being provided with a brand new contemporary kitchen and bathroom. The communal areas will now include a new glazed entrance lobby, lift and intercom security door system.

The project has also received financial backing from the European Regional Development Fund, which targets fuel poverty issues.  This funding has allowed the inclusion of Passivhaus features such as triple glazing. The energy usage of the building shall be driven by the enhancement of the fabric of the building, selection of efficient plant and the employment of renewable on site technologies.  The renewable strategy for the building is to employ the use of photovoltaic cells, installed on the roof, in order to generate electricity.

Washington Leisure Centre Moves Forward

Watson Batty Architects, as part of Pellikaan Construction’s team,  has secured a contract for the design and construction of the new £11m Washington Leisure Centre for Sunderland City Council. The new Leisure Centre will be built on the existing Leisure Centre site and is due for completion in 2015.  The new building is designed in three levels and will include, a 6 lane 25m main pool, a learner pool with a water feature,  two water slides, a four-court sports hall, a health suite comprising of  a sauna, steam rooms and relaxation area, a trampoline hall, two squash courts, two multi-purpose rooms, spinning room and ancillary accommodation. The project also includes 8 nos 5-a-side Synthetic Football Pitches, a 100 space car park and an attractive outdoor central hub that links the new facilities with the surrounding town centre including a village green.  

Positive Chain Reaction in Bradford

The Proposed residential development at Chain Street is the first New-build site as part of the regeneration strategy within the Goitside Conservation area.  Watson Batty Architects have been appointed to support Barnfield Construction, Bradford Council and Incommunities in moving this scheme forward towards a full planning approval and delivery on site.

The scheme consists of 32 No. new build 2, 3, and 4 bed family houses, where the 2 and 3 storey units are arranged around a new Adopted Mews Court.  The design of the proposed development creates a contemporary feel adopting a mixture of regular coursed natural stone on the ground floor facades with render to the upper floor facades. The roofs are formed from artificial slate with asymmetrical roof planes.  A scheme for the adjacent Linear Park has also been prepared in collaboration with Reform Landscape as part of the Chain Street redevelopment.

Graham Solley Sports Development Centre on Track

Following the Ground Breaking Ceremony by FIFA World Cup Referee Howard Webb,  Construction work is underway on The £4.8m Graham Solley Sports Development Centre for Sheffield Hallam University

The project comprises a two storey pavilion with 12 changing rooms on the ground floor and a student social hub, with a 360 degree views onto the outdoor pitches, on the first floor. Externally there are two synthetic turf pitches, national and international standard rugby pitches, an FA standard football pitch, two further training pitches for Rugby and another training football pitch.

The main structure including steel frame, glulam beams, main concrete staircases, internal partitions and ground floor blockwork are complete. The Sub base for the 2 Sythetic Turf Pitches are completed as well. 

The works are programmed for completion in September this year.

The project is Watson Batty Architects' first venture with Sheffield Hallam University as part of a 4 year Framework Agreement with the establishment.

For more information please visit our website by clicking here.

Green World Ambassadors

Watson Batty Architects Ltd, will be honoured as International Green World Ambassadors at a special ceremony in November at the House of Commons. This recognition comes as a result of our environmental success at the Royal Mail Medway Mail Centre in Strood which won a Green Apple Environment Award, presented at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon recently.

As a result of that success, Watson Batty Architects were invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the world’s only annual work of reference on environmental best practice that is distributed to environment professionals, universities and libraries around the world by The Green Organisation. The winning paper now goes forward for further judging and the possibility of  representing the UK in the Brussels-led European Business Awards for the Environment. The Green Apple Awards are one of the few environmental schemes in Britain that have official status to act as an automatic feeder scheme into the European campaign.

This is the practice's third success in achieving a Green Apple award following our success in receiving gold awards for our self-designed office in Leeds and for the South Midlands Mail Centre in Northampton.

Works Underway at Longfield Grove, Todmorden

We have successfully commenced works on site at Longfield Grove in Todmorden on behalf of the Together Housing Group. The scheme is the final phase within the regeneration programme of the Longfield area, originally started by Pennine Housing 2000 back in 2006.  The scheme comprises of 11No new build 3-bed 5-person split level family homes, all to Code Level 3 and Lifetime Homes Standards.

Longfield Grove is our first collaboration with Wiggetts Construction Ltd who are the contractors responsible for completing the works on site.