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!