Planning Approval for the Graham Solley Sports Development Centre

Planning permission for the development at Graham Solley Sports Development Centre was granted on Monday the 22nd October.

      

Sheffield City Council have approved a second planning permission on the site for a Pavilion,  Sports Hall and two Synthetic Grass Pitches.

The pavilion comprises of a  two storey building with 14 changing rooms on the ground floor and a Student Social Hub on the first floor offering 4 sided viewing balcony and 360 degree views onto the 8 sports pitches on site for cricket, football and rugby.

The proposed sports hall building comprises of multi-purpose 4 court sports hall, changing rooms , main entrance on the ground floor and a multi-purpose room and viewing gallery on the first floor. The new sports hall building will be linked to the existing sports hall on site on the ground and first floors.

Construction works will commence on site in January 2013 with a completion date set in September 2013.

University of Bradford Consultants’ Framework 2012 – 2015

Watson Batty Architects have been successfully appointed onto the University of Bradford Consultants’ Framework for a further 3 years. Initially appointed onto the framework in 2009, we have now been awarded a position on the latest framework which will run until 2015 with an option to extend the appointment for a further year. Our successful working relationship with the University has seen a number of high profiled projects being delivered on the City Centre Campus. Of note is Student Central, the £7m extension and refurbishment of the Students Union and Student Services building, and the £1m refurbishment of the ground floor JPB Library. We are now on site with Bradford STEM, currently assessed to BREEAM Outstanding and PassivHaus accreditation, possibly the first building to ever achieve both standards simultaneously. We are looking forward to working with the University in the next few years.

Leeds Bradford Airport Apron Walkway Almost Complete

Watson & Batty were commissioned to design an apron passenger walkway at Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) in October 2012.

The walkway was to offer a covered access for passenger access & egress aircraft from gates 8 to 14 inclusive and totaled distance of 155 metres. To give full flexibility the structure has three aisles offering interchangeable access to both arriving & departing passengers to balance peak demand.

The structure is naturally vented & fully glazed for passenger comfort.Phase one & two of the project were completed in October 2012 with phase three due for completion at the end of 2012.

Royal Mail Projects win two National CDM Awards

The recently completed projects at Tyneside Mail Centre and Leeds Mail Centre, part of the Royal Mail North East Transformation Programme, had received three nominations to the 2012 Association for Project Safety National CDM Awards. Royal Mail Group Property, with their Consultants and Contractor, were outright winners of both the Regional Health & Safety Awards and CDM Co-ordinator of the Year Award.

The APS Awards are the construction industry's premier showpiece for excellence in Design and Construction, they recognise projects with an outstanding and innovative approach to Health & Safety.

On the two Mail Centre projects the Royal Mail operators, main contractor Wates Construction and the design team collaborated to promote a culture of zero-tolerance to H&S risks which resulted in over 200,000 accident free hours across the two projects over an 18 months period. Innovative measures included a red-card system for unsafe acts, stringent policy on the use of PPE, weekly planning meetings of the work ahead and monthly rewards for individuals and sub-contractors demonstrating exemplary H&S awareness and initiative.

Overall a great team effort.

The new extension at Tyneside Mail Centre

Leeds Mail Centre during construction

University of Huddersfield Student Learning and Leisure Centre Gains Planning Approval

The new £22.5m Student Learning and Leisure Centre for the University of Huddersfield received planning permission during a special committee meeting on the 10th September. The facility provides much needed sports accommodation including an 8 badminton court sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts, a climbing wall, and a range of studios and a spa. To compliment the leisure activities the new development integrates social learning and catering facilities, student services, students' union and the existing library  accommodation, and a new corporate suite.

The striking appearance and use of modern materials crates a unique identity on a key gate way into the town.

Demolition and enabling works are currently ongoing with the main phase of construction work due to start on site before Christmas. The project is due for completion in Spring 2014.

click here to view fly-through video

WBA appointed for Limehurst High School, Loughborough

Watson Batty Architects have been appointed by Limehurst High School as Project Architect to deliver a Property Strategy to determine the best option for the redevelopment of the High School.

WBA are working closely with the school headmaster, teachers, governors and the Project Managers AA Projects to deliver this exciting development. 

Graham Solley Sports Centre starts on site

Construction work has started on the first phase of an exciting £4.8 million development of the site at Bawtry Road, Sheffield. Works at this phase involve heavy engineering ground works relating to the reinstatment and reseeding of 5 grass pitches for football and rugby.

A second Planning Application has been submitted to Sheffield City Council for the wider site development including 2 full size synthetic turf pitches, flood lights for 3 grass pitches, a new sports hall (future Development), two storey pavilion with 12 team changing rooms, bar, function rooms, kitchen and other ancillary accommodation.   

WBA appointed for Queens Park Sports Centre, Chesterfield

Watson Batty Architects have been appointed by Chesterfield College as Lead Consultant and Project Architect to deliver a feasibility study to determine the best option for redeveloping the Queens Park Sports Centre.

WBA are working closely with Chesterfield Borough Council and design team colleagues Buro Happold, Turner & Townsend and Knight Kavanagh & Page. 

The study is due to complete by the end of September reviewing and advising on various refurbishment and redevelopment opportunities for the existing 1960s and 1980s sports centre site.