Firstplan has acted for Kinderzimmer as part of its expansion into the UK childcare market. Chris has led on planning from site acquisition through to the submission of applications for planning, listed building and advertisement consent.
Firstplan has undertaken detailed planning due diligence reports and provided commercial planning strategies to assist in the roll-out of this nursery group from zero to ten sites within two years. This has included applications to secure the operation of new nursery settings and the physical works to enhance the functionality and condition of the buildings, including play areas, plant, signage and general refurbishment works.
Our work has included the complete refurbishment and conversion of two listed buildings, including the magnificent Clock Tower in Walton-on-Thames and a former bank building in Berkhamsted.
We have also pursued Lawful Development Certificates and Variation of Condition applications to secure nursery trade under established Class E buildings, making use of the flexibility afforded by the Use Classes Order revisions in September 2020 to aid the speed of roll-out.
In total, we have worked on the following sites:
- Muswell Hill, London Borough of Haringey
- Berkhamsted, Dacorum Borough Council
- Walton-on-Thames, Elmbridge Borough Council
- South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Chelmsford, Chelmsford City Council
- Sunbury-on-Thames, Spelthorne Borough Council
- Walthamstow Central, London Borough of Waltham Forest
- White City, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- Amersham, Buckinghamshire Council
- Godalming, Waverly Borough Council
Firstplan secured a series of planning permissions on behalf of Buckinghamshire New University for a scheme of alterations, extensions and refurbishments to their existing campus located within High Wycombe town centre.
Working closely with Maris Interiors, consent was sought and subsequently granted for the addition of an in-fill extension comprising a new winter garden space, along with the in-filling of the existing communal courtyard area to provide a new atrium with rooftop terrace, and other associated works. Permission was also separately granted for improvement works to the front elevation of the East Wing building to create an exciting new facade and entrance area to the main part of the campus.
Firstplan secured all necessary permissions for this exciting package of works, which will significantly enhance and refresh this educational facility.
Images credit: Maris Interiors LLP
Firstplan secured planning permission for the change of use of a restaurant/nightclub to a pre-school, family café and basement soft play and community space.
The instruction included pre-application negotiations with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, and management of the planning application through to approval at the first time of asking.
As part of the negotiations Firstplan had to justify the loss of the restaurant use, which was protected by planning policy due to the location of the site on a protected frontage. This was achieved through marketing evidence and demonstrating the demand and public benefits of the proposed use, securing a valuable consent for our Client.
Firstplan secured planning permission for a comprehensive renovation of a locally listed former church hall to enable its occupation by our client N Family Club to deliver 120 much-needed childcare places.
Firstplan coordinated a planning application for various external alterations to the building and the creation of a high-quality outdoor play area. Firstplan managed the application process and secured permission for the refurbishment works, discharge of conditions and external signage for the children’s nursery. The project included presentation at one of Richmond Council’s first virtual planning committees.
Firstplan secured planning permission and listed building consent for the internal and external refurbishment of this impressive Grade II listed building to allow its occupation by N Family Club.
Our instruction included undertaking an initial background planning appraisal of the site and engaging with Lambeth Council through a pre-application advice request. The works included use of the building as a children’s nursery (Class D1), comprehensive refurbishment of the listed building, demolition and reconstruction of a modern link extension and a complete re-landscaping scheme for the site.
Firstplan prepared, submitted and negotiated the application on N Family Club’s behalf, which included coordination of the consultant team and preparation of a Planning and Heritage Statement to justify the proposals.
The application included negotiation and amendment during the determination period, together with subsequent discharge of condition applications and an advertisement consent application. The facility will deliver over 150 much-needed childcare places within the Tulse Hill area.
Firstplan secured planning permission for a comprehensive renovation of a locally listed pre-school building to enable its occupation by our client N Family Club to deliver 100 much-needed childcare places.
Our instruction included undertaking an initial background planning appraisal of the site to aid our client’s acquisition process. This identified a number of constraints, including a restrictive planning condition that limited the operational capacity of the building.
Firstplan coordinated a planning application for various external alterations to the building, the creation of a high-quality outdoor play area and the increase of the building’s restricted capacity to suit our client’s needs.
Firstplan managed the application process and secured permission for the refurbishment works, discharge of conditions and external signage for the children’s nursery.
Firstplan secured planning permission for the erection of student accommodation comprising 432 bedrooms at Rhodaus Town, Canterbury. The recently constructed development, now known as Petros Court, lies behind Canterbury and Christ Church University’s library and student services building, Augustine House.
Firstplan worked closely with the Council’s planning department to develop a masterplan for the site which identified an opportunity to create a ‘higher educational hub’ with student accommodation seen as an appropriate extension to this hub. The scale, density and architectural form of the development were key considerations as was archaeology and the impact of a high number of students living in this accommodation on the amenity of the local area.
The scheme is designed by Dawe+Partners Architects.
Firstplan were instructed as Planning and Heritage consultants to obtain planning permission and listed building consent to restore and convert this redundant early 19th century Grade II listed stable block into a Children’s Nursery (Class D1).
The building was in a poor state of repair and was placed on Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register. The sensitive scheme facilitated the much-needed renovation of the stable block building and enabled the relocation of an existing local children’s nursery into the building, allowing the business to expand and improve the quality and quantity of its premises and the childcare offer.
The project included extensive negotiations with officers at Ealing Council and Historic England with permission obtained in Spring 2018. Firstplan worked alongside the project architects and the scheme was carefully considered to balance a wide range of issues, including the impact of the works on the significance of the listed building, impact of the works on the Metropolitan Open Land within which the building was located, and the impact of the nursery on the surrounding area.
Firstplan advised on and lead the planning process on behalf of “The Big House”, an Islington-based charity working with care leavers at a high risk of social exclusion, helping them to unleash their members creative potential through theatre.
The proposals related to a constrained and contentious site located in a quite residential backland site just off Essex Road, formerly used for the production of mirrors but vacant for over 10 years and the subject of a number of unsuccessful attempts to secure planning consent for redevelopment/ change of use. Firstplan successfully negotiated with the Council through pre-application discussions and a subsequent full planning application, overcoming issues relating to loss of an employment site, contamination and noise/amenity considerations relating to a public-facing use on a residential-surrounded site to secure planning consent at the first attempt. The process secured the charity their first permanent home, providing a bespoke head office facility as well as the theatre area, other multi-use spaces and additional office space for private rental.
Stik is a prominent Hackney artist with an international following. Stik creates monumental public artworks in locations worldwide from New York to Tokyo. The art created in his Hoxton studio has broad appeal and is collected by everyone from Elton John to the V&A Museum; his street works are featured in tourists guides in the UK, US and Japan.
Firstplan was approached to secure planning permission for the installation of a 4 metre high double sided public artwork to be located permanently within Hoxton Park. The statue, called ‘Holding Hands’ is based on an artwork ‘Hackney Pride’, which was created for the Pride in London Parade in 2016. The statue is set to become an internationally recognised landmark, tourist attraction, and meeting place for local people and visitors to Shoreditch.
This prominent artwork is situated within a Protected London Park, Hoxton Park Conservation Area and within the vicinity of several listed buildings, locally listed buildings and buildings of townscape merit fronting onto Hoxton Square. Firstplan’s role included submitting the application, preparing a Planning and Heritage Statement and advising on public consultation. Planning permission was granted and the ‘Holding Hands’ statue has now been installed.