Sector: Education & Community

Firstplan were instructed to manage the preparation of a planning application and prepare a detailed supporting Planning Statement for a proposed change of use of a residential property to provide shared temporary accommodation for homeless Hackney families.  The facility enables Hackney families to stay in the local area at a time when they are facing difficulties whilst they apply for permanent accommodation.  The application was the subject of a public consultation event prior to planning permission being granted at Planning Committee.

The Breslaff Centre is a long established Ofsted registered charity that provides twenty-four hour care for families and children under the supervision of expert social workers. Having undertaken pre-application discussions with Merton Council to resolve officers’ concerns, Firstplan secured planning permission for change of use to supported housing (sui generis) to allow the charity to relocate to its new premises at Northborough Road despite previously unsuccessful attempts to change the use of the site.

Following consultation with residents, Hackney Council commissioned Veronica Ryan OBE and Thomas J Price to create two public artworks to recognise and celebrate the Windrush Generation. The sculptures recognise the significant contribution the generation has made to life in Hackney and the UK and symbolise the ongoing commitment from the borough to provide refuge and welcome to worldwide migrants.

Situated in Hackney’s recently refurbished Narrow Way Square, renowned artist Veronica Ryan’s wonderful sculptures comprise a collection of three bronze and marble fruits – a Breadfruit, a Custard Apple and a Soursop.  Since their installation in October 2021, the trio of fruits have proved a fantastic addition to the historic square,  encouraging its use and engaging the public. The installation has achieved international recognition and has been awarded the 2022 Turner Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for visual arts in the world.

The second project comprises two large-scale bronze sculptures, which will be placed in the centre of Hackney, outside the Town Hall.  Thomas J Price’s larger than life physical representation of people from the African Caribbean diaspora will be a bold celebration of the legacy and cultural influence of the Windrush Generation, while also seeking to address the disproportionate lack of statues representing black citizens in the UK.

Working in collaboration with Create London and Hawkin Brown Architects, Firstplan secured planning permission for both installations successfully demonstrating that the contemporary artworks represent positive additions to the borough, whilst also preserving the nature and significance of the respective Conservation Areas and Grade I and II* listed buildings in the vicinity.

Firstplan advised on the planning strategy for the provision of a new state-of-the-art sustainable Archive to house the internationally significant collection of Benjamin Britten music. The development includes strong rooms and study rooms and is located within the curtilage of the listed former home of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Their home, known as the Red House, and the Archive, are in Aldeburgh. The Archive has already won six significant awards, and was designed by multi-award winning architects Stanton Williams.

As one of the first Building Schools for the Future projects in Southwark, the redevelopment of Southwark Park Primary School provided an exciting opportunity to redevelop this grade II listed building to significantly improve the facilities and increase the pupil intake by 25%.

The proposal involved the refurbishment of the existing buildings, most of which were designed by E.R Robson and constructed in 1874, together with substantial modifications and extensions to facilitate an improved and more usable modern day school environment.

Firstplan secured all necessary permissions following lengthy negotiations with the Council, Historic England and other stakeholders.

Firstplan was instructed to provide planning advice for a mixed-use regeneration scheme comprising a new local centre, comprising a two-form primary school (420 pupils), a nursery school (60 pupils), a large foodstore, public realm and highway works, following the acquisition of the former Royal Mail Depot, Ascot Road, Watford by Centros.

The site abuts the new Croxley Rail Link Station within Watford’s Western Gateway regeneration area. It was important that the proposals took advantage of the sustainable location associated with this new transport hub, with the prospect of bringing forward an integrated scheme capable of pump-priming the Western Gateway Area and assist in delivering the first stage of the wider regeneration of west Watford.

To this end, Firstplan provided strategic advice and played a lead role in negotiations with the Council. This involved the promotion of the site through the emerging local plan, attending the Watford Core Strategy Examination in Public, and participating in the public exhibition. Firstplan was also responsible for co-ordinating the preparation of a masterplan, preparing supporting planning statements, managing a wider team of specialist consultants, and submitting the planning application.