News Archives - Planning Design Ltd

Modest vacant building fulfills its development potential

17th April 202417th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that full planning permission has recently been secured for the change of use, conversion and extension of an existing outbuilding to a house within Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire (Derbyshire Dales District Council), allowing it to achieve its development potential.

**Figure 1:** Photograph of the building

The building would be converted into a 1 bedroom house, comprising an open plan kitchen/dining/sitting area, WC and store across the ground floor. A corrugated metal lean-to rear extension is proposed as part of the change of use.

The site is located within Kirk Ireton Conservation Area and there are a number of Grade II listed buildings in the vicinity of the site. Therefore, special care and attention was needed to ensure that a development does not result in harm to those designated heritage assets.

A collaborative approach between the client Architect (GRT Architecture) and Planning & Design Practice Ltd Planners and Heritage Specialist was therefore required to produce a sensitive but functional scheme. The application was support by a Planning, Design & Access Statement, a Heritage Impact Assessment and detailed plans.

With regard to the principle of development, it was successfully argued that the proposed development will promote the effective reuse of land by encouraging housing development through the change of use of an existing building to housing and would therefore constitute a sustainable form of residential development within the defined settlement of boundary of Kirk Ireton, in accordance with Policy P1 of the Adopted Kirk Ireton Neighbourhood Plan (2021) and Policies S1, S2, S3 and HC1 of the Adopted Derbyshire Dales Local Plan (2017).

Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of Chartered Town Planners, Architects, Architectural Assistants and Heritage Specialists. Gaining planning permission is a key step in almost any development. We can take a project through from inception to completion, but we also offer the flexibility to engage a client’s own architects and provide a planning service, whilst our design team can also work with clients who have engaged other town planning professionals.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd are well versed in understanding local Council’s policies to ensure the best possible case if put forward for our clients.

For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director – Chartered Town Planner at Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory

17th April 202417th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

As reported in our August 2023 newsletter, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has recently become mandatory for all development (with some minor exceptions). Chartered Town Planner Richard Pigott, Director, at Planning & Design Practice provides an update on what this will mean for applicants, landowners and homeowners.

One of the key features of BNG is the statutory target to increase the biodiversity value of a site by 10% for a minimum of 30 years, through a habitat management and monitoring plan. Originally expected to become law in November 2023, it took effect for large sites from February and for small sites from 2nd April 2024. There is still some uncertainty and skepticism about how it will work in practice or whether it will achieve the stated aim of reversing the loss of biodiversity. However, it is now law and cannot be ignored by applicants and local planning authorities.

BNG in England is founded on the mitigation hierarchy, which is detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework. In a nutshell, the hierarchy presents a sequential approach to addressing potential harm to biodiversity when determining planning applications. It emphasises the prioritisation of avoidance first, followed by mitigation measures, and lastly, compensation. In other words, if BNG can be achieved on site it should be, with off site compensation or ‘offsetting’ a last resort.

Mitigation hierarchy diagram. Source: Buro Happold

Effects of Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain

The effects of mandatory BNG are numerous but, from a developer’s perspective, are likely to include the following:

The achievement of BNG on site will, in many cases, reduce the developable area of the site as existing habitats, particularly more valuable ones such as hedgerows, trees and wetlands, may need to be retained;
The achievement of BNG off site involves the use of biodiversity net gain offsetting mechanisms, such as the creation or enhancement of off-site habitats, purchasing biodiversity units on the market, or acquiring statutory credits. There is an emphasis on securing offsite solutions as close to the impact as possible;
It is prudent to involve ecologists early on in the design process in order to understand the baseline habitat and what ecological features are important in the ‘biodiversity metric’. It will then often be an iterative process to determine the best way to develop a site;
Whichever way BNG is to be achieved for a given site, there will be an increased financial burden on developers both at the application stage (ecological fees and often also legal fees) and in the long term as management plans lasting at least 30 years will need to be adhered to. This may, in turn, affect the viability of schemes.

With regards offsetting solutions, as well as market leaders in the private sector such as Environment Bank, some local authorities and Wildlife Trusts are developing their own habitat banks. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, for example, is offering Derbyshire-based BNG units available now, with Section 106 legal agreements in place. More information can be found here: www.wildsolutionsdwt.co.uk

Whilst mandatory BNG is not an overnight concept, it certainly seems to have gone under the radar for many of our clients and eyebrows are often raised when we tell them what it could mean for their proposals. If you wish to discuss this issue further please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Richard Pigott, Director – Chartered Town Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Demystifying the planning and design process – Part 1

23rd April 202417th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

The Planning and Design process – Part 1

The planning and design process can be a complex journey for those that haven’t carried out a building project before. At PDP we aim to simplify the planning and design process to give you the support you need at the right stages of your construction project.

As a multi-disciplinary practice consisting of Architects, Planning Consultants and Heritage specialists the services we offer can often overlap depending on the context of the project. With that in mind David Symons, our Senior Architect has set out the typical Planning and Design process you can expect to follow when working with us.

As a practice of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Chartered Architects, we typically think about the design process along the lines of the nationally recognised RIBA Plan of Work and the following stages. Regardless of the scale and scope of your project the stages set out below will always apply to some degree.

The 8 stages are:

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition – Do you need an Architect?
Stage 1 – Preparation and Briefing – Why do you need an Architect?
Stage 2 – Concept Design – What ideas can an Architect offer?
Stage 3 – Developed Design – What knowledge and expertise can an Architect offer?
Stage 4 – Technical Design – How an Architect can help your project become a reality.
Stage 5-6 – Construction, Contract Administration and Practical Completion – How an architect can help with a smooth construction process.
Stage 7 – Use – How an architect can make sure your building keeps working for you in the future.

Whilst every project is unique and can follow its own path, we hope that the following guide will give you a greater understanding of your Planning and Design process when working with us and can help you understand where an Architect, Planning Consultant or Heritage Specialist can add value to your project.

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition – Do you need an Architect?

Starting at the very beginning, this is the stage of any project where we find out if building anything on your site is a) feasible or b) actually needed to achieve your goals.

At this stage we will talk with you to find out the best means of achieving your aims within your budget. We will carry out initial site appraisals to confirm any issues, constraints, or risks that your project may face, and we will give you our initial thoughts based on past experience of similar projects.

At this stage we will also ask; do you need a Planning Consultant. ? Is the site complicated with a lot or constraints? Will achieving planning permission be difficult? If the answer to these questions is yes, then we would always recommend the support of one of our planning consultants to help steer you through the planning process.

We will also ask; do you need a Heritage Consultant? Is the property a Listed Building, in a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then we would always recommend the support of one of our heritage consultants to provide the additional heritage background research needed to achieve an approval.

We typically carry out Stage 0 as part of our initial free enquiry.

At Planning & Design we believe that good design is a crucial part of the planning process. Getting the design of a project right is critical to gaining a successful planning consent and avoiding unnecessary delay and costs.

We understand that every project is unique and can follow its own path, and hope that this step by step guide gives you a clear framework for your own Planning and Design process when working with us. We look forward to working with you, to bring your designs to life.

For more information, or for a no obligation consultation to discuss your project or property please contact us on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Further information on the planning and design process and RIBA Stages 1 to 7 will be published in subsequent installments.

Images: Holly House Farm, Blackbrook

Fallback approval secured in Derbyshire Dales

17th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is delighted to announce that Full planning permission has been secured for the change of use and reconstruction of agricultural buildings to form a single house near Kniveton, Derbyshire (Derbyshire Dales District Council), utilising the clients fallback position.

The approval relates to a range of former agricultural buildings. The ‘Green Barn’ is the smaller of the two steel portal framed agricultural buildings on site. This building is enclosed on three and a half sides, with the half open side facing the other barn.

Fallback — **Figure 1:** Photograph of the Green Barn

The ‘Black Barn’ is the larger of the two steel portal framed agricultural buildings which is physically linked to a traditional stone and tile barn. The buildings are fully enclosed. The modern addition is finished in corrugated sheets above a concrete panel plinth.

***Figure 2:*** *Photograph of the Black Barn*

The traditional stone building would be converted, and the larger steel portal farmed buildings would be rebuilt and linked by a structural two storey glazed link forming a generous 4 bedroom house.

The dwelling would comprise an open plan kitchen/dining area, living room, cinema/bar, dog room, utility room, entrance hall, glazed link, swimming pool, gym, store and plant room on the ground floor and a master bedroom with dressing room and ensuite, mezzanine study, and 3 bedrooms each with ensuites across the first floor.

The conversion of the traditional stone building and the rebuild of the steel portal framed buildings would allow the use of much more modern building techniques which will ultimately encourage a more energy efficient building, towards Passive House standards. A solar PV array would provide the majority of the electricity for the house.

Full planning permission was sought as the proposed works fell out outside of the scope of Class Q legislation. It was successfully argued that the application should be assessed in the context of a realistic fallback position where, in planning terms, the existing building can be converted to a residential use following a previous Class Q approval.

Fallback schemes are something Planning & Design Practice Ltd are well versed in.

The term “fallback” is used in when an existing consent confirms that the principle of development which can then be used as a lever to gaining full planning permission. For example, if prior approval had been obtained to carry out the conversion of an agricultural building to a residential dwelling via Class Q (agricultural to residential conversion), this then allows the existing fallback position (in this case the Class Q prior approval) to be applied to a full planning application for a similar scheme.

The permitted development right legislation is a notoriously complicated and complex issue with many Planning Authorities. Since the permitted development right legislation was introduced, there have been several notable appeal decisions which have altered and clarified how Class Q applications should be dealt with by an Authority.

It is an area of planning which also attracts the interests of those people who wish to push the extent of their properties in the green belt using householder permitted development rights. Particularly in those instances when local plan policies are restrictive on the amount of extension allowed.

For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director – Chartered Town Planner at Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Success for new agricultural building

16th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice are delighted to announce that prior approval has been obtained for a new agricultural building off Rectory Lane, Breadsall. Our client has owned a large amount of grazing land for the past 20 years, that has now been sandwiched between new residential developments and space is required for the storage of farming equipment.

Part 6 Class A of the GPDO (General Permitted Development Order) grants permitted development rights for the erection of an agricultural building as long as certain criterion are met. As a company we have a vast experience working in rural areas for farmers and landowners, so we have real expertise in achieving this kind of permission.

The development is set within a rural area, in close proximity to a public right of way. In line with the Client’s brief, the building was designed to have a modern agricultural style, with vertical timber cladding and short block work, to ensure that the barn is set well within the surrounding area.

To further allow the building to integrate into the landscape the barn is to be situated alongside the tree line and existing hedgerow, as instructed by the Design Supplementary Planning Document. This ensures that the building is nestled close to the boundary of the field and does not sit isolated in the field.

The barn is also located near the field’s access track, providing easy access to Rectory Lane.

Our expertise and experience with this type of development is shown again by prior approval for this site which was made more complicated by the flood risk and existing residential properties surrounding the site. Planning & Design Practice Ltd are well versed in researching and understanding local Council’s policies to ensure the best possible case if put forward for our clients.

For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your rural development project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01332 347371 or enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

All the world’s a stage, Derby’s theatrical tradition

16th April 2024 by Gary Stringer

With the exciting news that plans for two of Derby’s much-loved theatres are set to move forward, our Heritage Consultant Ruth Gray takes a look back at some of the city’s other performance venues and the theatrical tradition within the city.

Derby’s theatrical tradition

It was recently announced that plans to restore the Guildhall Theatre and enhance Derby Theatre are set to take an important step forward.
Derby City Council’s cabinet is expected to agree terms for the use of £20 million of government Levelling Up Funding allocated to Derby.

The funding will be split evenly between the Guildhall Theatre and Derby Theatre.

It is expected that the two projects combined will generate an additional £2.7 million per year for the local economy, and contribute significantly to the development of Derby’s cultural offering. Work is already well underway on the new purpose built, 3,500 capacity entertainment and events space, the Becketwell Performance venue that forms part of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme, and major renovations are nearing completion on Derby’s historic Market Hall, itself undergoing a £35.1m refurbishment project, which when complete is expected to generate £3.64m for the local economy each year.

Like most cities, Derby has provided a variety of theatrical establishments to entertain and opportunities to tread the boards, for many stars of stage and screen. A pre–Bond Sean Connery was shaking and stirring audiences in an early role in a production of South Pacific at Derby Hippodrome in 1954, while Derby’s Grand Theatre, which once stood on Babington Lane, was the site of the world premiere of Hamilton Deane’s adaptation of Dracula, on 15 May 1924. Bela Lugosi, the Hungarian-American actor who played the role in the 1931 film, visited Derby in 1951 to star in a revival of the play at the Hippodrome Theatre.

Further back in time, before dedicated theatre’s, large rooms in pubs were useful for theatrical performances, music hall and dancing masters hired their rooms too. Plays were performed in the county hall and the venues such as the George Public House in Iron Gate.

James Whitely in 1773 adapted a malthouse in Bold lane with a façade and ornate interior this creating Derby’s first theatre. Performances were timed to coincide with the races in order to attract the gentry. Attendances fell as industrialisation took place and the gentry could take the train to London instead. Derby’s first theatre fell out of use and was taken over to become a trans denominational gospel hall, until eventually being used by the council, initially as a library then as a magistrate’s court. Most recently the building was a Thai restaurant and is about to see a new lease of life as city centre offices.

The corn exchange housed the Palace Theatre of Varieties, in 1886 Andrew Melville opened a purpose built Grand Theatre in Babington lane which burnt down within the month. A phoenix from the flames, it was rebuilt bigger and better and over the next 64 years it hosted some of the biggest names in British entertainment. Redecorated in 1948 its lack of seating capacity meant it closed in 1950.

The Hippodrome designed by Alexander MacPherson opened in 1913 on Green Lane and catered for the music hall style of entertainment. It had a short life and also became a cinema in 1930 before closing in 1959. It reopened as a bingo hall until 2007. Sadly the Hippodrome has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2006, having suffered significant damage including acts of vandalism and arson.

The original Assembly Rooms building was built between 1765 and 1774. This was another building that was destroyed by a fire in 1963. The new Assembly Rooms was opened in 1977 by the Queen Mother. On Friday 14 March 2014, the Assembly Rooms was again hit by a fire in the plant room above the Assembly Rooms car park, which adjoins the building. This fire destroyed the plant room and made the Assembly Rooms unusable. To mark the tenth anniversary of the fire, Derby City Council has announced that the site of the long-closed venue will pave the way for a massive redevelopment project, marking a significant step towards the regeneration of the Market Place, as a new cultural, commercial, and creative public space that will feature a multi-functional building, with spaces for meeting, working, and creating alongside restaurant and commercial space.

The Guildhall ceased to function as the local of seat of government when the town council moved to the Council House in 1949, and the vacated Guildhall was converted for use as a theatre in 1975, remaining so until January 2019.

The original Derby Playhouse had opened as the Little Theatre in a converted church hall on Becket Street in 1948. After touring around a few premises the Derby Playhouse was given funding to build a permanent home within the Eagle Centre and was officially opened on 20 September 1975. Following a few years of financial uncertainty the Derby Playhouse was bought by the University of Derby and became the Derby Theatre in 2009.

Both Derby Theatre and the Guildhall Theatre are inline to receive £10 million each in funding. For the Guildhall, this will contribute to the restoration of the Grade II listed building and be used to remodel the auditorium increasing the seating capacity to around 280, and to renovate the back of house facilities to make the venue more accessible. Derby Theatre’s £10 million allocation will enable the theatre and the University of Derby to complete phase one of its New Horizons project, delivering a state-of-the-art accessible studio theatre and Learning and Research Hub.

With the curtain having fallen on so many of Derby’s entertainment venues, these are exciting developments continuing Derby’s theatrical tradition, and exciting times for the city, combining with a number of redevelopments projects that are putting Derby centre stage and in the spotlight.

Ruth Gray, Heritage Consultant, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Main Image: Marketing Derby

Electrifying partnership with Down to Earth Derby

20th March 2024 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice (PDP) believe in collaboration and are “electrified” to announce that they have joined Derby’s nature-based regeneration journey by partnering with Down to Earth Derby (DTE) as part of their Corporate Sponsorship programme.

With links to Cornwall’s eco-focused Eden Project, Down to Earth Derby are an independent catalyst for nature-based regeneration, describing themselves as:

‘A movement with a mission to help our communities make living with nature a part of everyday life. Our vision: Derby as a thriving, sustainable city run by happy, healthy, and proud people.’

Planning & Design Practice wholeheartedly agree with their values and vision and decided that we wanted to support them and get involved too. They requested that we bring our design expertise to spruce up the toilet area of their award-winning city-centre community garden and event space, Electric Daisy. Launched in June 2023 Electric Daisy is:

‘A botanical garden meets, late night cocktail bar, in this commercially driven concept. Surrounded by the growing aromats that make their drinks taste so good, customers can sip amongst nature, while providing us with funds to support our wider vision.’

Toilets are not the most attractive thing but are nevertheless essential for a venue such as Electric Daisy. We were able to use our DIY and creative skills to transform a utilitarian looking Portaloo into something which is much more in keeping with the tranquil garden vibe that Down to Earth Derby are trying to achieve.

On a cold March morning six members of our team arrived with a plan, three inside the toilet decorating and three outside constructing cladding and trellis, upcycling old sheds and bits of salvaged wood. The design inside the toilet was created using acrylic paints and now hand painted electric daisies adorn the walls. The woodwork was painted black to modernise and the overall effect was much fresher than before and ready to welcome guests when the venue reopens soon.

Down to Earth Derby’s business strategy and scalability lead Ross Nicholson had this to say after seeing the results:

‘Big shout out to Planning & Design Practice for becoming a corporate sponsor at Electric Daisy and for a great day converting our shabby toilet block (inside and out) into a shed (kind of!) which blends much better with the community garden and events space. A brilliant day’s work, which means we can now crack on with letting nature does its thing – growing stuff up, in and around it. Banging job. Will look great. Thanks so much’.

As well as working on the relaunch of Electric Daisy, Down to Earth Derby have also been commissioned by Wavensmere Homes to create an expansive community garden within its Nightingale Quarter development, on the site of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. The £40,000 pilot project will see an interactive garden and allotment space created on the 18.5-acre and is planned to be unveiled in late spring. If successful the approach will be rolled out across Wavensmere’s city-wide portfolio, creating magnets for nature, wildlife, and people across the city.

Planning & Design Practice had a really great day using all our DIY and artistic skills and look forward to visiting the venue, to raise a glass when Electric Daisy reopens for 2024 on Friday 29th March. See you there!

Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of town planning consultants, architects and heritage specialists. Based in Derbyshire, we are perfectly located to work nationally for our clients. We offer a comprehensive range of services, specialising in Town Planning, Architecture, Heritage and Urban Design. For more information on our team, or our services, please contact us on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk

Change of Use creates specialised grocery store

20th March 2024 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice have secured planning permission for the change of use of the ground floor of a dwelling from residential (Use Class C3) to display or retail sale of goods (Class E(a)) including the installation of a new shop frontage in Normanton, an edge-of-centre location in Derby. This will create an intercontinental and specialised grocery store with a specific focus on South Asian cuisine, which demonstrates a large portion of the diverse demographic within the Normanton District Centre.

The location of the site is in an existing residential area with excellent transport links into Derby City Centre. This sustainable location means local residents will have greater access to groceries closer to their homes.

A previous application on the site was refused in December 2023 for an identical scheme. This was refused due to a lack of evidence of an adequate sequential approach to site selection. Therefore, for this application, a sequential test was completed, as required by policy CP13 of the Local Plan due to the site being considered for retail uses within an edge-of-centre district. The submitted sequential test studied a total of 8 estate agents’ websites and consisted of a site visit along Normanton Road District Centre to discover a site for let capable of accommodating under 150m2 of retail space with a street-facing elevation. This concluded that there was only one unit available to let in the district and it was too large for the proposed use. Therefore, the proposal was in line with the intentions of the policy.

The officer concluded that the proposal complies with the relevant policies of the Development Plan. The proposal is deemed acceptable in design, amenity, policy and highway terms. The site is sustainably located, there would be no increased noise or activity level and the design of the shopfront will have minimal intrusion on the terraced row of properties. The previous reason for refusal has been addressed, therefore, the change of use is acceptable in the edge-of-centre location.

Planning & Design Practice has a wealth of experience in securing planning permission for commercial projects, in particular those with the need for a sequential test. We look forward to seeing this project progress to provide a new grocery store in Derby.

Megan Askham, Planner – Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

Building the Future Sustainably: Exploring Straw Bale Construction

20th March 2024 by Gary Stringer

In an era where sustainability is paramount, innovative construction methods are emerging to address environmental concerns while meeting the demands of modern architecture.

One such method is structural straw bale construction, particularly through systems like EcoCocon. Combining ancient wisdom with modern technology, this approach offers a sustainable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective alternative to conventional building techniques. In this article, Tina Humphreys, part of our Architectural Team delves into the concept of straw bale construction, its advantages, and misconceptions.

The Essence of Straw Bale Construction:

Straw bale construction dates back centuries, rooted in agricultural societies where straw was a readily available byproduct. Rather than using traditional materials like concrete or steel, straw bale construction utilises densely packed straw bales as load-bearing elements. These bales are typically encased in plaster or other natural materials to form walls, offering excellent insulation properties.

Advantages of Straw Bale Construction:

Environmental Sustainability: Utilising straw, a renewable agricultural resource, reduces the reliance on non-renewable materials. This minimizes the carbon footprint associated with construction and helps mitigate climate change. Made up with 98% natural renewable materials, it can sequester tons of CO2 for each project.
Energy Efficiency: Straw bale walls provide superior insulation, effectively regulating indoor temperatures and reducing the need for heating and cooling. This leads to lower energy consumption and decreased utility bills over the building’s lifespan.
Cost-Effectiveness: In many regions, straw bales are abundant and inexpensive compared to conventional building materials. Additionally, the simplicity of construction can lower labour costs, making it an affordable option for both residential and commercial projects.
Health and Comfort: The natural properties of straw contribute to healthier indoor environments by allowing moisture regulation and preventing the buildup of mould and toxins. Additionally, the thick walls offer excellent sound insulation, enhancing occupants’ comfort and well-being.
Enhanced Performance: Panels are designed for optimal insulation performance, surpassing conventional building materials. The panels’ air tightness and thermal mass contribute to superior energy efficiency, creating comfortable indoor environments year-round.
Design Flexibility: Despite misconceptions, straw bale construction offers versatile design possibilities. With proper planning and engineering, it can create aesthetically pleasing structures ranging from traditional to contemporary styles.
Precision Engineering: The panels are precision-engineered to ensure consistency and structural integrity. This guarantees that each panel meets stringent quality standards, simplifying the construction process and reducing on-site errors.
Time and Labor Efficiency: Utilizing prefabricated panels such as EcoCocon can significantly accelerate the construction timeline. Builders can assemble structures quickly and efficiently, saving time and labour costs.

At the beginning of February this year there was an article on the BBC website about a learning centre and community hub building in West Yorkshire. Originally built in the 1950s the team at Todmorden Learning Centre plan to clad the building in straw panels to better insulate it. With a discussion on whether more British homes should be built using straw, the article talks about a new factory opening up for the launch of these new straw panel systems. It also discusses the fact that there are limitations, such as that the walls need to be 400-500mm thick. However, with the changes to the Building Regulations for newly built homes and the increasing levels of insulation needed, thicker wall construction will become more common.

An advisor also comments in the article regarding insurers and how they will have high premiums for homes that are built with less common materials.
“Insurers will want to be confident about how resilient these building materials are and how they might react in a fire, storm, flood, or to extreme temperatures, damp and subsidence,” says Louise Clark, general insurance policy adviser at the Association of British Insurers.

In the quest for sustainable construction solutions, straw bale construction stands out as a time-tested method with modern relevance. As we confront the challenges of climate change and resource depletion, embracing sustainable technologies is not just a choice but a necessity for building a resilient and harmonious future.

Whilst recognising that ultimately it is up to the client what they want to do and what their budget allows for, at Planning & Design we can advise them on the different levels of sustainability available, provide information on the latest research and the full knowledge of the options, the current and emerging renewable technologies and how much these cost to incorporate into their projects.

Please feel free to contact us if you require any additional information or to discuss any specific projects on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk

Main Image: EcoCocon

Great Northern Classics – Driving our heritage

19th March 202419th March 2024 by Gary Stringer

Samuel Young, part of our Planning Team recently attended a Marketing Derby Bondholder event at Great Northern Classics, off of Osmaston Road, Derby. The aims of the centre, which has recently opened its doors to the general public is to preserve and propagate crucial skills for the classic vehicle industry, which in the UK alone it is estimated to be worth around £6bn. Read on for more information on the history of this important heritage asset, and the plans for its future.

Great Northern Classics

The site of the Great Northern Classics has many links to industry with the previous use not only as the Victoria Ironworks site, but also the site of Rolls Royce Foundry. Victoria Ironworks was an Iron casting business originally under the title of Eastwood and Swingle Ltd when the building was constructed in the early 1850s. The company went on to produce Iron beams for more than 235 bridges in India as well as railways in Japan. This factory still stands as it did in 1850 due to the preservation of this important heritage asset.

The Ironworks with help from Rolls Royce, produced the Eagle Engine which powered 50 different aircraft and airships during World War I. The site, which was then occupied by Rolls Royce up until the 1980s, today serves as a classic car storage unit with a learning facility to introduce new skills to the next generation of car mechanics.

Research by Historic England (2016) found the gross value of the heritage industry to be around £21.7bn. In the East Midlands alone the heritage industry contributes £1.26 bn to the local economy, generating as many as 22,000 jobs in the region.

Great Northern Classics’s plans for the Ironworks will further contribute to the East Midland’s economy. It will help revive the surrounding community, generate local jobs and create a cultural destination centre in the heart of Derby.

Planning & Design Practice’s Heritage Team play a key role in preserving these iconic buildings which play such an important role in showing the heritage of Derby. Planning & Design Practice are a Multi- disciplinary practice of Charted Town Planners, RIBA Certified Architects and Heritage Consultants which together work to create new developments whilst also protecting historic buildings and locations.

The retention of Heritage is a key focus for Planning & Design Practices Heritage team. Planning & Design Practice are well versed in working with Heritage Assets and Listed Buildings such as the Industrial units situated on Osmaston Road, Derby.

Great Northern Classics also features a car show room with the dealership Pinchbeck. Pinchbeck are one of the UK’s leading luxury car dealerships selling cars such as McLarens, Porsches, Land Rovers and Aston Martins.

As well as preserving the Historic infrastructure of yesteryear, the site of the Great Northern Classics shows a great facility for educating and maintaining the practical hands-on skills which are needed to preserve the classic cars of the future.

It is important not only to preserve these skills but also to preserve the buildings which have served a great purpose in our past. Heritage is the future. But it needs protecting. And that’s the aim of Great Northern Classics.

Planning & Design Practice are a multi-disciplinary practice of Planners, Architects and heritage Consultants which could help you retain and repurpose your heritage asset, produce innovative architectural designs or provide Planning advice on your project. Planning & Design Practice have in house heritage specialists who work on a variety of projects that are concerned with Listed Building Consent, Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites. We always work with the client and the councils to get the best outcome.

If heritage is a deciding factor in your future development plans, please get in touch to find out how we can help you, on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Modest vacant building fulfills its development potential

Biodiversity net gain becomes mandatory

Effects of Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain

Demystifying the planning and design process – Part 1

The Planning and Design process – Part 1

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition – Do you need an Architect?

Fallback approval secured in Derbyshire Dales

Success for new agricultural building

All the world’s a stage, Derby’s theatrical tradition

Derby’s theatrical tradition

Electrifying partnership with Down to Earth Derby

Change of Use creates specialised grocery store

Building the Future Sustainably: Exploring Straw Bale Construction

The Essence of Straw Bale Construction:

Advantages of Straw Bale Construction:

Great Northern Classics – Driving our heritage

Great Northern Classics

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