Planning permission has been granted for two new build houses on a green field site in College Road, Ardingly.  The site is an ‘edge of settlement’ location with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

James Wells has been commissioned by Drake Developments, a London based developer working in  London and the South East bringing new build homes with the latest thinking in spatial planning and facilities to the Sussex market.  The scheme replaces a previously approved planning application for two houses on the same site.

External 18th Century elegance disguises thoroughly modern interior

The project is to create two five bedroom semi-detached homes arranged over ground and first floors with basements to accommodate a gym, media room and plant room.  The proposed new dwellings respect the residential character of the area and set a new standard for properties within the immediate location.

Externally the new homes are of a traditional design with a nod to the elegant and understated 18th Century architecture of Sir John Soane with stone and render detailing on the ground floor and brick finishes at first floor level.  Each house has an entrance hall, study, sitting room, kitchen with family dining and formal dining room.  On the first floor there are five generous bedrooms and three bathrooms (two ensuite and one family bathroom).

James Wells comments, “Submitting a planning application today is an increasingly complex process; it is considerably more onerous that it was even three or five years ago.  After taking the client’s brief we need to spend some time considering how to go about seeking planning permission.  We often find we have to commission a number of independent reports – such as landscape visual impact assessments, biodiversity surveys, dark sky lighting assessments, tree reports, flood risk assessments ….. and of course we also need to design a building which sits comfortably within its local context.  This does not always mean that we have to adopt traditional forms or materials but often this is the best strategy.  Our clients are sometimes surprised by how little latitude they may have to address their own priorities.”  The architect of today faces a complex challenge when it comes to gaining planning permission.

The new homes are located on the boundary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as such the scheme will retain the woodland screening at the rear of the site and new landscaping will be provided to enhance the setting for each house.  The proposed landscaping will include appropriate planting to all boundaries of the residential curtilages to ensure the houses successfully integrate into the surroundings as well as provide appropriate habitats for local wildlife.

If you are interested in commissioning a new build project or renovating an existing building and require planning permission or help with your planning application then please use the form below to get in touch or call 01243 940020

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Traditional Pub with a passion for good food and drink using local ingredients

The plan is to rework the building with a slightly larger footprint to allow a more viable venue to be created.  The interior is completely refurbished to bring it into line with modern catering requirements and visitor expectations as well as extending the car park to accommodate a larger number of parking spaces.  Landscaping around the building will be improved with new planting and surfaces to better present a traditional country pub.

Historic Sussex Hotels is a privately owned collection of three very distinctive, luxury hotels, spas and restaurants set in some of the most stunning locations in West Sussex. Pontus Carminger, Joint Managing Director of HSH comments, “Each hotel is unique in style, character and history while sharing the same philosophy: to bring delight to our guests.  This exciting addition, just a short stroll from Bailiffscourt and Climping Beach, is set to become a firm favourite with both locals and visitors to Sussex.”

The pub refurbishment project is currently in planning and the main contractor Amiri Special Works has officially been appointed to undertake the refurbishment work.

Please get in touch using the form below if you have a project you need help with or take a look at our other work.

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James Wells Architects has recently achieved planning permission for a major office refurbishment to Sussex House in Crane Street, Chichester.

Sussex House is a three storey concrete framed building which was built in the 1960s.  It is a mixed use commercial development providing retail and office accommodation in Chichester’s city centre.  The retail use on the ground floor will remain as currently occupied.  This scheme is to refurbish the two upper floors of office space and their associated common parts.  The gross internal area of the upper floors is 6,610 square feet.

The concept created by the JWA team is to bring the first and second floors into line with contemporary office environment expectations for rental primarily focused on the private commercial market.  The floors are to be divided into four self-contained suites complete with newly fitted ‘super loos’ to optimise flexible lettings for a range of potential tenants.

Externally Sussex House has suffered from little maintenance and upkeep to the elevations over several decades.  Thus, as part of the overall refurbishment strategy the windows will be replaced on both upper floors.  New painted W20 steel windows will be installed with horizontal centre casements hung on pivots.  The proportion of the replacement windows has been carefully considered with pane sizes modelled on the pane sizes to the existing sash windows seen on neighbouring buildings, many of which are of the Georgian period.

This refurbishment gives the opportunity to remove the retro-fitted services routed up the exterior of the building and reroute new services internally.  An accessible duct will be installed for further or additional communications services which may be required at a later date.

This refurbishment will bring the sadly neglected Sussex House back into use as an aspirational city centre business location, a much sought after commodity which will plug a gap in the commercial property landscape in Chichester.

Please get in touch using the form below if you have a project you need help with or take a look at our other work.

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Last month James Wells attended a series of Mock Interview sessions with Portsmouth University School of Architecture students.  The purpose of the sessions was to give the students a more realistic taste of what an interview with an architecture practice will be like, what questions will they be asked and how will a potential employer respond to their portfolio.  For the students this is an invaluable exercise for them to practice how they will present themselves and see how potential employers might react to their portfolio.

In commenting on the two afternoon session James said, “it’s refreshing to see a range of work from the enthusiastic students I met at Portsmouth.  It’s great to see how the University of Portsmouth Architecture School is supporting their students in finding employment opportunities in the area.”

James also presented our work to the Year 3 and Year 5 Students at the Employers Evening on 24 March where they could understand our skills in creating award winning architectural schemes.

For more information from Portsmouth School of Architecture see here http://portsmoutharchitecture.tumblr.com/post/158397816515/ba3-mock-interviews-2017

Interested in working with James Wells Architects? Look here http://www.jameswellsarchitects.co.uk/recruitment/

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The proposed development is arranged over basement, ground and two upper floors. Each new house benefits from a self-contained garage.

The brief was to replace two poorly set out flats arranged over garages and incorporate a now redundant electricity sub-station. The site is located within the St James Conservation Area.

Each of the dwellings will be arranged comprising: integral garage, level threshold entrance with external refuse storage on the ground floor. In the basement there is a study / guest bedroom adjoining external light well for light and ventilation, utility room and bathroom/WC; two bedrooms with ensuites on first floor and open plan living space with adjacent kitchen and dining space and separate WC on the second floor.

Both properties are served by top-lit stairwells with a roof light over the kitchen area to offer natural light and ventilation.

The scheme, set in the context of a mixed-used commercial and residential mews, adopts a simple brick form with carefully proportioned windows and façade. Natural light is a premium in this location, thus great care has been given to roof lights as well as boosting the outline of façade windows.

The contemporary design of the new building draws on the simple form of the existing structure and that of the surrounding commercial vernacular. The upper stories are faced in a light buff brick to echo some of the material palette of the surroundings and maximize natural reflected light in the shaded mews. Similarly, the different purpose of the ground floor is reflected in form and materials to house the sheltered entrance bays and a ‘hit and miss’ timber screen for the garage doors and refuse stores.

Scheme which planning permission was granted for

Each house is 1,450 square feet. The client is a private developer.

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At least three years’ office experience post qualification is required, excellent AutoCAD and Vectorworks IT skills are vital, a proven portfolio of residential experience at all work stages and good communication and liaison skills also required.  Successful candidates will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of building technologies and proven detailing skills.

Lifestyle benefits of living and working on the South Coast include: no commute, calm and happy working environment, lower cost of living, weekend walks on the beach or South Downs National Park not to mention fantastic pubs, eateries and all the culture you could ever wish for in Chichester.

Salary is negotiable, to apply please email your CV to hello@jameswellsarchitects.co.uk

For more information on James Wells Architects take a look at www.jameswellsarchitects.co.uk

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