Project Details
- Client Name: Richmond Housing Partnership
- Project Value: £7.8m
- Sector: Commercial
- Services: Project management, Cost consultancy
- Key partners: Mansell Construction Ltd, BPTW Architects
- Contact: Stuart Wigley – 020 8294 1000
The project involved transforming a brownfield site into a bespoke new headquarters for Richmond Housing Partnership in Teddington.
The brief was to provide a modern office to a high West End specification incorporating comfort cooling, whilst achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.
The new building was also to provide an additional office area to enable the client to sub-let and retain flexible options for future growth or development.
First-time planning success
The site identified for this development was originally used by a paint research company. Following demolition it was subject to extensive remediation works including asbestos removal under controlled conditions.
Close liaison with the planners and their urban designer to deliver a sensitive design resulted in a successful planning application first time, despite some opposition.
We worked with RHP to drive the programme whilst creating sufficient flexibility. Early demolition in tandem with procuring the main contractor, via OJEU, allowed us time to build a team to develop a comprehensive and succinct package for the planning submission.
Energy efficient and cost effective
The building has been designed to be energy efficient, even with the addition of comfort cooling, by concentrating on improvements to the fabric and incorporating energy efficient technology, utilising solar photovoltaic panels (PVs).
We were instrumental in assisting RHP to secure BRE microgeneration funding to pay for 50% of the PV’s, and placing contractual obligations on the contractor to ensure these were commissioned in accordance with the terms of the funding.
We were proactively involved in advising and monitoring costs throughout the project, including lifecycle costs to guide the design of the development and meet very stringent CAPEX and OPEX criteria. Our approach was fundamental to the success of this project.
An award-winning building
The new headquarters for Richmond Housing Partnership delivers a contemporary three-storey building set back from the street with open views towards the surrounding area.
The offices are separated into three wings, with the principal wing facing Waldegrave Road, providing a continuous street frontage and reinforcing the existing urban grain.
As well as achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, the project has won widespread recognition including a Green Apple Award for Sustainability and was shortlisted in the RIBA London Awards.
