CASE STUDY 37
expansive views south into the neighbour- ing Cabrera Trust woodland and easy access to the town’s amenities and trans- port connections.
PLANNING
The developers were attracted to a central location that would give buyers access to the varied benefits the town provides. The development is situated close to the train station and its nearby shops, the former allowing residents to easily access surrounding towns including Windsor, Ascot and Weybridge.
The site was originally a public car park. An outline planning application on the site was approved at local level by Runnymede District Council in March 2016 for 58 ‘Retirement Living Plus’ (formerly known as ‘Assisted Living,’ and described by McCarthy & Stone as “independence plus support”) apartments. In addition, permission was given for
associated communal areas, including a lounge, restaurant, kitchen, wellness suite and guest facilities – this outline permis- sion was subsequently updated to improve the proposition offered by the design of the communal space, increase the efficiency of the building, and update the apartment designs, increasing the total to 59 apartments. “We acquired an interest in the site prior to planning permission being
granted, and completed on the purchase once we had achieved the permission we required,” explained Martin Brown, devel- opment director for McCarthy & Stone South East.
Up to this point, it was still in use as an active public car park. “Immediately following acquisition,” said Martin, “the car park was closed, and we commenced the ground works required to remove the car park surface and form of the basement car park structure.”
A COMMUNAL BUILDING The final building is a part-four, part-five storey reinforced concrete frame struc- ture, with car parking provided both at surface level and within a basement. When approaching the development, residents, visitors and neighbours are greeted with external facade materials that harmonise with the local vernacular – being predominantly traditional red brick, ashlar render and stone detailing. The top floor of the building is an inset steel frame system structure, clad using Equitone Tectiva to provide a light, visually distinct appearance to comple- ment the materials below.
The building’s design was influenced by
the Roman folly at Virginia Water, explains Martin. “This resulted in the use of classical proportions, feature panels, and a set back, hipped roof,” he explained
“THE LIMITED CONTEXT AROUND THE SITE ALLOWED US TO PRODUCE A SET PIECE BUILDING HIDDEN BEHIND THE HIGH STREET”
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