25 The visible future
Conversions from office to residential under Permitted Development Rights are becoming more commonplace as we move to widespread home working. Structura UK’s Manny Patel looks at the implications for facades
ife has changed radically under Covid-19. The epidemic is changing the way buildings are used. One of the most obvious changes has been the lockdown and the enforced ‘working from home’ policy. Many companies have now realised their workers are as productive and as committed when working from home as when commuting to an office. This has led to a fundamental shift in policy, with many companies moving away from large expensive offices to smaller sites with ‘hot desking’ for meetings. This has led to a happier workforce not having to commute, and so much time saved. With the move to smaller offices and companies seeking more self-contained buildings, the traditional large office block is suffering big dents in demand. This started before the pandemic, but the impact of Covid-19 has accelerated the trend. In 2018/2019 for example, 51 per cent of all new homes in Harlow were office conversions, and the CBRE are now reporting even larger swings. The conversion of old offices to residential is nothing new, but the update to Permitted Development Rights in August last year means that now you don’t necessarily need planning permission so long as certain obligations are met. Some of the key requirements revolve around quality, location, size and light – i.e. have light and ventilation standards been adhered to? In the post-Grenfell world, standards are also important given the different regulations around products and fire ratings.
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Many projects have illustrated how different disciplines can collaborate to provide a one-stop-shop for the complete renewal of facades. The ability to design, fabricate and install replacement glazing, along with cladding refurbishment and refinishing, can create a seamless project management workflow, and reduces costs and time spent on site. Importantly, it negates the need to use several different
Delta Point, Croydon © Alex Upton
contractors with the associated problems that can entail.
Changing curtain walling on existing buildings is not always easy, yet can be critical when it comes to adapting older buildings. This can be to take advantage of improved energy efficient glass, for repairs or remedials or to make the buildings more suitable for residential conversion. It is also important in terms of newer building regulations around wind loads and fire resistance. Fortunately, there is a precedent when companies have earlier vacated their own office building, in such cases much can be learnt about how the envelope was changed. A good example is Delta Point, the 28,500 m² former BT office building in Croydon whose entire facade was refurbished and refinished. This complete
ADF FEBRUARY 2021
Different disciplines can collaborate to provide a one-stop-shop for the complete renewal of facades
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