Brick Sample Panels

Brick Sample Panels

left: graffiti resistant smooth face for the workshop  & right: textured face for domestic.
Both manufactured by one of few local brickworks using local clay - made near Almondsbury

70 Upper Perry Hill - DESCRIPTION

Building description

The main part of the development is a 3 storey block occupying the corner of Edgeware Rd & Upper Perry Hill comprising;

•     Ground floor – Workshop & cleanroom
•     First floor – Mainly bedrooms
•     Second floor – Mainly open plan living / kitchen / dining

All floors are served by staircase & landings located between the main building and the new terraced house (68UPH).  This space provides a route between the front and rear of the building at ground floor and access to all services and risers at each level. 

Rear of Existing Workshop from Garden of 1 Edgeware Road

A new vehicular entrance adjacent to 1 Edgeware Road gives access to an enclosed yard and allows light / sunlight to reach the gardens of existing houses in Upper Perry Hill and Edgeware Rd that are currently overshadowed by the rear of the workshop.

Several houses in Edgeware Rd will also benefit from new distant views towards Redcliffe.

Environmental  The building is designed to exceed current regulations and although not Passivhaus standard it is energy efficient, incorporating the following features:

•     Improved U values including 200mm full-fill cavities to walls
•     Improved air-tightness
•     MVHR  - Mechanical Ventilation & Heat Recovery
•     3000 litre underground rainwater tank for clothes washing & WC’s
•     Water reservoirs to limit rainwater overflow to mains drainage
•     Draught lobbies to entrance doors & staircase buffer zone
•     Generally heavy masonry construction to create thermal mass
•     Combined solar/gas central heating with hot water storage.
•     Provision for roof mounted photo-voltaic panels

Thanks for the well wishes and in terms of help there may be a bit of hands on loading or shifting over the next month, I will let you know.

What I am planning at the moment is storage space or loaning furniture etc.
At the moment the plan is to move machines to a farm in Cornwall (Lanreath) where they can be set up to work if necessary.  Charlton my MOT garage mechanic has a flat in St Philips that might be available for dry storage (if the price is right).  Also looking at renting a lock up garage somewhere close to Bristol for bulky non valuable items.  The storage companies are very expensive and I do not need 24/7 access, lighting, sprinklers etc

Friends are already taking furniture on loan  for a year; bed-settee, mattress but there are a few more bulky items available; double bed + additional mattress, drawing board, washing machine, fridge/freezer, desk, small and large tables, variety of chairs, chest of drawers.

I have 3 chimney pots (one is giant) that I would like to keep so am looking for small corner of garden for a year.

If anyone has a need for particular pieces of timber or board I probably have it and can saw to size if required - just ask.

There seems to be a local market for kindling wood so I am able to sell this at a good discount to ASDA/garage and without the added carbon miles, (I dread to think what journey a pack of kindling has been on).  If you need some let me know £4 good sized box.

Generally reducing clutter by advertising on my street blog, pavement give-away, local or Bristol Freecycle, eBay and finally the tip! 

Any suggestions or help in the above would be great, put the word out!

I have a very large (long and shallow) and very heavy shallow sink (think horse trough size) that will be given away, but needs transport (van or low load estate) and elbow grease.

Also selling Fiat Punto for an old friend on eBay soon Year 2001.  1.2 ELX 3dr petrol   Very Low milage c. 38K  will have 12 months MOT 6 months tax.  If anyone is interested let me know and I will post details of eBay listing.

14.2.13 TENDER Received Tender prices from 3 Contractors for the main construction work - all in the right ball park, so the project has reached a significant milestone and the prospect of construction is now a reality.

If I am ever going to start a blog this seems like the time, so here is a brief history of the project so far;

PLANNING

Bought the property, located in Southville - less than a mile from Bristol city centre, in 1997 when it was a builders premises and yard.  (Google the site address at BS3 1NH Junction of Edgeware Road & Upper Perry Hill to see existing).

Applied for planning permission to convert the first floor into residential and discovered that the planners would not accept that it contained a woodworking workshop on the ground floor and had an existing industrial planning use.  

Planning approval was a long, drawn out process, because various residential neighbours had developed amnesia or were new to the area so their knowledge of previous use was a bit 'hazy'.  

Planning was eventually granted with certain conditions on the workshop use and other  restrictions.  Apart from some additional sound-proofing of a wall adjoining the neighbour little work has been done to the building. 

It leaks, is draughty, rotten, and cold in winter but has a lot of character, high ceilings, a very quite and secluded south facing yard and incredibly close to all amenities.

As Southville became more 'gentrified' with rising property prices, it made less sense to renovate and something more ambitious was required.

In about 2004 I prepared a detailed scheme to re-develop the site and build about 8 flats with a vague plan to move, perhaps to France.  The proposals were very well resolved and made good use of the site over 3 floors, they were well received by the planners but a Planning Application was deferred. 

My personal circumstances changed and the desire to remain at the address became important.  I worked with my cousin's husband David, also an Architect, to develop the site in a different way and we concluded that 3 town houses, with workshop at the rear and terraced roof-garden above was an appropriate solution. 

During 2010-11 a fully detailed scheme was submitted for Planning Approval but despite prior consultations it became apparent at an early stage that the it was not going to receive permission so we elected to withdraw the scheme on the basis that we could submit a fresh application without additional charge.







At this point David had the radical idea to separate out the main corner building as an enlarged live/work unit, move the vehicular entrance from Upper Perry Hill to Edgeware Road and add a house to the existing terrace in Upper Perry Hill.  This made instant sense, gave me the potential flexibility required and most importantly allowed the streetscape to successfully make the transition from Upper Perry Hill to Edgeware Road and place a clearly identifiable independent building on the corner.  I had perhaps unnecessarily ruled out the possibility of moving site access because of the narrower road width in the new location and a requirement to move a Virgin Communications cabinet, but these seemed a small price to 'unlock' the site.

Fresh plans were prepared and an application for Planning Permission made in mid 2011.  Though the original submission was mishandled by the Planning Department a second version with amendments was accepted in a fresh application in autumn 2011.









DESIGN PROGRAMME
The detailed design process has stretched to just over a year and although there was an initial intent to commence construction in 2012, finances were uncertain and the level of coordination to present a fully resolved scheme has taken time.
What we did end up with in late 2012 was a very credible set of drawings that hopefully will require minimal changes so we can concentrate on any unknown or unforeseen surprises when construction commences, in a couple of months time