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Our work
Fifteen projects across Surrey, West Sussex and the London Borough of Sutton. Open any project for its photos and what we did.
All projects
The Ridgeway School
Architecture Lead Design, RIBA Stages 1-5Glenthorne High School, Bulge Class & VI Form Centre
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overWonersh & Shamley Green Primary School, New KS2 Classrooms
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overRepair and Remodelling of a Grade II Listed Terrace
Initial feasibility, detailed design and planning application with Listed Building consent; construction information and construction managementRemodelling & New-Build Construction
Initial feasibility, detailed design and planning application26no New Flats and works to widen the highway
Architecture Lead Design ConsultantGlenthorne High School New Kitchen and Dining Facilities
Architecture, Lead Design Consultant, Contract AdministrationNew Woodcote Pavilion, Epsom Sports Club
Architecture Lead Design Consultant, RIBA Stages 1-2Disability Challengers Day Care Centre and Organisation HQ
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overChrist’s Hospital School VI Form Centre
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overAshley Primary School Harmony Centre
Feasibility, design development, planning application, construction information and contract administrationChrist’s Hospital School Careers Centre & Foyer
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overCranleigh Riding for the Disabled (RDA), CASI’s Farm
Architecture, concept, planning and Building Regulations, novated as part of the D&B contractWelcome Church: New Chapel and Remodelling of the 1970s Church
Architecture Lead Design Consultant, novated to D&B contractGlenthorne High School, The Hub: New Entrance Building
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-overFarnham, Surrey · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design, RIBA Stages 1-5
Plan A were appointed by the School and Weydon Multi-Academy Trust to replace a dilapidated and underused playground, creating an interactive physical environment to engage their KS3-4 pupils who are learning with severe and profound multiple difficulties and additional complex needs.
The design evolved through several iterations, which discarded traditional furniture and equipment for an integrated urban landscape the pupils can explore, play hide-and-seek, run around and find quiet spaces for themselves. There are textures and surfaces, steps and ramps, obstacles and colours which are now an extended part of the classroom, thanks to the vision of the school and the commitment of Rooks Construction to deliver it.
London Borough of Sutton · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
Glenthorne High School is a popular secondary school based in Sutton. Increasing pupil numbers led to the need for additional teaching and study space, with much-needed welfare facilities and a café to supplement the main dining room.
The new VI Form study building is designed to maximise the use of natural, low-carbon materials, with a fabric that reduces energy use and increases comfort with moderated internal temperatures and good air quality. Plan A were involved throughout the design, planning, procurement and construction process, and are very proud to continue the relationship with GHS on a number of new remodelling and extension projects around the campus.
Shamley Green, Surrey · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
Best Public Building & Community Award Winner, Waverley Design Awards 2015.
WSG is a successful and popular primary school set within a unique woodland site. The Governors and the Diocese of Guildford accepted a request from Surrey CC to take a full year group of Junior pupils in addition to their Reception and Infant classes, doubling the number of pupils on site. The project required careful consultation with Surrey CC because of its Green Belt location, and with local residents to minimise disruption to them. It was completed in time for September 2014.
West Street, Dorking, Surrey · Heritage and Listed Buildings
Initial feasibility, detailed design and planning application with Listed Building consent; construction information and construction management
Plan A were appointed to explore a range of feasibility studies in close consultation with the Local Authority, from which a scheme was agreed to deeply repair and remodel the building and reinstate its original retail and residential uses.
The works included a detailed sequence of repairs to the historic timber frame, stripping it back to its principal superstructure for access to every area. The whole building was then carefully rebuilt and adapted to create residential units across the upper floors, offering comfortable and unique town-centre living, while the ground-floor retail spaces were completely refurbished and let to successful local businesses.
The process involved close work with many specialist trades and historic building specialists, including research into the history of the building’s previous occupants and restoration of key structural and decorative features.
West Street, Dorking, Surrey · Private Residential
Initial feasibility, detailed design and planning application
A bespoke design for a constrained town-centre courtyard site, intended as a low-energy, comfortable small family home. It evolved as an upside-down arrangement, with the bedrooms on the ground floor and the living accommodation enjoying town-wide views from the first floor, with extra natural light from roof windows.
Its superstructure is a highly insulated timber frame with lightweight timber and render cladding, heated by an air-to-water heat pump through underfloor pipework. A small bank of solar PV panels offsets some of the electrical load. The efficient form of the building and a detailed review of thermal bridging during design and construction all result in a comfortable family home.
High Street, Addlestone, Surrey · Commercial Development
Architecture Lead Design Consultant
The client invited us to review an earlier planning approval which, although difficult to secure, was proving complex and expensive to move towards construction. There were clear planning constraints on height, massing, car parking and amenity space on this prominent town-centre site. Our brief was to simplify the building form and avoid a half-basement while delivering the four floors needed for 26 new flats of mixed sizes.
Plan A worked closely with the Local Authority to develop a new proposal within the strict constraints and aspirations of the site, an understated new addition to the town-centre redevelopment. A significant part of the design was a land exchange that will allow an additional lane of traffic leading up to a busy junction.
London Borough of Sutton · Education and Community
Architecture, Lead Design Consultant, Contract Administration
Following the construction of a new Kitchen and Dining Hall in 2010, Plan A were appointed to continue the works started with the Main Entrance (The HUB) in 2016, developing detailed designs for a significant extension of the Dining Hall and Servery. Plan A led a multi-disciplinary design team working closely with the school and Main Contractor (O&D Construction), on a constrained part of the campus with limited access and without disrupting the existing Dining Hall.
The design included an in-situ concrete frame and 3m deep retaining walls, carefully tanked where the lower sections sit in the sloping clay ground. The lower floor uses the exposed concrete; the upper floor uses an exposed steel frame to create a vaulted space filled with natural light from tall windows and roof-lights.
Epsom, Surrey · Commercial Development
Architecture Lead Design Consultant, RIBA Stages 1-2
Plan A were invited to a competition with one other practice, selected by the client. The brief was a master plan for the Sports Club site, consolidating the separate tennis, cricket and hockey pavilions into one shared pavilion at the centre of the site, with changing rooms, a bar and café, and an events venue with kitchen and services that can supplement the club’s income by hosting private functions.
After a successful early process of developing the brief and exploring feasibility options, the Club selected this as their preferred proposal to develop in later stages.
Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
Challengers is a vibrant and well respected charity offering activities and facilities for disabled children and young people at many venues across the south-east. This new building provides improved services and brings their administrative and fundraising teams into a new central office that has become the HQ for all of Challengers’ operations.
Fundraising for the new building started with a reception at 10 Downing Street in March 2013, with support from Samantha Cameron.
Horsham, West Sussex · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
Christ’s Hospital is an independent school in the West Sussex countryside close to Horsham. Plan A first worked with pupils and staff to develop concept options for a replacement student entertainment venue that could also serve as a formal auditorium for lectures, events and seminars.
We then worked with Horsham DC and Historic England to develop the design towards a planning application, granted permission in 2016. Our role extended to leading a full design team to create construction information, competitively tendered as a D&B contract. We stayed involved throughout construction and saw the building handed over: a sophisticated, modern building that retains many of the historical features found across the campus.
Walton on Thames, Surrey · Education and Community
Feasibility, design development, planning application, construction information and contract administration
Plan A was appointed to help the school develop a design for this unique project: a building that would symbolise and promote the school’s commitment to social and ecological responsibility and harmony, through its geometry, sensitive materials, energy efficiency and the responsible process of its construction.
It was delivered within a very tight budget, in a highly collaborative atmosphere, and opened by HRH Prince of Wales in early 2016.
Horsham, West Sussex · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
Plan A was approached to develop design options for a new Careers Centre offering meeting, research and seminar space, focused on helping pupils find career opportunities they may not have considered.
It makes use of two existing Grade II Listed buildings, joined by a new extension that provides a grand new entrance foyer in keeping with the character of the campus. The extension and the sensitive refurbishment of the existing buildings support flexible new facilities that benefit the school’s students and the surrounding community.
Cranleigh, Surrey · Education and Community
Architecture, concept, planning and Building Regulations, novated as part of the D&B contract
Plan A was appointed to help the Trustees of CASI’s Farm replace a dilapidated potato barn long used as stabling for their much-loved ponies. The team settled on new stables immediately beside the existing indoor arena, with an education and activity space, tack room, storage and WCs, and much improved vehicle access. With the stables placed this way, day-to-day activities are visible from all areas, so volunteers and riders stay involved whatever they are doing.
The Local Authority were critically supportive during the planning application on this sensitive Green Belt site, and the Trustees worked hard to raise the capital. The building, delivered under a Design & Build contract, was opened in November 2017.
Woking, Surrey · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant, novated to D&B contract
Plan A was invited to a competition with one other practice, selected by the client’s Project Manager (MEA). The brief was a new chapel to support the church’s growing congregation, reflecting their confidence and enthusiasm while being practical and deliverable within the estimated budget.
We were fortunate to be selected after a series of interviews and worked closely with many groups from the church, and a fantastic team of designers and specialists. The Local Authority were proactive throughout the pre-app and application process and, with support from the local community, the project moved forward under a negotiated design-and-build contract.
London Borough of Sutton · Education and Community
Architecture Lead Design Consultant from feasibility to hand-over
An increase in pupil numbers led Glenthorne High School to expand. The Hub forms part of an overall master planning exercise: Plan A led a multi-disciplinary team that developed a complex extension linking three existing buildings, all with different floor levels and services.
Plan A were involved throughout the design, planning, procurement and construction process, and are very proud to continue the relationship with GHS on a number of remodelling and extension projects around the campus.
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