The next 12 months are set to be an exciting time for the practice with a diverse range of schemes starting on site and getting ready for completion. Here, we give a rundown of just some of the projects we’re looking forward to seeing progress in 2022.
Ancoats
Last summer, we secured planning approval for four major schemes in Ancoats. Due to start on site this year, the schemes – Downley Drive, Ancoats Dispensary, Eliza Yard and Ancoats Mobility Hub – form part of a coordinated phase of development across underused sites in the Poland Street area of Ancoats and New Islington and aim to continue the successful regeneration of the area into a sustainable neighbourhood.
Together, Downley Drive, Eliza Yard and Ancoats Dispensary will deliver more than 200 new homes, around half of which will be affordable, while the plans for Ancoats Mobility Hub will embed green transport choices, smart logistics, and shared services into the heart of the neighbourhood, helping the city advance towards a zero-carbon future.
Collyhurst Village and Collyhurst South
The development of Collyhurst Village and Collyhurst South form part of the first phase of the Strategic Regeneration Framework for £4bn Victoria North. Starting on site this year, the plans for Collyhurst Village will see 244 new homes built, including 100 high-quality homes for social rent, along with the creation of 2,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space. In addition, the 1.3-hectare new Collyhurst Village park will create a new public green space at the heart of the neighbourhood, connected to homes through a network of green links.
In Collyhurst South, 30 affordable homes will be created. Low carbon family housing is central to the designs and the area will also be supported by bike storage, electric charging points, greening and garden spaces, along with the planting of 26 new trees.
Grey Mare Lane Estate Regeneration
To be considered by committee in the coming months, the proposals for the Grey Mare Lane Estate will deliver a transformational regeneration of the east Manchester housing estate.
Under the plans, 124 maisonettes, flats and older houses, which are suffering from persistent water ingress and significant heat loss, will be demolished and replaced with 124 social rent low carbon homes. 166 new homes will be added to the estate and a further 150 homes are in line to be retrofitted, improving their energy efficiency.
Greenhaus
Due to start on the site in the next couple of months, Greenhaus will be 100% affordable and will complete the residential jigsaw along Chapel Street. Designed for the English Cities Fund, key to the scheme is a focus on sustainability and the development has been designed with the view to meeting Passivhaus accreditation and is currently the largest affordable Passivhaus housing scheme outside London. Also included in the plans are public Electric Vehicle parking spaces, a public square, and greatly enhanced landscaping.
It follows a number of residential schemes Buttress has delivered for ECF as part of the Salford Central masterplan, including Atelier, Valette Square, Carpino Place, and the multi-award winning, Timekeepers Square.
The Harris
The Grade I listed Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library in Preston is one of the city’s most treasured public buildings; a centre for cultural and civic life for over 125 years. We are working with the Harris on a lottery-funded project to create an innovative environment in which museum, library and art gallery collections and services are fused to provide one flexible and community-led hub, allowing the Grade I listed building and its collections to be presented more effectively.
Lincoln Cathedral Connected conservation works
After several years of careful research, planning and conservation, work is nearing completion on a lottery-funded project to conserve a series of significant carvings on Lincoln Cathedral’s West Front. The West Front at Lincoln Cathedral is considered to be one of the finest cathedral edifices in northern Europe, telling an architectural story that spans from the 11th to 14th century. The West Front works have involved the conservation of the 'Gallery of Kings', a 14th-century carving of 11 kings inserted within the central portico of the West Front; the conservation of the gable at the top of the West Front; and conservation works to the 12th century Romanesque Frieze.
The work to the latter is regarded as one of the most sensitive conservation projects in the country and will allow the Freize to be viewed by the public for the first time in more than 30 years, having previously been covered for preservation due to the disintegration of the attached gothic sculptures.
Caernarfon Castle
Since 2019, we have been on-site at Caernarfon Castle to deliver the redevelopment of the King's Gate, marking a new chapter in the World Heritage Site’s rich history. The project, due to complete later this year, will add a new layer of architecture to the medieval building through the creation of a lightweight structure that will sit on top of and within the twin-towered King’s Gate.
As part of this, a new viewing deck will be created to crown the upper level of the gatehouse allowing all visitors to access this part of the castle for the first time in its history. It will also be the first-time level access has been provided in any similar UK World Heritage Site.
