Stepnell review #4
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Transcript of Stepnell review #4
Luxury retirement communityStepnell appointed to build the final phase of an award-winning luxury Oxfordshire retirement community
Home GrownNew offices for Brethertons Solicitors is now complete
New care development in Salisbury£8.8m scheme for The Orders of St John Care Trust
Issue #4
Stepnell has been appointed by leading retirement living specialist Richmond Villages, who are part of Bupa, to build the final phase of an award-winning luxury Oxfordshire retirement community.
Work is under way by Stepnell on Mill Stream Mews, a £1.2 million
development of six high-specification one- and two-bedroom apartments at
Richmond Letcombe Regis, near Wantage.
Stepnell chosen for final phase of development at luxury Oxfordshire retirement community
State-of-the-art spa complex with gymnasium
Designed by PRC Architecture, the luxury homes are being built within the
village’s 36-acre grounds at a secluded location which is also close to the
village centre with its wide range of facilities, including a state-of-the-art
spa complex with gymnasium and pool and the village’s beautiful lakeside
restaurant.
All six new apartments – which are being built to the highest standards of
quality and comfort incorporating ergonomically designed kitchens and walk-in
showers – have already been reserved.
“We are delighted to be working with local company,
Stepnell. Their experience of developing high quality
housing plus their helpful and professional attitude gives
us great confidence that this will be a highly successful
project.”
Albert Josephs, Development Manager. Richmond Villages
“Our team brings extensive experience in delivering
superb retirement housing and we are thrilled to be
working with Richmond Villages to help complete
the final phase of homes at this truly exceptional
development,”
Tom Wakeford, Director. Stepnell
Stepnell expands in East Midlands with new Nottingham office
Stepnell has opened a new office in Nottingham following the continuing expansion of its business across the East Midlands.
The office – at the Eldon Business Park, Chilwell – provides a new base for the
company’s growing construction operations across Leicestershire, Derbyshire,
Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
The East Midlands business specialises in projects for the education,
commercial, residential, student accommodation, retail and leisure sectors.
Current schemes include a £1.8 million major refurbishment programme for
Stratford upon Avon College which began in June 2014 and a £1.5 million new-
build housing development at Scraptoft, Leicester, where work is now getting
under way.
The new office is expected to create a number of new job and training
opportunities in the region over the next 18 months, including trainee positions
and construction apprenticeships.
And the winner is...
Our Grantham team have recently been awarded an LJCC Construction Craftsmanship Award for a £1.1m extension and refurbishment scheme at Loughborough Grammar School.
The Leicester Local Joint Consultative Committee
(LJCC) Awards recognise good craftsmanship while
the LJCC itself aims to promote best practice in the
construction industry.
The project comprised the full refurbishment of a
two story teaching block (Pullinger) which included
recladding the building along with a two storey
extension and part refurbishment of a boarding
house (Denton).
“We’re delighted to have opened an office in Nottingham
which will support our expanding construction operations
in the region and enhance the local delivery of projects.”
Tom Sewell, Operations and Commercial Manager, Stepnell
“The judges considered that the high standard of workmanship and
careful detailing of the new building had blended well with the much
older building whilst creating pleasant and practical living spaces.
We were particularly impressed at the positive comments by staff
at the School about working with Stepnell during the construction
phase and the enthusiasm for the finished buildings."
John Cawrey - LJCC Craftsmanship Award Judge
Stepnell awarded £5.9m Oxford college library scheme
The Stepnell Wantage team has been awarded the £5.9m contract to refurbish and extend the New Library at Magdalen College, Oxford. Construction of the new scheme designed by Wright and Wright Architects, started in June this year and to complete in early 2016.
Stepnell will extend, refurbish and reroof the 1850s-built Grade II* listed
Victorian building which was originally designed by John Buckler and built as
a single hall school. In 1932, it was converted into a library for the Magdalen
community supporting 200 students and 35 Fellows. Student numbers have
since tripled, and the library no longer has the space or capability of supporting
modern-day user requirements.
The basement of the existing Victorian building will be extended by Stepnell
creating three storeys along with a new connecting one-storey extension.
Stepnell will also create new library areas and study rooms, flexible working
spaces, a passenger lift, staircases and washing facilities. The new energy-
efficient building, which will be partially built below ground level and set in a
sunken garden, will have a range of sustainable features including a green roof,
environmentally-friendly heating, ventilation and lighting systems as well as
landscaped areas and a paved courtyard. Disabled access will also be created
for the first time throughout the library.
“We are delighted to be working with Magdalen College
and respected architects Wright and Wright on this
stunning project which will provide much-needed new
library facilities for the academic community. Stepnell
has significant expertise in delivering specialist schemes
like this for the university sector and we’re committed to
ensuring that this project creates local jobs and brings
other economic benefits to the community.”
Pete McDonald, Contracts Manager. Stepnell
Stepnell hands over state-of-the-art office building heralding new era for law firm Brethertons
Stepnell has finished work on the new Rugby home for leading regional law firm
Brethertons LLP.
A handover of the keys by Stepnell Group development director Peter Wakeford
to Brethertons partner Trevor Dyer marked the completion of the new Montague
House office in Clifton Road and the start of a fresh era for Brethertons, which
was originally founded in Rugby over 200 years ago.
The new three-storey building has enabled the firm, one of Warwickshire
and Oxfordshire’s largest firms of solicitors, to bring together its entire Rugby
team – over 100 people which were based in three offices - under one roof.
Brethertons staff have just moved in.
Home Grown
Low-energy design
Designed by Rugby-based HB Architects, the 1,616 sq m building is
sympathetic to the local Rugby School Conservation Area. It features an open-
plan flexible design with break-out rooms and individual client meeting rooms.
The building is formed around a reinforced concrete frame, with concrete floors
and a concrete roof, including pitched roof sections and concrete walls along
with masonry walls, which incorporate elements of structural glazing with low
emissive glass.
As part of the low-energy design, the building’s exposed concrete elements
absorb heat during the day with temperature-controlled motorised louvres
dissipating the warm air at night. Brise soleil sunscreens are installed to
ground- and first-floor south-facing windows. The roof is fitted with photovoltaic
panels. A high ‘B’ EPC Rating has been
achieved, which meets the shared objective
for the energy standard of the new building.
The existing vehicle access in Clifton Road
has been closed and a new vehicle access
created in Moultrie Road to facilitate on-site
parking for 25 cars.
Significant investment
Brethertons senior partner Richard
Pell says: “The new offices allow us
to accommodate more staff, including
specialist Commercial and Private Client
departments, but still keep us at the heart of
the Rugby community.”
“It has been highly rewarding
to help create this state-of-
the-art low-energy office
building which will enable this
progressive law firm to operate
in a much improved working
environment for clients
and staff. The site includes
provision for further expansion
when needed.”
Peter Wakeford, Director. Stepnell
See photos of the finished project
Our Wantage team has recently completed a major £2.7m refurbishment and new-build scheme for Grade II* listed Mansfield College at the University of Oxford.
The project, designed by Rick Mather Architects comprised extensive
alterations and refurbishment of the east wing of the College’s main building
and construction of a two-storey concrete frame extension as well as a
workshop building and sunken terrace.
The extension houses the new kitchens and features an atrium with a
frameless glass roof light, feature stairway and lift which link the extension to
the rest of the College. The structure itself utilises a stone and glass façade.
The refurbished ground-floor of the existing building has been remodelled to
create a new student refectory and café/bar. Two stone-framed windows have
been converted to glass doors which open out on to the new sunken terrace
facing the quad. The overall scheme has doubled the catering capacity of the
College as well as enhancing its conference, fine dining and corporate event
facilities.
To create the sunken terrace, the building required extensive temporary
propping to facilitate excavation and demolition works and then allow for new
foundations and steelwork to be constructed. Following the excavation masonry
repairs to the Grade II* Listed building were carried out.
Wider refurbishments included tutor rooms, hallways and stairwells.
£2.7m refurbishment and new-build scheme for Oxford college is now complete
See photos of the finished project
£8.8m care home in Salisbury gets underway
Working with Brackley Investments for long term client The Orders of St John Care Trust, the Poole team have recently begun construction of a 120 bed, three-storey
care home in Old Sarum, Salisbury.
This is the largest single care home that Stepnell have built to date and will
be OSJCT’s flagship facility. The 120 beds include provision for 48 beds for
specialist dementia care and 72 beds for nursing care.
The building itself is of traditional masonry construction with a combination
of finishes including brick, render and flint stone panelling. The facility also
features a large glazed entrance foyer which is unlike anything we have
incorporated into previous care homes.
Internally, rooms and layout is based on OSJCT’s standardised household
concept with some minor improvements from the design team. One of the
stand-out features of the facility is the first floor mall, a large communal space
with dining and socialising areas - the biggest of any care home Stepnell have
built.
“Although the design is quite different, we have been
able to implement lessons learned from previous care
home projects.”
Matt Sargent – Head of Design Management
Due to the relative close proximity of noisy industrial facilities, the building will
utilise a ‘white noise generator’ –a clever device that helps diminish unwanted
distracting noises by emitting white noise that will go unnoticed by the care
home residents.
The project is due for completion early 2016.
“We are currently in the process of pouring the
concrete slab for the dementia wing along with the
strip foundations for the nursing wing. Drainage is
also in progress as is the blockwork for the beam and
block floor.”
Derek Middleton, Director. Stepnell
Our Rugby office is currently working on a £1 million
remodelling and refurbishment scheme at Woolaston School
in Wellingborough as well as a £448k alteration and extension
project to create a modern new funeral home in Nuneaton for Co-
operative Society. They have recently completed an extension
scheme for Jelmac Properties. The £300k project consisted of the
creation of two new wings to a commercial building in Leamington
Spa.
Earlier in the year our Nottingham team completed a £1.1 million
scheme to re-clad and refurbish the Hampton building at The
Sixth Form College, Solihull. They are also just finishing off a
£1 million six storey office block refurbishment in Leicester. Also
in Leicester the team have reached the half-way point of a £1.5
million sheltered accommodation scheme.
Recently our Grantham team have been working on two
education schemes – a £1.4 million extension to Oakham
School’s Merton Building and a £1.4 million extension and
refurbishment project to create a new performing arts centre and
performance hall at Stamford Endowed School.
Currently under construction for our Wantage office is a range
of projects at Oxford University colleges including a £3.8 million
scheme to create a new third floor with associated refurbishments
at Oriel College.
Additional educational schemes for our Wantage office include
a £5.5 million redevelopment for Bayards Hill Primary School in
Oxford, a £500k refurbishment project for Swindon’s Commonweal
School (which is complete) and a £217k remodelling contract for
Down House School, Thatcham.
Also in progress for our Wantage team are two care homes – a
£5.9 million Abingdon care home for BPHA and £5.5 million
facility in Devizes. They have also just handed over a £1.2 million
extension to a medical centre in Aylesbury and a building a
pharmacy for a medical centre in Toddington.
In addition to the £8.8 million care home mentioned earlier in
the newsletter, our Poole office has been working on a range of
refurbishment schemes spanning education, health and community
News in brief
Head Office
Stepnell House
Lawford Road
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2UU
01788 574511
Grantham Office
65 South Parade
Grantham
Lincoln
NG31 6HT
01476 564726
Nottingham Office
27 Eldon Business
Park
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG9 6DZ
01159 575520
Wantage Office
Cane Lane
Grove
Wantage
Oxfordshire
OX12 OAB
01235 772772
www.stepnell.co.uk
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Poole Office
Unit 10 Stepnell Reach
541 Blandford Road
Hamworthy
Poole, Dorset
BH16 5BW
01202 632324
Kidderminster Office
(George Law)
35 Mill Street
Kidderminster
DY11 6XB
01562 820421