BDK Architects
We would recommend them for any construction project! ” - BDK Domestic Client, April 2009
Multiple Housing
L'Etacq
L’Étacq Quarry on the north-eastern fringe of St Oûen’s Bay was originally used for mining Jersey Granite and then later utilised by Ronez as their commercial vehicle maintenance workshop until the mid 90’s when Ronez decided to centralise operations to their St John Quarry site. BDK Architects were appointed by Ronez to advise on gaining Planning Consent for change of use to Housing. Our Planning work resulted in Ronez selling their site for nearly three times current value as a motor workshop.
Acting for Grange Developments BDK Architects then negotiated a Planning Permit for 10no. two / three bedroom traditional houses with a gross floor area only 15% less than the existing built floorspace. Considering Planning Policy in this sensitive Conservation location usually requires a built floorspace reduction of between 25 – 30% this is a Jersey record.
With our state of the art 3D CAD modelling BDK Architects demonstrated our scheme was clearly the most appropriate design solution. The house layouts maximised accommodation with the flexibility to convert the attic space to an extra bedroom, with minimal disruption. Moreover the Planning Panel agreed the quality of our design satisfied the Percent for Art Policy, saving our Client over £120,000, and our 3D CAD model was so readable with the virtual tour we created there was no need to provide a physical model of the scheme.
Technical aspects of building houses in a former quarry were tricky but working with geotechnical consultants we steered our Client to a solution incorporating a rockfall bund to ensure future rock fall would be contained. The existing reservoir had to be drained prior to filling including removal of fish stocks to new waters using electrostatic stunning. Construction of the three blocks of housing were phased to facilitate our Client selling 50% of the properties prior to completion in June 2009.
