A £40 million redevelopment of the Gateshead College site in County Durham for 263 homes in collaboration with Stirling Prize winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Maccreanor Lavington Architects for Grainger PLC. The site has a 15m fall towards Saltwell Park with views to distant hills. Dealing with the changes in level to provide DDA access to much of the site was a challenge. At the heart of the site is North Dene House - a listed building that will be restored with the addition of contemporary wings. We carried out a detailed study of the trees on site that informed the layout, and central to the planning was retaining a swathe of tall mature trees as a rich green wedge through the centre of the site.        

 

Plant textures and colours complement timber and local brick colours for the building. Use of surface water channels, porous surfacing, and green roofs were part of the integrated approach to sustainable drainage. A home zone approach was used, removing kerbs where possible, and using sculptural bollards by Gormley and planting to define the carriageway. The scheme is in appeal having been considered ‘too modern’ by the Planning Commitee in 2008.