Masterplanning

Regenerating complex sites to provide new opportunities for economic growth

Optimising Portfolio value from reusing and adapting existing buildings, usually begins with a masterplan. Such plans can test infrastructure, capacity for development, opportunities and constraints (sometimes arising from complex heritage or planning issues) and commercial return.

Our method is to rigorously understand the context of the study area - uncovering the stories of a place, discovering what has gone before, assessing where that place is now and imagining what it can be in the future. We are experts in stakeholder consultation and working with local communities. We create design guides to secure development of the appropriate quality. Our masterplans reshape places creating commercially sustainable development.

Wolverton Works, Buckinghamshire

Part of a former railway works becomes a new residential area

Appointed by St. Modwen Properties PLC, Purcell developed proposals to obtain outline planning permission for the Wolverton Railway Works redevelopment. The regeneration of the Wolverton Works site will create a new community of high-quality homes, a food store, community spaces and a new heritage centre. Retaining its heritage through ongoing rail use is essential to the redevelopment.

Through our understanding of how to maximise development within historically sensitive industrial sites, we added significant value to the process and secured the site a future use. The masterplan evolved in collaboration with numerous stakeholders. We also produced a Wolverton Works Design Guide to secure a high level of design in the future development of the site.

Hafod Morfa Copperworks, Swansea

Regenerating an industrial site by unlocking its history and its development potential

Purcell created the vision document for Hafod Morfa Copper Works within the Lower Swansea Valley as the first phase of a much wider masterplan focusing on this 12-acre site which has been derelict since the 1970s. Founded in 1810 Hafod was for decades the world’s largest copper works employing over 1000 people. Our study involved investigating the creative reuse of a collection of Grade II listed industrial buildings including the Powerhouse, Laboratory, Engine and Locomotive sheds.

The challenge was balancing economic viability with finding sustainable new uses for both the site and the listed buildings. Our solution was to create affordable housing, a Riverside Street development of premium housing, a secluded site for new homes and a new mixed-use development.

Tamworth Town Centre, Staffordshire

Rescuing a historic town centre

As part of the Future High Streets Fund, Tamworth Town Centre’s regeneration promises to deliver transformational change through diverse uses. Purcell developed a masterplan as part of a wider multi- disciplinary team’s work, to regenerate the town’s vibrancy and future sustainability. The town centre currently has a failing retail market. Our masterplan focuses on under-performing sites and proposes a combination of adaptive re-use of the existing buildings with selective demolition and rebuilding. Our masterplan contributed to Tamworth Borough Council’s recent award of £21.65m from the Future High Streets Fund which will be used to deliver the biggest transformation to Tamworth town centre in a generation.

Burderop Park, Swindon

Creating a sympathetic residential development in the grounds of an historic manor house

This Grade II* listed manor house sits on the edge of the Marlborough Downs within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For many years it provided workplace for the American engineering group CH2M. Bought by a developer, we developed a masterplan for a new 54 house residential development.

Our design comprised clusters of buildings which created small squares with their own unique character and identity. The landscape is integral to this, knitting together the different character areas across the site, through which pedestrian routes are created.

RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

Transformation an operational RAF base into a world-class aviation visitor experience

Our masterplan for RAF Scampton envisaged the transformation of this historic airfield into a world-class aviation visitor experience. Purcell worked closely with Focus Consultants, the County Council and key stakeholders to develp a detailed understanding of the historic buildings and the key historic events of the base.

The masterplan developed options including whether an enhanced aviation heritage attraction and aviation centre of excellence could be created at RAF Scampton whilst it continued to be an important operational RAF base and fulfil its potential as a valuable cultural, historic and economic asset for the local area.

Sacrewell Watermill, Peterborough

Rejuvenation of the Watermill and its site into a local learning centre

The Grade II* listed Watermill, Mill House and bakery date from the 18th century and form part of Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre. Purcell led the National Lottery Heritage Fund restoration of the Watermill and the rejuvenation of the site as a learning centre and local attraction.

Key elements of this project included a visitor route through the Mill and Mill House and to provide residential accommodation for millwright training courses and office accommodation to support the operation of the mill. A new hydro-electric wheel turbine was also installed within the redundant northern wheel pit which created on-site energy generation for the site.