Architects chalk up another project to transform site

The plans involve a new building stepping up to three storeys on the site of a disused industrial unit to the rear of Orient House, a building on Kettering Road near Abington Square. The proposed new building will provide five student flats each with five to six beds, creating a total of 28 beds in this sustainable town centre location.

Additionally, the ground floor area of the retained Orient House building will be refurbished to provide two retail units on Kettering Road.

GSS are working alongside Dishley 101 Ltd, who are the developers responsible for the new scheme. Dishley 101 director Danny Innes said: “It is fantastic news that the project has secured planning permission and we are excited to see GSS’ plans come to fruition. It’s always great to have the opportunity to redevelop a disused site in an important town centre location, creating something that is going to bring significant benefit for the town.”

Whilst Orient House is not a listed building, it sits within the Boot & Shoe Conservation Area, between the Unitarian Chapel and War Memorial, which are both listed. The designs developed by GSSArchitecture have been carefully developed, considering suitability of materials and overall appearance within this

Leading architects GSSArchitecture have achieved planning permission for a new student accommodation building in Northampton town centre.

The proposed new building will provide five student flats each with five to six beds, creating a total of 28 beds in this sustainable town centre location. conservation area. GSSArchitecture have vast experience designing student accommodation, in addition to having a specialist heritage team with experience of working on conservation projects and listed buildings. This makes them well positioned to design the extension and redevelopment of Orient House, on this important and sensitive town centre location.

Tom Jagger, associate and architect leading the project at GSSArchitecture, said: “We are delighted to be working on another exciting project, which continues GSS’ long history of Northampton town centre regeneration schemes. Bringing students closer to the town centre will position them closer to amenities, with the added benefit of helping to increase footfall on the high street.

It has been great working with Danny Innes at Dishley 101 Ltd, and Adrian Clubbe at Whites Estate Agents and with planning approval now granted, we can look forward to the project progressing further.”

To keep up to date with the progress of this project and others that GSSArchitecture are currently working on, or for details on how to get in touch to discuss your upcoming project, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com

Independent firms join forces to deliver high standards for homes

A house builder has joined forces with an electrical, plumbing and heating company to deliver firstclass mechanical installation services on all of its new build developments.

RK Electrical Mechanical Services, based in Desborough, will be the sole provider of mechanical services at hundreds of new properties under the partnership with Snowdon Homes.

Its work will include the installation of all plumbing and heating components including pipework for supplies, sanitaryware and heating. RK Mechanical supervisor Simon Chambers will take on a new role as mechanical contracts to oversee the new contracts and support the head of mechanical new build developments, Graham Beale.

Snowdon Homes construction director Glyn Pepper said: “This strategic new partnership has been formed because our unique housebuilding solution fits perfectly with RK’s offering. One of our core values, which we believe makes us stand out from the rest, is our attention to detail and it is of upmost importance to us to work with like-minded companies who share our vision for success.”

RK’s business development manager Kye Bishop said: “We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with Snowdon Homes on their new-build properties which in hand opens up some exciting possibilities internally for our staff, as well

Kye Bishop: “We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with Snowdon Homes on their new-build properties which in hand opens up some exciting possibilities internally for our staff, as well as the possibility of creating job opportunities.”

as the possibility of creating job opportunities. We are convinced that the partnership will also bring to us the added value of collaborative working where two companies complement each other extremely well.”

Snowdon Homes is a privately-owned housebuilding and development company based in Higham Ferrers that specialises in planning, designing and building residential development sites and affordable housing projects across the heart of England in conjunction with Housing Association partners. RK Electrical Mechanical services is an award-winning employer based in Desborough which specialises in providing high-quality electrical, plumbing and heating services over a number of industry sectors, including housing developments, social housing sites and industrial, commercial and domestic properties.

RK are currently recruiting for a number of roles. To find our more contact Kye Bishop 01536 601900 or email: kye@ rkelec.co.uk.

Awards triumph for leading property agent

CoStar Group, the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces, has announced the recipients of this year’s CoStar Awards, recognising the UK’s most active commercial real estate agencies for their cumulative deals across calendar year 2020.

Prop-Search, which has Northamptonshire offices in Wellingborough and Northampton, has picked up the award for the Most Active Disposal Agent of offices in county, based on the number of deals completed during 2020.

This included the letting of 6,000 sq. ft. of prestigious offices at The Lakes in Northampton, as well as 5,615 sq. ft. on behalf of East Northamptonshire Council in Thrapston and the sale of a 4,858 sq. ft. office building on Park Farm in Wellingborough.

Prop-Search has also secured impressive results in the Estates Gazette 2020 East Midlands Awards. Having previously won EGi awards as Deal Maker and Most Active Agent 12 times previously, the company was ranked in third place in the office sector, and fourth place in the retail and industrial sectors.

Simon Toseland, a director of Prop-Search, said: “In a year when we have been forced to adapt to entirely new ways of working and occupier demand radically changing, we are delighted with these achievements.”

He added: “It is really fantastic to see the hard work of the Prop-Search team being acknowledged. This is a testament to the team’s dedication and hard work towards securing disposals of all sizes across the region.”

The CoStar Awards recognise and celebrate the performance of the UK’s top commercial property professionals and Estate Gazette is acknowledged as the trusted source of real estate intelligence.