A development which occupies approximately 1.55 acres (0.63 hectares) and comprises a Morrison’s supermarket (c.30,000sqft) and 115 surface car parking spaces. The scheme comprises residential and retail development including two blocks with single storey basement. The tallest tower is 11 storeys high.

With the supermarket located on the ground floor a transfer structure was required at 1st floor as the structural grid for the residential units could not align with the structural grid required by Morrisons.

At RIBA stage 2 we undertook a detailed options appraisal looking at different construction techniques for the residential units, these included traditional reinforced concrete, post tensioned concrete, lightweight steel framing and modular construction.

The modular option comprised of steel pods which could come to site with bathrooms installed. The modular pod option did result in an increased overall height but allowed for a thinner transfer slab due to their lightweight construction. The client preferred the modular option and asked us to design the transfer structure to accommodate a future storey.

The future storey can be constructed using the same steel pods overnight when the supermarket was not open, this approach allowed the client the flexibility to increase the density of the scheme without inconveniencing the supermarket.

A development which occupies approximately 1.55 acres (0.63 hectares) and comprises a Morrison’s supermarket (c.30,000sqft) and 115 surface car parking spaces. The scheme comprises residential and retail development including two blocks with single storey basement. The tallest tower is 11 storeys high.

With the supermarket located on the ground floor a transfer structure was required at 1st floor as the structural grid for the residential units could not align with the structural grid required by Morrisons.

At RIBA stage 2 we undertook a detailed options appraisal looking at different construction techniques for the residential units, these included traditional reinforced concrete, post tensioned concrete, lightweight steel framing and modular construction.

The modular option comprised of steel pods which could come to site with bathrooms installed. The modular pod option did result in an increased overall height but allowed for a thinner transfer slab due to their lightweight construction. The client preferred the modular option and asked us to design the transfer structure to accommodate a future storey.

The future storey can be constructed using the same steel pods overnight when the supermarket was not open, this approach allowed the client the flexibility to increase the density of the scheme without inconveniencing the supermarket.