Saunders Boston Architects (SBA) worked in conjunction with the local authority and the main contractor on this mixed-use, mixed tenure brownfield development of affordable housing, community facilities and church development. Located in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, the scheme falls under the remit of Greater London Housing.
SBA worked on the project for RIBA stages 3+ through to project completion.
The accommodation comprises 50 one to three bedroom flats, 9 three bedroom townhouses, a landscaped community courtyard, fitness centre, children’s centre, cafe, CofE chapel and multi-purpose community hall.
The scheme re-develops a previously under-used a site which was occupied by a church and an area of poor quality open space.
The buildings are designed as three blocks: houses: flats with undercroft parking and church / community spaces with flats over.
The terrace of houses are built with a traditional masonry construction, whereas the flat blocks are constructed using an MMC timber frame construction over reinforced concrete ground floor and first floor podium slabs.
SBA acted as lead-consultant co-ordinating all other disciplines. Regular Design Team Meetings with the Employers Agent ensured that the project remained on budget.
The scheme was designed and constructed to meet London Design Guide requirements and achieves BREEAM rating of Very Good and level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Marks Gate provides much needed Affordable Housing within Romford and its mixed use facilities provide a real community asset.
Key Services carried out by SBA:
- Scheme re-design
- Full Technical delivery
- Multi-stakeholder involvement