Gort Beag, Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island is Northern Ireland's only inhabited off shore community. An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is an exceptional environment, where the frequent aftermath of the unforgiving storms from the Atlantic Ocean, twinned with strict environmental protection, has meant that a respectful Architectural response was key, to enable the provision of these 10 new social homes to blend seamlessly into this close knit and forward thinking Island community.

Architectural forms and construction techniques that the people of Rathlin had employed for generations to mitigate the effects of the sometimes hurricane like conditions, wind skews, roughcast lime render & limestone walling to demarcate the ownership of their lands were used.

Sustainability and Energy Conservation were key elements of the proposals. Measures were taken within the fabric of the build to provide Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 accredited status without the need for complex renewable technologies.

This project has been awarded the CEF Environmental Sustainability Award and was shortlisted for the CEF Social Housing equivalent. 

The enthusiastic multidisciplinary team allows our scope of services to range from private dwellings through to industrial business parks. An open plan office layout boosts creativity whilst providing an integrated design approach to ensure that the client receives the best possible outcome and service. With Chartered Architects and Chartered Architectural Technologists our architectural services include but are not limited to:

Residential development planning
Statutory approvals
Procurement
Construction management
Historic buildings consent
Site selection & appraisal
Feasibility studies
Major & cyclical works programmes
Contract management
Design & build delivery
Social housing
New build
Major & Cyclical works
External work
Condition surveys

The Practice has extensive experience in a wide range of scenarios providing not only an aesthetic appearance but also achieving any necessary BREEAM credits or similar sustainability criteria. The team competently provides services for:

Bespoke private gardens
Public town paths & parks
Historic & costal landscaping
Golf courses, sports facilities & children’s play areas
Landscape & visual impact assessment
Expert witness for planning appeals/public enquiries
University campuses
Parking & access arrangements
Caravan & holiday parks, marinas
Planting schedules, management & maintenance plans
Minerals, landfill and restoration.

The Practice has extensive expertise and exceptional experience in all areas of planning practice including:

Planning Appraisals & Site Feasibility
Planning Applications
Enforcement, provision of advice on regularising unauthorised development
Planning Appeals, Public Inquires and Area Plan. Preparation of written evidence and oral presentation at Appeals and Inquiries
Expert witness and licensing for legal hearings, appeals and public inquiries
Environmental impact assessment
Retail impact assessments
Renewable energy proposals including wind turbines, photovoltaics, etc
Brown field redevelopment & consideration of land contamination
Urban realm and regeneration
Strategic planning and master planning – for the co-ordinated and comprehensive development of large scale sites for residential,commercial and mixed-use developments

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