Firstplan advise HG Construction on a range of planning matters for the redevelopment of the former Hammersmith Magistrates Court. This scheme will deliver a part 10, part 5 storey building to offer 400 hotel rooms with impressive public realm facilities and enhanced landscaping.
Firstplan have played a crucial role in leading negotiations with the Council to facilitate construction works onsite and have co-ordinated a specialist consultant team in securing approvals for detailed design elements of this major project.
Firstplan advised on the planning strategy to enable Brownsea Castle to host general public events and functions, including overnight stays and weddings. Brownsea Castle, a Grade II listed building constructed by Henry VIII in the 1540s, is a National Trust property located on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. Since the 1960s, the castle has operated as a private hotel run by the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) for its Partners’ exclusive use. Working closely with JLP’s operations team, Firstplan led on pre-application negotiations with Dorset Council which successfully resulted in a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use being issued under Section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). Now, the general public is able to enjoy the spectacular historic setting of Brownsea Castle for their special occasions.
Firstplan are instructed by Cheyne Capital to provide planning advice for the redevelopment of the Taxi House site along the Grand Union Canal. The development will deliver 332 hotel rooms across 12 storeys along with flexible working spaces, retail, leisure facilities and replacement Westminster City Council cleaning infrastructure.
Firstplan’s ongoing involvement includes leading negotiations with the Council to enable works on site to commence on time, as well as co-ordinating technical consultant teams, preparing robust planning statements, managing pre-applications, amendment applications and discharging conditions and S106 obligations.
Everyman is an independent Cinema operator with numerous sites across the UK. As retained planning consultants, Firstplan provide planning advice in respect of Everyman’s existing portfolio as well as securing planning permission for the development of new sites nationwide. This includes Everyman’s recent acquisition of four former Odeon cinemas, in Barnet, Esher, Gerrards Cross and the magnificent Grade II* listed art deco cinema in Muswell Hill.
With our extensive experience within the restaurant sector, Firstplan has also recently secured permission for Everyman’s new Spielburger Restaurant in Hampstead, with a second restaurant to follow in Barnet.
Firstplan has worked on behalf of event organisers and venues to secure planning permission and lawful development certificates for largescale music festivals and family events at Crystal Palace Park and Gunnersbury Park.
The projects have included Lightopia London at Crystal Palace in 2021 and 2022, and Dino Kingdom and a series of live music events at Gunnersbury Park in 2022.
The instructions included the coordination of robust planning applications for these temporary events, which have included up to 20,000 daily guests.
The application sites are set within the sensitive grounds of listed parks, which include various heritage and environmental assets. The applications required extensive negotiations with the local planning authority, environmental health and transport teams, and Transport for London.
The events are a vital source of income, which secure the long term upkeep of these parks and reinforce their function as places for outdoor leisure and recreation.
Firstplan secured planning permission for Orbit Beers to expand its micro-brewery in Walworth and create an on-site taproom and beer garden.
Firstplan led negotiations with London Borough of Southwark Council, including a pre-application advice request and an application for the expansion of the brewery and change of use part of the site from industrial (Class B2) to bar (Class A4) land use.
The taproom and beer garden now provides a space for Orbit Beers to showcase the beers brewed on site, and a fantastic venue for the local community.
Firstplan’s instruction also included the preparation of an Operational Management Plan for the taproom and beer garden to ensure that this would not be disturbing to the surrounding area.
Firstplan has further secured planning permission for Orbit Beers for commercial plant equipment associated with its brewing operations.
Firstplan advise The Collective on a range of planning matters for their Co-Living developments across London. The schemes deliver some 200-300 rooms for Co-Living/hotel accommodation, co-working employment space, café/restaurants, leisure facilities and community spaces.
Firstplan play a crucial role to facilitate The Collective’s expansion in the UK and are responsible for leading negotiations with the Council to enable works on site to commence.
Instructions also involve the co-ordination of specialist consultant teams, preparing robust planning statements, submission of applications and managing S106 obligations.
The Gym Group, trading as The Gym, is an experienced operator specialising in providing affordable, high-spec 24 hour gyms, with flexible membership options. Firstplan were instructed to obtain planning permission for change of use from Class A1-A5 to Class D2, together with shopfront alterations, at a ground floor unit with five floors of residential use above.
Firstplan secured planning permission after successfully negotiating with local authority officers to overcome objections raised in respect to parking, noise and vibration. Planning and advertisement consent was also successfully obtained for a scheme of illuminated signage and air-conditioning units to allow The Gym Group to begin operating from the unit.
Firstplan successfully achieved Planning and Listed Building Consent for the redevelopment of the former Steels Lane Health Centre, parts of which are Grade II Listed, to deliver a 101-bed boutique hotel. The prominent site fronts Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets and comprises various buildings which originally would have been three separate town houses, a former Church Training College, Chapel and mews buildings which sit around a small courtyard.
Steels Lane Health Centre was previously an NHS facility which provided various healthcare services, training and nurses accommodation. However, given the age of the buildings and accessibility issues the site became surplus to all NHS requirements and available for redevelopment.
Firstplan have been involved from project inception, with our role including leading comprehensive pre-application discussions with Tower Hamlets planning and conversation officers followed by preparing and managing a Full Planning and Listed Building Consent Application seeking permission for the change of use, extension and internal alterations to the existing building to revitalise the vacant site.
Key to the process was the conservation led design approach which proposed the reinstatement of the plan form of the terrace houses, the removal of the central corridor at all levels and the party walls re-established. Firstplan led negotiations with the planning, conservation and highways officers to ensure the scheme sensitively redeveloped the buildings whilst also securing the necessary consents to allow a modern hotel business to operate from the site.
Firstplan secured all necessary planning, listed building and advertisement consents to allow part of the Grade II* listed former Brewhouse associated with the Youngs (Ram) Brewery Complex, to be occupied by Strike Bowling – a premium boutique bowling venue, including traditional bowling, duckpin bowling, electronic darts and shuffleboard under one roof.
The 19th Century Brewhouse has undergone extensive renovation and conversion in recent years as part of the Ram Quarter redevelopment. The building sits in a prominent position within Wandsworth Town Centre with its striking yellow brick elevations fronting onto both Wandsworth High Street and a new public square. With the principle of the proposed use already established, Firstplan obtained consent for internal fit out works to the ground and first floor of the building including a new bowling alley and games areas, restaurant seating and back of house uses as well as minor external works, plant and signage.