Firstplan acted as planning and heritage consultants for the refurbishment of the splendid Grade II Listed ‘Grand Hotel’ in Bristol’s ‘City and Queen Square Conservation Area’. The building opened in January 1869 as one of Bristol’s finest purpose-built hotels, which is particularly notable for its elaborate Italian Renaissance style and grand function rooms.
Firstplan submitted the necessary listed building consent applications to Bristol City Council and secured consent for the refurbishment of the building’s guest rooms, foyer areas and restaurant.
To support the application Firstplan prepared a detailed heritage impact assessment to justify the works to this listed building.
Credit: Design by Central Design Studio and photography by James Balston.
Revolution Fitness currently operate a highly successful 24 hour fitness club in Malvern. Due to rapid growth in membership and the success of the existing Malvern club, our client wished to expand their business and open a second gym in Worcester. Following an extensive search of suitable properties in the area, a 600sqm office building on the edge of Worcester City Centre was identified as an ideal opportunity.
Firstplan secured planning permission for change of use from office (Class B1) to gymnasium (Class D2). Working to the client’s tight timescale, Firstplan submitted a robust Sequential Assessment and response to County Highway’s to overcome initial policy and parking concerns from the Council, and successfully secured permission within four weeks of submitting the application.
The new gym opened in February 2017.
On the site of a former opencast coal mine, and currently used as a golf course, Birchall Properties plans a unique business and leisure destination to create a major visitor attraction and employer in the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire.
Firstplan handled the planning application for the development – involving 250 woodland lodges; a PGA standard 18 hole golf course with 6 hole practice course, golf academy and driving range, overnight accommodation and an exhibition/conference centre for 2,000 delegates.
Firstplan continue to provide planning advice and assistance to the Revolution Bars Group, who operate the Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba bar brands. Both of these brands operate across the UK and Firstplan have assisted in dealing with planning issues and securing sites from Bournemouth and Brighton to Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Our longstanding relationship with the business has enabled us to develop a detailed understanding of their design, trading and planning requirements. This has assisted us in providing them with quick and accurate advice and assistance, both in securing new sites and developing and expanding existing premises.
Firstplan’s work has involved overcoming the challenges associated with new late-night, Class A4 bar uses in potentially contentious locations, and includes: advising on the feasibility and planning risks of proposed new sites, securing changes of use, dealing with listed building issues and varying planning conditions.
Firstplan work with Radisson Edwardian Hotels on their properties across London including, obtaining consents for extensions, alterations and external seating areas. At the 5* May Fair Hotel Firstplan acted on a scheme to provide an extension fronting Landsdowne Row to provide additional bedroom accommodation as part of a major refurbishment of the hotel. This involved detailed discussions regarding the retention of the theatre space within the hotel.
Firstplan subsequently advised on an extension at ninth floor level to provide additional bar and dining facilities for hotel guests. For this latter scheme, detailed pre-application discussions were the key to achieving a successful result given that there was an informative on the previous consent which advised that the Council were very unlikely to consider future applications for extensions favourably.
Cowshed Spa in Primrose Hill offers indulgent beauty treatments including massages, manicures and facials. There is also a café and retail space selling the full range of Cowshed products.
Firstplan obtained planning permission for change of use from A1 (retail) to a sui generis use (health and beauty, café and retail) ensuring that the bespoke consent met the business’s needs. Firstplan also advised on external alterations to the shopfront, signage and external seating.
Hackney Marshes is famous for Sunday league football with 88 full-size football pitches and over 100 matches played by amateur teams on a typical Sunday.
With the Olympic Park situated in close proximity, the Olympic Games provided Hackney Council with the impetus to upgrade the facilities for playing football at the Marshes.
The changing rooms have won design awards for the architects Stanton Williams, and take into account the sensitive location of the site within Metropolitan Open Land. The two storey building contains changing rooms and community facilities, including a cafe/bar, offices, educational facilities, and a terrace overlooking the pitches.