FEA have recently submitted the third in a series of applications for new works for various hospices across the East Midlands, building on our previous portfolio of work in this specialism. Dove Cottage Day Hospice is located in open countryside in the Vale of Belvoir. FEA have designed an extension to the existing facilities to create a garden room, three treatment rooms and assisted bathroom, plus some re-configuration of the current building. The scheme is intended to complement the atmosphere of the existing hospice, which occupies converted farm buildings, and the wonderful rural setting. In contrast, St. Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice is planning to create a ‘hospice within a hospital’ at Grantham, in partnership with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The accommodation comprises six in-patient beds plus facilities for relatives and clinical staff. The unit aims to combine the best of hospice expertise in palliative care with access to the hospital’s medical facilities and support services. Although the hospice will be located within the fabric of Grantham and District Hospital, the unit will be stand-alone and aims to create a distinctive, welcoming and hopeful atmosphere for patients and relatives. FEA have had a long association with the Nottinghamshire Hospice, having completed the day room in 2008 and the palliative care unit and dining facilities in 2010. Phase 3 comprises the redesign of the gardens, restoring the original rock and water gardens (associated with the Victorian house), installing a new platform lift and creating additional gardens that will be fully accessible to patients and carers. With the assistance of FEA, all three schemes have been submitted for funding under the Department of Health Capital Grants Programme 2012 – funding decisions are expected at the end of March 2013.

FE have assisted Toot Hill School in gaining detailed planning approval for a new teaching block to meet the needs of their growing school population.

The building is to be located on vacant land to the east of the main teaching block adjacent to the existing tennis courts. It is predominantly 2 storeys in scale with a small single storey element to the north west corner.

The scheme has been submitted to the EFA Academies Capital Maintenance Fund 2013-14 and FE have assisted the school in compiling their bid. The school has been designed in line with the current government school blueprint designs and will be on site in August should funding be successful.

Franklin Ellis have just obtained planning consent for a new junior school for Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire.

Franklin Ellis Architects have gained planning approval for the rebuilding of Farnborough School Technology College, Clifton, Nottingham.  Carillion Building anticipate starting on site in July 2012.  The project, which is a PFI scheme, will be maintained by Carillion FM.

Maxon, creators of high end visualisation and animation software, have featured Franklin Ellis Architects in their latest News and Customer Stories section.  Maxon are well known globally for the use of their software cinema 4D in the production of Hollywood Blockbusters such as Spiderman 3, The Polar Express and Inception.

Franklin Ellis have been praised for their recent work undertaken on the marketing animation for Repton School.  The article explains how Franklin Ellis use 3d visualisation at the heart of their design process from initial conception through planning, and onto working drawings and marketing information.  The article can be viewed by clicking here.

The completed animation is also available to view on Maxon’s YouTube channel where it has received over 5,500 views so far. Click here to view.

Browns Bar Brasserie opens on Thursday 2nd February following the conversion of the former Solicitor’s offices in Park Row by Robec Properties.  Franklin Ellis were responsible for the planning and listed building consents for the project.

Franklin Ellis Architects have secured a planning approval for Nottingham Girls Academy. This is the second Academy that Franklin Ellis have designed for Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust (GDFT). It is understood that Carillion will commence construction on site in March 2012.

Franklin Ellis have submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the former Manning School in Aspley, Nottingham. The school has become an Academy and is operated by Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust (GDFT).  Working closely with Barry Day and his team at GDFT this will be the second Academy that Franklin Ellis have designed for the Trust.  The scheme involves the demolition of a large 1950′s building and the creation of around 4000 sq m of new teaching accommodation as well as a refurbishment of existing buildings.  The Academy will accommodate 750 pupils aged 11-16 and 150 post 16 students.  A new hard surfaced sports court, car parking and external works complete the works to the site.  A planning decision is anticipated in January 2012.

Franklin Ellis have submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Farnborough School in Clifton, Nottingham.  The school has specialist technology status and will incorporate a STEM teaching facility.  The project which is a PFI scheme involves the demolition of all the existing school buildings on the site apart from the sports hall and Year 7 base and the creation of around 7000 sq m of new teaching accommodation with associated outdoor learning areas.  The school will accommodate 1050 pupils aged 11-16.  New sports facilities include grass pitches and a large astro turf area with car parking, landscaping and outdoor play areas completing the scheme.  A planning decision is anticipated in February 2012.

Franklin Ellis have submitted an application for the regeneration of a 0.4ha site in the Old Market area of Bristol.  The proposal for Sowden Group includes 4 new shopfront units, with 42 apartments and 6 townhouses.  The run down site has been disused for many years and the proposals have been backed by the local community and local businesses.

Michael Barnes, Chairman of the adjacent Gardiner Haskins Homecentre said “This particular area has been an eyesore for many years and its development is long overdue”.  The three and four storey development lies within a Conservation Area and is designed to meld with the local streetscape.  A decision from the Planning Authority is expected in the Spring.