We have developed the masterplan for this challenging site on behalf of Harlaxton Estates in support of a detailed planning application for an exciting, highly sustainable mixed-use development comprising of:

• A petrol filling station and associated retail unit and drive-through
• A cafe/restaurant with ancillary drive-through
• An electric vehicle charging station
• 30,000 square feet of lettable office area
• A 103-bed hotel with associated ancillary facilities

The prominent 4.6-hectare scheme creates a gateway development for the local town and was designed to encompass high-quality materials with simple building forms and carefully considered scale and massing.

The orientation of buildings created avenues and key views across the site with expanses of open space centrally, sheltered by the proposed built forms. The buildings nearest the housing to the west were situated perpendicular to the road to reduce their visual impact. Massing of buildings increased towards the dual carriageway to the east, creating a tiered effect and reducing the impact further. Building forms had traditional roof pitches to integrate with existing adjacent developments and create synergies between the new and old. The requirements of key anchor tenants for the hotel, filling station and drive-through were integrated seamlessly into the overall masterplan.

The materials used in the building envelopes tied the differing structural forms together with clean vertical brickwork and rainscreen lines, breaking up the larger elevations and enhancing the overall aesthetic. Grey tiled roofs of the larger units tie together with the dark grey clad shallow roofs of the smaller units, with centrally glazed elements highlighting the building access points and making navigation effortless.

A sustainable drainage attenuation pond was designed along the southern site boundary and had the capacity to hold up to 1,900 square metres of surface water. It was also enhanced by a feature fountain and a circular walk around the pond for local residents and visitors. Various forms of outdoor seating areas would be provided around the pond, and a footpath link to connect the site locally was introduced to promote sustainable transport and access of the site.