Client
First Property Retail Group
Projex Role
Projex have been able to provide considerable expertise and advice on material issues relating to the proposed conversion of the various commercial buildings. In most instances the conversion has been shown to be a good fit and working closely with M&E and Structural Consultants: Projex have been able to provide a pro-forma report that addresses all of the key issues for consideration/resolution for each building. This has allowed the client to make quick informed decisions on each property from a technical perspective.
Details
Projex have been assisting long-established client FPROP in their acquisition of a number of office developments across the South East for the purpose of converting to residential use. Changes to the Town & Country Planning Order (1995) enacted in May 2013 exempted a number of areas from requiring a change of use to convert offices to residential use subject to a Transport and Highways Impact Assessment and establishing any negative contamination and flooding risks at the site. The change in the legislation is for a limited time only and expires in May 2016.Inspections have been undertaken throughout the South East of England where the current demand for housing makes PDR conversions a more viable proposition. Towns have included Woking, Harrow, Leatherhead, Camberley, Purley, Norbury and Uxbridge. Key conversion considerations that Projex have been able to advise in detail on include:-
- Existing floor to ceiling heights and how these relate to proposals for whole house ventilation.
- Drainage outflows and suitability on capacity and routing.
- Power requirements and proposals for electrically and non-electrically heated flats.
- Conversion of attic space.
- Building Regulations compliance on compartmentation and means of escape.
If you are considering any similar schemes and require further information please contact our Director Paul Brewer – paul.brewer@projex-solutions.com