Westonbirt

Masterplan

Westonbirt

Masterplan

Project Information

Location

: Westonbirt, Gloucestershire

Client

: Westonbirt Schools

Status

: Planning

Key Materials

: Grade 1 Listed Buildings and Parkland

Collaborators

: Greenhalgh Landscape Architects
More info
Westonbirt Schools ( Pre prep, prep and Senior) had recently become coeducational and were undergoing rapid expansion, whilst at the same time trying to predict the future balance between day and boarding education. The existing facilities were in some areas completely inadequate to meet modern expectations, and had lacked long term investment for many years. Westonbirt House and the Grounds are both Grade 1 listed. Designscape Architects were commissioned in 2020 alongside Greenhalgh Landscape Architects to develop a 10 year masterplan for Westonbirt Schools. Working through a series of options in a collaborative process with Historic England and the Local Planning Authority, we developed a masterplan which included the provision of new sports facilities, – including a full size, floodlit Astro hockey pitch – new teaching spaces and dining facilities. The whole plan included a rethink and expansion of the parking on the site, and a comprehensive pedestrian circulation and wayfinding strategy, which presented the possibility of significant “heritage gains”. We also devised a strategy to consign the old oil fired boiler systems to history, and move towards a renewable energy strategy for all the buildings.

Westonbirt School employed Designscape Architects to complete a site master plan and obtain feedback from both Historic England and Cotswold District Council through an extended consultation process. Their appointment followed a rigorous, two stage tender process, and was made on the basis of a range of factors including: understanding of the brief, the strength of the team and its experience with historic buildings, the level of inspiration provided and feasibility of proposals. They managed a range of school and external stakeholders with aplomb, and using technology, worked through the operational difficulties presented by the Coronavirus outbreak to find solutions and keep the design process moving.

Mark Dingle – Commercial Director Wishford Schools

Scrapbook

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Westonbirt Schools ( Pre prep, prep and Senior) had recently become coeducational and were undergoing rapid expansion, whilst at the same time trying to predict the future balance between day and boarding education. The existing facilities were in some areas completely inadequate to meet modern expectations, and had lacked long term investment for many years. Westonbirt House and the Grounds are both Grade 1 listed. Designscape Architects were commissioned in 2020 alongside Greenhalgh Landscape Architects to develop a 10 year masterplan for Westonbirt Schools. Working through a series of options in a collaborative process with Historic England and the Local Planning Authority, we developed a masterplan which included the provision of new sports facilities, – including a full size, floodlit Astro hockey pitch – new teaching spaces and dining facilities. The whole plan included a rethink and expansion of the parking on the site, and a comprehensive pedestrian circulation and wayfinding strategy, which presented the possibility of significant “heritage gains”. We also devised a strategy to consign the old oil fired boiler systems to history, and move towards a renewable energy strategy for all the buildings.