Plans
Threefold benefits
To make the most of this opportunity, we are putting forward plans for a holistic redesign of both buildings.
We plan to remove both buildings to upgrade the entrance view onto the high street and create new offices for B3Living.
But the new site will offer more than just offices. B3Living is a social business, and we exist to provide homes for people who are priced out of the market. If we use this site to its full potential, we can also do what we’re here to do.
B3Living headquarters and 46 brand new homes, all affordable
16 x homes for rent for people over 55: 9 x one bedroom apartments, 7 x two bedroom apartments
30 x homes for shared ownership sale (part buy/part rent): 8 x one bedroom apartments, 22 x two bedroom apartments
Secure parking and bike storage on site
Secure residential terrace and communal gardens and office amenity space
1
New
homes
Our plans also include more homes for local people.
For people who are getting older and need somewhere close to town that’s been designed with accessibility in mind.
For young couples, who want to escape renting but are priced out of the mortgage market.
We will provide new homes across two blocks each served by their own entrance. On the first floor, there will be a communal terrace that sits over the office provides access between the two buildings if desired.
The apartments will have private balconies. These will be inset if they face onto the street, or projecting outward, for those facing onto the communal terrace.
This allows us to create an open plan office on the ground level, with 46 affordable homes above for local people.
The new site will be served by gated car and pedestrian access to private parking and outdoor spaces, with a communal terrace connecting the two apartment buildings.
Building A
Entrance: Dinant Link Road
Building A will be situated on the lowest point of the site. It will have a naturally lit stairwell, with a lift, serving six flats per floor (30 in total).
The visual of the building will be strong but has been designed not to dominate the 'northern gateway' to the High Street. The top floor steps back along Amwell Street on the south-east and north-west corners to graduate the roof line and allow views of St Catherine and St Paul's Church tower.
Building B
Entrance: Amwell Street
Building B will be accessed from Amwell Street. This building will have a simpler layout, with four flats per floor (16 in total).
This is a prominent site at the entrance to the High Street, and we want to improve the street scene and create an attractive gateway.
The new structure will frame the town centre from the roundabout.
The building will complement the existing street using a brick, chamfer façade, with a line of sight through the open corners.
Currently, there is car park entrance is very close to the roundabout. This will be removed to improve the traffic flow and security of the site. By moving the parking to the rear, we will add new planting along the street front.
New gateway
2
3
New
offices
We’re still committed to the borough and want to keep our office in the heart of our community.
The office will have a main entrance on Amwell Street, with step-free access via a platform lift for visitors with disabilities.
Inside, the space has been designed to maximise daylight from all sides, with the flexibility to customise the final layouts to suit B3Living's needs in the future.
Colleagues can collaborate across an open plan office space, one-to-one stalls, meeting rooms and informal breakout spaces, including an office courtyard for staff to sit out to meet, dine and work.
These plans will keep more than 150 jobs in the Borough and help to support a vibrant high street.