Barnes Halls of Residence & Hawthorns Development A world - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• A world class university requires world class facilities
• Our predicted student numbers are likely to increase by 20% and

thus the need for high quality sustainable accommodation also increases

• It is proposed 2 new Barnes Halls of Residence are built to replace

the Hawthorns Halls

• Barnes Halls will be en-suite in response to student demand
• Hawthorns Halls are now technically and financially impractical to

refurbish

• Investment has been made to Hawthorns but they are now nearing

the end of their practical lifespan

Barnes Halls of Residence & Hawthorns Development

• 2 student accommodation blocks
• Circa. 453 student bedrooms
• 6 – 8 bedroom clusters with shared kitchen and social space
• Laundrette and management hub facilities
• Blocks will be lower than the Innovation Centre buildings
• Block 1 - a mix of 3 & 4 storeys
• Block 2 - 4 storeys
• Car Parking

What are we proposing to build?

Where will the new halls be built?

What will they look like?

Block 2: Block 1:

What will the rooms look like?

NB: Precise colours & finishes may change. Photograph is representational only.

To enable us to build the Halls of Residence we have to release the Hawthorns site to our developer partner (Seddons) so they can build houses for sale on the open market. Keele University will not own the Hawthorns site once it’s been fully developed.

• There have been numerous iterations of the scheme. The previous

version was recently rejected because of key concerns relating to the Hawthorns conservation area.

• There are no concerns relating to the proposed accommodation at

Barnes Halls. This part of the proposal remains the same.

• Feedback is being invited in relation to a revised Hawthorns layout

which has been drafted to address key concerns regarding the conservation area.

• Feedback will inform the development of a final scheme.

What is happening now?

• Low density development – the recently rejected scheme proposed 92 dwellings.
• The current draft layout has less development.
• Hawthorns House, The Villa and the Barn will be retained.
• Maximum retention of trees & existing green spaces.
• Provision of a School ‘drop off’ zone with parking. Clearly defined pedestrian routes.
• Possible shop location.
• Layout design takes reference from clustering of Keele Village properties. Elevation design

takes reference from Keele Village properties.

Hawthorns Proposal

Existing & Proposed Hawthorns Development

Current Site Layout Recently Rejected Layout Draft Proposal issued mid-September 2015 to invite feedback

Hawthorns Proposal: How Did the mid-September 2015 layout address the Planning Inspectors key concerns?

Key Concern: Mid-September 2015 layout response:

a) The loss of a part of an important area of greenspace to the front of Hawthorns House. The greenspace was re-instated. b) Loss of trees, particularly within the Conservation Area. Trees within the Conservation Area were re-evaluated for retention and worked into the scheme with significantly more numbers to be retained together with improved allowances of the root protection zones and for future growth potential. c) Harm to the setting of Hawthorns House and consequential diminution of the contribution that this property has to the significance of the Conservation Area. Any perceived harm was significantly reduced by the proposed responses identified above, including less houses, re-aligned roads & retention of trees.

Hawthorns Proposal: 7th October 2015

Updated to reflect feedback received since Mid-September 2015:

Hawthorns Proposal 7th October 2015:

What are the proposed improvements compared to the Mid-September 2015 layout?

Improvements to the Setting of Hawthorns House:

• Reconfigured layout at the southern aspect
• f the Conservation Area.
• Larger Garden for Hawthorns House.
• Creation of public open space and retention
• f important trees to the North.
• Retention of access routes in the

conservation area – but converted for pedestrian use only.

• Careful selection of boundary treatments.

Improvements to house styles and design:

• More effective use of existing buildings to

improve the mixture of house sizes and types.

• More flats in Hawthorns House.
• Conversion of the Barn in to a dwelling.
• Introduction of Kellbrook house type –

adding variety to the street scene.

• Proposed road surface treatments to

improve the site aesthetics.

• Sustainable design - high performing

building insulation will reduce energy bills and Carbon emissions. Revised proposal will provide more trees – more than the site currently contains:

• Layout tweaks maximize the retention of

high quality mature trees.

• Most notable improvement is around the

Northern aspect of the site accessed from Quarry Bank.

• Fewer trees to be removed.
• Increased planting of ‘extra heavy standard’

trees around the entire site. High quality children's play area to be located the ‘Bowl’ with formal pedestrian access. More pedestrian access to and from Quarry Bank Road. Careful selection of boundary treatments across the site. Increased school drop off parking. Increased shop parking. Increased Hawthorns House parking.

• The Barnes accommodation designs will remain

the same.

• The Hawthorns design will be developed using

consultation feedback.

• A planning application will be submitted

thereafter, hopefully before the end of October.

What next?

When will the new Barnes Halls be ready for Students to rent?

• This all depends on the timetable and
• utcome of the planning determination. We

will not commence development of the Hawthorns site until the new Barnes Blocks have been built.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

What will be the rental cost of the Barnes Halls?

• The rental costs will reflect ‘premier, en-suite’

accommodation in the context of alternative campus accommodation.

• Rental market conditions will also be a factor.
• Precise costs will be set when we are in a

position to start taking lettings.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Will this reduce the amount of campus accommodation?

• Once new Halls have been built there will be

c.450 more bedrooms on campus than current.

• As the Hawthorns site is released the amount of

campus bedrooms will start to fall. Looking ahead, the implementation of the future accommodation strategy will identify the numbers of campus bedrooms to be maintained.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Has there been stakeholder consultation for these proposals?

• Yes there has been extensive consultation – over time the designs have

been dramatically altered to accommodate the views of staff, students, Keele Village residents and other key stakeholders.

• Previous design proposals included an additional hall of residence at

Horwood and care home at Hawthorns.

• We’ve also submitted the designs for scrutiny by independent architect

design boards. Where possible we’ve taken on board feedback over the last 6 years.

• Feedback is now being invited to establish a final Hawthorns layout.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Have other proposals been considered for the Hawthorns site?

• The proposals outlined in this presentation represent

the optimal solution for Keele University.

• This follows extensive appraisals of the range of

refurbishment and redevelopment options.

• Various options were assessed in the context of current

building constraints, student experience, budget constraints, timescale constraints, etc.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t it possible to refurbish the Hawthorns Halls?

• It is technically and financially impractical to refurbish the Hawthorns
• Halls. The university has invested as much as it can in to extend the life of

the Hawthorns site but we’re ‘now very near the end of the line’.

• The main issue is the limitations of the building structures and the ratios
• f bathrooms and kitchens.
• We don’t have the funds to demolish & rebuild without a significant

capital injection.

• Equally there is not enough time to procure such a scheme given the

pressure to accommodate more students on campus. The proposals described herein are the only viable solution open to the University.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t it possible to redevelop the Hawthorns Halls?

• It would not be possible to maintain the

number of campus bedrooms.

• Increased building mass would not be

appropriate for the Hawthorns site.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Will Keele University still own the Hawthorns Site?

• The only way we can afford to procure the Barnes

Halls is to release the Hawthorns site to our developer partner (Seddons) so they can build houses for sale on the open market.

• Keele University will not own the Hawthorns site
• nce it’s been fully developed.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

What if the appeal is unsuccessful?

• We can’t afford to refurbish the Hawthorns Halls. Even

if we could identify an alternative viable solution (which there isn’t) we’d be facing a circa 8-10 years lead in period – during which student numbers are predicted to grow by 20%.

• The combination of increased student numbers and

need to implement a phased decommissioning of the Hawthorns Halls would create a massive under supply

• f campus accommodation.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be an opportunity for Students to become involved?

• We will be engaging with the student community to

help develop the detailed designs for the Barnes Halls.

• This will be a real opportunity to have a positive impact
• n future student community.
• We have started engaging with the student community

to shape the future accommodation strategy.