April & May 2023
Monthly Update
A month of bank holidays, long weekends, and compacted schedules.
The past month of 4-day weeks has not dented Inkpen Downie’s productivity or progress on all of our projects. The month has seen a key planning submission deadline met with the application submitted ahead of schedule for a client with a sensitive Grade 2* listed house. The proposed retrospective application seeks to gain permission for works already completed as well as additional improvements to return the house to its original charm by removing unflattering alterations from the building’s time as a B&B.
This positive progress is compounded by continued forward movement on the new Creative Grow Space in the heart of Colchester City. After extensive excavation (detailed in previous monthly update posts) was completed, the project was put out to tender in April with tenders received from a range of well established contractors in late May. Inkpen Downie will now work with the successful contractor and the entire design team to ensure a quality asset is delivered for the residents of Colchester and further afield.
Planning permission was also received for a small householder addition near Maldon, Essex. The client expressed many thanks for the support throughout the process.
Furthermore, proposals for 3 new barn conversion dwellings near Brentwood, Essex are approaching completion before planning submission as well as a pool house and car garage/showroom for a prominent Georgian house, close to Epping, which have been submitted for pre-application advice. Another of our residential projects also received building regulation approval in May and will subsequently be going out to tender in the following month.
One of the many churches which we act as Architects for is St. Peters, Colchester. The church currently has a new intervention being constructed internally to create a small kitchen/servery space which will enhance the church’s functionality. As can be seen below, the space itself is beginning to take shape, allowing client and Architect alike to start to see the project take form.
