Royal Oak Apartments Practically Completed 2023
Royal Oak Apartments Practically Complete 2023 development is located within the Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, a designated conservation area, with frontage onto a prominent town centre corner, Breck Road and Station Road. Creating a contemporary landmark building for the area.
The proposal is for a newly built three story apartment development consisting of 16 self-contained 1 and 2-bedroom luxury apartments including several duplexes.
The construction methods comprised of deep mass foundations, steel frame construction, masonry cavity wall infill panels for the facade and internal party walls, shelf angled hollow core concrete floors and timber vaulted roof. The external materials used are a combination of red facing brickwork with then feature jumbled dark brickwork panels and stone cladding with a slate roof covering.
Royal Oak Apartments Practically Complete 2023 is inspired by Victorian architecture with a modern twist. The development includes pitched roofs, protruding bay windows clad with copper or aluminium.
Large, glazed futures have been used to enhance the visual impact of front and side elevations and maximise the natural light into all the apartments.
Internally the 16 luxury apartments have been tastefully furnished, with attention to detail, modern colours, bespoke kitchen designs with top of the range siemens integrated appliances, designer lighting and high-quality accessories, perfect for those looking for functional and high standard accommodation.
The stylish apartments meet national living room size standards and can comfortably accommodate up to 4 residents. The apartments have underfloor heating throughout, mechanical heat recovery and ventilation maximising the comfort levels for the end user including a state-of-the-art lighting system and high-speed WIFI internet.
The design is characterised by a fluid chromatic sequence through rigorous use of materials, such as bare brick walls, concrete finished floors and dark kitchens in contrast with the light elements.
Each room is complemented with floor-to-ceiling windows and will provide a modern and authentic lifestyle. Click the link for further picture during the construction phase: https://cartersbc.co.uk/portfolio/royal-oak-apartments/.
The site had been vacant for several years and in need of development. It formerly housed Royal Oak and its associated car park. The Royal Oak was a former public house/hotel that was built in the early 1840s at the time of Poulton’s first railway station on the opposite side of Station Road and has historically been used for various functions such as inquests and sales of livestock from local farms.
When the site was cleared from the former Royal Oak public house the site became a prime opportunity to significantly improve the area providing a high-quality building. Providing another landmark development for Poulton-le-Fylde conservation area along with Breck Point Townhouses on the same road recently designed by Carters which was also shortlisted at the Northern Design Awards in 2022.
Carters are behind the contemporary project providing detailed designs, technical construction drawings, tendered the works, contractor appointment, contract administration and project management during the construction phase. Using the latest BIM software technique to innovatively collaborate with key designers for the steel frame, M&E, hollow core floors and even down to the final finish items such as the kitchen where we were able to use the 3d model to make sure there were no clashes improve design quality, enhance collaboration using a central model made the construction phase run smoother and end product with a quality well thought through development. We have built up a reputation for high-spec modern designs with the internal layouts being influenced by city centre design with high-end finishes.
Phil Slater, local businessman, and Harry Carter Director, of Carters Building Consultancy, started the journey six years ago in 2018, on behalf of the new owner to establish the development’s potential and agree on a purchase of the site which took over 12 months to complete.
After long negotiations, with Phil Slater being the main driver for this development, the site was subsequently purchased by Amex Estates in August 2019.
Due to the complexities of the site, namely due to the site being right up to the highway which caused very complex road closures and challenges for deliveries and method of construction. We also encountered additional challenges for the development from COVID disruptions. We started on site November 2021 and the building has successfully completed in March 2023.
There were numerous challenges to overcome such as material prices soaring during a very volatile period due to the covid pandemic and local lock downs and shortage of materials. An example the steel frame which was used for the superstructure at the time was very volatile when we were ready to place an order and prices for the steel frame fluctuated £93K in one day! Issues like this were overcome by a fantastic team on board and certain areas had been valued engineered to maintain the client’s budget. Such as changing the proposed feature zinc panels to a jumbled feature brickwork panel which now completed, we believe enhanced and benefited the appearance.
The development has been designed with an elevated level of sustainability in mind and will feature many renewable features including:
– Highly insulated with a fabric first approach far passing the minimum U-Values requirements for the floors, walls, windows, and roof.
– Thermal bridge free design
– Airtight construction
– Heat recovery ventilation
– Energy-efficient boilers and appliances throughout with smart meters.
– Highly insulating windows
– Innovative building services
Sustainable drainage system
All accompanied by enhanced thermal efficiency of the building’s external fabric using the latest construction techniques. The sustainability energy efficiency factors proposed will play a key role in the UK’s efforts to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The building is now practically completed and, on the market, pushing the market prices for a 1 bed apartment at 180K and 2 bed duplexes starting from 310K. The air tightness and sound tests came back to the highest standards the surveyor has seen which was a fantastic result for the development. The EPC rating has achieved an energy efficiency rating of B, for each apartment scoring 85. (only 6 points away from an A rating). The environmental impact (CO2) rating also achieved a fantastic sore of B (86) only 5 points away form an A.
Development by:
Amex Estates LTD
Project Team
Main Contractor – Fylde Joinery Building Services
Architects & Project Managers – Carters Building Consultancy
Structural & Civil Engineers – Hermolle Associates
Building Service Engineers – Gilmore + Stones Associates
Building Services Contractor – West Lancashire Group
Cost Managers – Saunders Quantity Surveyors
Fire Safty Consultancy – FSEC
Marketing and Graphic Design – Studio LWD
Landscaping Design – ReLanscape
As you will see from the finished photograph the development sits well within it surroundings and the client and community all have commended how fantastic the development looks now completed. The layouts and intelligent integration of the M&E has set the benchmark for feature apartments in the area and further afield. Demonstrating high levels of user satisfaction and comfort; deliver outstanding building performance alongside exceptional interiors.
