Charlton House, is the global headquarters of Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc, a FTSE 100 company and is one of Cheltenham’s largest employers. It has occupied the site since the 1940s.

Charlton House is a complex site, involving a Grade II listed building and has been extended in the latter half of the 20 Century.

Spirax-Sarco were faced with a dilemma, the modern office extension was reaching the end of its operational life, it was poorly configured and ill-suited to modern working practices.

Given the need for change, the company appointed McLoughlin Planning and Roberts Limbrick Architects along with a multi-disciplinary consultant team to advise on options for redevelopment, to provide a modern, highly energy efficient work-space, fit for the 21 Century.

Working in partnership with Roberts Limbrick Architects we took the company through the various options available in terms of demolition and replacement structures. Refurbishment was out of the question. The fundamental challenge was to balance the need for a modern office space against the need to respect the character and setting of Charlton House. This demanded a creative and bold confident approach.

At an early stage of the project, the company sought to embody its environmental commitments into the project and working with the team, decided on a strategy which would deliver the County’s first ever BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Outstanding’ building, which is a very high bar in terms of measuring its environmental performance. Less than top 1% of new non-domestic buildings in the UK are within the Outstanding category so this is a significant achievement. ‘Outstanding’ building.

The new extension contains open-plan office space, break-out areas, an auditorium, a gym and changing facilities. Securing the renovation of the company’s global headquarters will help to consolidate their position in Cheltenham and will secure existing and attract new high-skilled jobs in the town for years to come.

McLoughlin Planning explained and guided Spirax-Sarco through the planning process, submitting the planning and listed building applications for the redevelopment. We were able to demonstrate that the bold, superior architectural design of the replacement extension clearly outweighed the minor harm that would be caused to the historic fabric of the listed building.

As part of the process, we equally advised the company on concerns raised from local residents which focused on the height of the new five-storey extension and the disturbance that would be caused during the demolition and construction phases of the development. Again, we were able to demonstrate to the Council that the development would not be detrimental to neighbouring residents and the applications were approved by the Council’s Planning Committee only four months after submission.

McLoughlin Planning were appointed by Cameron Homes to assist it in securing reserve matters consent, pursuant to an outline planning permission.

Blockley is a village in the north Cotswolds and the site is sensitive, being subject to a number of environmental designations as well as technical constraints that limit the site layout. Given the sensitivity of the site, it was essential that a bespoke approach was adopted and Cameron Homes were ideally placed to deliver this, supported by Tyack Architects, designing the development.

The proposals were the subject of considerable discussion with the Planning and Conservation Officer at Cotswold District Council and the carefully negotiated approach paid dividends in securing officer support for the development, which balanced up the competing needs in a high quality scheme, reflecting the best of modern architecture in a sensitive environment.

This project enabled us to help build a new community of 198 much-needed new homes. We were brought in to secure outline permission for the landowners and retained by the developer to see the project through reserved matters.

We helped design a landscape-led development with a strong sense of place, including a tree-lined avenue and hedges which highlight the beautiful Cotswolds backdrop. A new park was created too, which all contributed to maintaining the legacy for a conscientious landowner.

We overcame many difficulties, not least ensuring that the requirements of an EIA-based application were met. We balanced the needs and desires of the council, landowners and developers, showing that we can solve challenges by bringing people together and building strong relationships. Our project management skills were also vital in seeing the proposals through to submission and discharging conditions.

McLoughlin Planning was appointed by Kier Construction to provide planning consultancy advice as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

McLoughlin Planning was appointed by Kier Construction to provide planning consultancy advice as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver Full Planning Permission for a new 2 Form Entry Primary School and nursery in the Quedgeley area of Gloucester.

The application was complex and contentious, as it involved the loss of an area of undeveloped land in the City, which was used by local residents for informal recreation, notwithstanding the fact that it was allocated for educational purposes and not protected for open space. This eventually saw the application being successfully determined at Appeal.

Through the Appeal process, we were able to provide a robust planning case, highlighting the development plan context for the site and the compelling guidance provided by Government regarding the provision of new schools. In addition, we were also able to draw on the Council’s own evidence regarding the availability of open space in the area to demonstrate to the Inspector that there was a surplus of the type of open space in the area, thus allowing him to better balance the competing needs of the Case.

We also provided extensive support in negotiating the Statement of Common Ground, which resulted in a number of Reasons for Refusal being dropped by the Council, thus ensuring that Inquiry time was minimised.

McLoughlin Planning secured planning permission for 3 new agricultural buildings, 2 silage pits and other improvements at Ferris Court Farm near Stroud.

Ferris Court Farm is a Red Tractor approved agricultural business dealing in a combination of arable crops and livestock. The farm currently accommodates 120 beef cattle, 20 rare breed pigs and 8 rare breed egg-laying hens. The planning permission allows the farm to increase its capacity of livestock and arable crops helping to safeguard the future of the farm which has been run by the Cullimore family for generations.

McLoughlin Planning had to negotiate skilfully with the Council as the site is located within the Cotswolds AONB and the development was in the vicinity of listed buildings and a nearby residential property. The Council agreed that the benefits of allowing to the farm to improve its facilities in the manner we proposed would not have any negative impact on the landscape or the nearby historic buildings, whilst also protecting the amenity of neighbouring residents.

Mcloughlin Planning is working closely with the owning family to secure planning permission for the use of this Grade 2* Listed Building for events

Mcloughlin Planning is working closely with the owning family to secure planning permission for the use of this Grade 2* Listed Arts and Craft Building for weddings and other social events as part of a wider diversification project, to provide a valuable income stream to assist in the upkeep of this significant Arts and Crafts property which attracts visitors from all over the world.

The house, designed and built by the renowned architect Detmar Blow and run by his grandson, of the same name, has been a central feature in cultural circles for a number of decades. As part of taking the house forward into this century, the house is licenced for weddings and an architecturally unique Palace Yurt is proposed to be erected on the site throughout the summer to allow weddings and other social events to take place.

McLoughlin Planning, working with the family’s other advisors has led a small team of experts dealing with the various issues associated with complex listed buildings cases to put forward a strong case for the development. This has included working with English Heritage.

Ian Coley shooting school (based in Cheltenham) approached McLoughlin Planning for help securing planning permission for the club house and to extend their shooting ground.

Ian Coley shooting school approached McLoughlin Planning for help securing planning permission for the modernisation of the club house and to extending their shooting ground. The successful shooting school based in Andoversford, Gloucestershire and run by Ian Coley MBE, former Olympic shooting team coach, wanted to expand the shooting area.

Ian Coley Shooting attracts visitors from around the country and has been rated as one of the best shooting grounds in the UK. Reflecting its position, there was a need to upgrade and expand the existing club house to provide an enhanced visitor experience and bigger gun shop. In successfully securing planning permission, we were able to draw on the support for rural enterprise set out in the NPPF, as well as policies in the Cotswold Local Plan.

As part of the wider proposals, McLoughlin Planning has also successfully secured planning permission for the extension of the shooting ground, working with Lepus Consulting on the various complex ecological issues associated the management of protected woodland and clay pigeon shooting.

McLoughlin Planning were instructed by the National Trust, to prepare and submit a Planning Application for a trail across the Wimpole Estate.

McLoughlin Planning were instructed by the National Trust, working with Sport England, to prepare and submit a Planning Application for a multi-use trail across the Wimpole Estate.

This was a complex application because of the needs of the many invested parties involved. There was the requirement to ensure it would successfully fulfil it’s intention to provide greater access to the Wimpole Estate for disabled people, whilst being sympathetic to the landscape and visual impact of the trail and the potential for conflicts between users of the trail and horse riders using existing bridleways.

The Wimpole Estate, near Cambridge, attracts 320,000 visitors per year and is renowned for its scenic beauty. The National Trust is working on a programme to update the Estate to enable it to flourish with the increased visitor demands. McLoughlin Planning were delighted to play their part in this programme.

This was an ultimate grand design to match even the most ambitious dream home project. Working with architect, Richard Parr, we were involved from start to finish of this project nestled in a 150-acre farm in the spectacular Oxfordshire countryside.

The existing Cotswolds farmhouse cottage needed significant upscaling to meet our client’s needs for more space alongside first rate equestrian facilities. The sensitivity of the site, which lies near Chipping Norton, meant we were required to work hard with the project team and planning authority to meet the needs of our family client by making the case for an innovative development.

The result is a bespoke solution to delivering a beautiful 20,000 sq ft home marrying modern construction and traditional craftsmanship.

McLoughlin Planning has been the Planning Consultant for Gloucestershire Airport for several years. As part of this, it has been involved in securing the necessary Consent for Skyborne’s operations allowing them to establish a Commercial Flight Training School at Gloucestershire Airport to meet the global demand for new Commercial Pilots.

The challenges faced by this project were:

• It was necessary to demonstrate that the use of a hangar as a Flight Training School fell within the definition of aviation-related development in the Town & Country Planning General Permitted Development (Order 2015).
• The Flight Training School was to be supported by an accommodation block for students.

The site is situated within the Green Belt where there are stringent planning controls on new development. As part of the company’s activities working on behalf of the Airport in terms of looking after its wider property portfolio, we were able to engineer a suitably positively planning policy context to allow Skyborne’s proposals to come forward as part of non-operational but aviation-related development.

McLoughlin Planning are delighted to have secured planning permission for change of use from agricultural building to a farm shop for Todenham Manor Farm Shop.

Points of note from this application are the farm shop is to be ancillary to the main business on the premises, there cannot be separate A1 premises and the requirement for secure cycle parking to ensure adequate cycle facilities are provided to meet the requirement for sustainable development, in accordance with Cotswold District Local Plan Policy INF3.

This application poses interesting options to other farmers in Cotswold District, who may be looking for a means of diversifying and having a ready outlet for sales of their own produce.

Working on behalf of EG Carter and Gloucestershire County Council, McLoughlin Planning was part of a team that successfully delivered planning permission for the replacement school building at Warden Hill Primary School in Cheltenham.

Warden Hill Primary School is a two form entry primary school (420 pupils) located in Durham Close, Warden Hill, Cheltenham. The school is rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted and there had been consideration to expand the school to three form entry. The birth data, alongside existing primary provision in the area showed that the expansion was not required. However, the condition of the school buildings was reviewed and it became clear that they were of significant concern. Detailed investigation showed that an extensive maintenance programme would not be an efficient use of resources and it would be better to replace the school buildings.

In November 2020 Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet approved additional funding to replace the existing school buildings.

Warden Hill School’s site is large enough that the new school building can be built, whilst the old school building is still in daily use by staff and pupils. Once the new building is complete, the old school building will be demolished.

McLoughlin Planning was able to demonstrate the planning policy case as to why this development should go ahead, despite the controversial use of playing fields for development. It was demonstrated that using the playing fields for the new school building was necessary and that it allowed the space currently occupied by the old school building to be re-used after it’s demolition as an improved play space for pupils.

There are specific conditions that have to be met to allow such development because of the value we all place on open spaces for our children. This includes Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, that local authorities are required to apply for the consent of the Secretary of State for Education to dispose of, or change the use of, land used for maintained schools and academies and following the guidance from Sport England.

The school has been developed to deliver an exemplar 21^st
century learning space that has been designed to be the most environmentally friendly low carbon primary school in the country. To enable this, it will have high building fabric efficiency, a low carbon heat source using an air source heat pump, on-site electricity generation through PV array, sustainable urban drainage systems and a “Pocket” forest.

Externally, there will be nature areas, playing pitches, daily mile and pump track and external amphitheatre seating for the pupils to enjoy.

We are delighted that ground was broken in November 2021 and that we were able to assist in this exciting project that reflects our continuing involvement with the County Council in the provision of new schools and school buildings.