Working with John McAslan + Partners and Rolfe Judd Planning, we have secured planning permission for the redevelopment, refurbishment and extension of Butterfly Walk Shopping Centre.

Split across three blocks, the 25,000 sq m scheme will deliver new and improved public realm, retail spaces, a 102-bedroom hotel, a two-screen cinema, and 145 new homes with amenity space.

Block A will provide residential accommodation across a 12-storey reinforced concrete tower and a lightweight three-storey build with a basement. Due to the high water table, the basement will be formed using a secant pile wall.

Block B forms Phase 2 and involves creating 100 new residential units adjacent to an existing retail unit, with the new cinema being built above the store. Internal foundations and columns are to be upgraded while the commercial space remains open.

Block C is a mix of residential, commercial, and retail spaces. An additional five-storeys will be added to the existing building, and will include a hotel to the north part of the development. We undertook a detailed appraisal to explore the feasibility of the additional storeys, including Vierendeel girders to span over the existing units, to strengthen and build on top of the existing structure while keeping the ground floor commercial units operational. We undertook specialist surveys which justified the capacity of the existing structure without expensive or intrusive strengthening works or the need for a heavy transfer structure.

Planning permission received 2021.

Team: Mike Davies, Jacky Ng, Kyle Toole

Images: John McAslan + Partners