Ainsley Gommon Architects

Client

Hamilton Church Ltd

Location

Claughton, Wirral

Value

£2.7million

Date Completed

July 2020

Development Overview

This new build development comprising of twenty seven two-bed four-person apartments for Magenta Living was designed to replace the former United Reformed Church which was demolished as part of the works. The site is located on the corner of Upton Road and Shrewsbury Road in Claughton Village and overlooks the Birkenhead Sixth Form College grounds. The three storey development sits in a “L” shaped block on this raised site. The block follows the levels of the site, and the pattern of the surrounding context.

A new access road off Shrewsbury Road provides off-road parking for 27 vehicles to the rear of the building, along with associated bin and cycle stores. Well lit communal entrances offer access into the building, with shared lobbies to the majority of individual apartments. Juliet balconies to upper floors and patio areas to ground floor apartments allow plenty of light into the living areas.

The design of the scheme is a modern style which fits comfortably into its surroundings. The long elevations are broken up by staggering the blocks and varying material treatments to provide variety and more visual interest to the scheme. An area of curtain walling is located at the junction which provides a more prominent corner. A flat roof helps to keep the building in line with the height of those surrounding it. Trees removed to facilitate the development have been replaced with suitably selected alternatives, and a landscaping scheme was implemented for the amenity space running around the front of the building. The memorial stone from the former church was carefully restored and forms part of the existing stone boundary wall.