96-102 STOKES CROFT

The site includes the listed but delipidated frontages onto Stokescroft and the large area to the rear of the site; currently a jumble of vacant workshops and buildings dominated by the neighbouring Carriageworks site to the north and blighted by the crime hot spot of Hepburn Road, dubbed ‘Crack Alley’ in the BBC TV series ‘Drugsland’.

Arturus have designed proposals for a highly-sustainable, mixed-use, low-rise redevelopment that would bring new homes, workshops ideal for start-up businesses, as well as student homes – transforming this undervalued part of the city, and complementing the existing vibrancy and individuality of the area of Stokescroft.

The proposals include 9 private rental apartments, 56 student beds, 2 workshops and the sympathetic restoration of the listed facades onto Stokescroft.  Arturus have sought to design a modest proposals that knit into the local context of the conservation area whilst delivering the required density of development for the property owners.

The scheme has been designed in consultation with local community groups which all happened online due to Covid 19 restrictions in 2020.

The new buildings to the rear of the site are split into three  blocks that define three separate landscaped courtyards over a split level across the site. These spaces are designed to be oases - bringing much needed greenery into the heart of this urban site.

The main challenge of the scheme has been to try to address the safety and security issues of the site. The proposed buildings have been carefully thought out; providing natural surveillance, encouraging increased foot fall and making sure there is activity at street level. At the same time the buildings have to be designed to withstand vandalism and illegal graffiti by using robust materials at street level and also incorporating legal street art onto the buildings. The site has been designed to offer secure environment for residents with gated access into the private courtyards.