January 12
EKJN architects LLP:
For the start of 2012 EKJN have become a Limited Liability Partnership.
In Pictures:
This month's image shows the Brodie House in progress in South Queensferry. That's our building in the foreground.....
New Permitted Development Rights - Be sure to catch a CoLD:
New Planning legislation coming into force in Scotland on 6 February will expand the range of 'permitted development' rights for domestic properties. In theory this will allow many more domestic projects to be built without the need to apply for planning permission. Two-storey extensions, for example, can now proceed without planning permission provided they are more than 10m from every boundary (subject to a few other restrictions). Single-storey extensions can proceed without planning permission if they are less than 4m long, more than 1m from the boundary, less than 3m tall to the eaves and less than 4m tall overall (plus a few other restrictions).
The legislators hope that the new 'permitted development' rights will reduce the workload of the Planners by 40%. However we've audited all our domestic projects going back over the past 5 years and have found only two what would qualify as 'permitted development' under the new rules, and we found one that qualified under the old rules but wouldn't qualify now. So for the most part the new rules probably won't make much difference.
The Planners are anticipating an increase in neighbour disputes as a result of the changes (and consequent increase in workload for their enforcement officers) and are recommending that anyone hoping to build an extension should request a Certificate of Lawful Development from the Council (CoLD), a process that will confirm whether the new rules are being applied correctly or not. They hope to issue a CoLD in half the time and for half the application fee of a full planning application.
There are several other new categories of permitted development including satellite dishes, bay windows, small dormers, garages, fences etc. Most of the new rules won't apply in Conservation areas or to listed buildings.
December 11
Happy Christmas one and all, and wishing you a healthy and propserous New Year.
November 11
With the Pacitti house about to start construction and the Stewart house, the Lyall house, the Brodie house, the Alexander house and the Carmicahel house all on site there's plenty to keep us busy into 2012.
October 11
Another busy month for the EKJN team.
Planning permission has been granted for the McCreadie house, the Manson house, the Houston residence and the Parkinson cottage and construction work is ongoing for the Morrison house, the Frater house, the Lyall house, the Brodie house, the Stewart house and the Evans house, amongst others....!
Its not all private houses, either, with Deans Dental Practice on site and a huge package of drawings reaching an advanced stage for Edinburgh Business School's Panmure project.
We've also got some new projects in the pipeline, including a polo club and equestrian centre and some novel ideas for the Duntarvie Castle project. So there's plenty of variety in our current workload, and plenty of happy clients too, which means we must be doing something right!
September 11
Client comments of the month "Astounding vision. I'm very impressed. Your advice and ideas are fantastic". Thanks Simon and Gillian!
This
month's photos show the Petrie House in Livingston which is now complete,
including rooflights by Brett Martin and a stunning glossy kitchen by EKCO.
Meanwhile the Morrison house in Linlithgow is progressing towards completion, as are the Lyall House and the Maternaghan House (images of these next month we hope).
Ongoing commercial projects include the refurbishment of the Grade A listed Panmure House, now progressing towards a warrant application. The new Building Regulations which require a mandatory 'sustainability audit' won't apply to this project, but will apply to new-build houses and new-build non-domestic projects from now on. The new regulations offer applicants 4 different routes through the regulations from Bronze standard (relating to minimum compliance with the regulations) up to Platinum standard (involving the addition of all available 'eco' systems to reduce the carbon footprint). Clients will need to brief their architects at an early stage to confirm what level of compliance they are aiming for so that the proposals can be processed through the appropriate parts of the regulations.
August 11
Another busy month has flown by. With over a dozen doemstic projects in progress alongside our larger commercial projects there's plenty to keep us busy. More details in this month's newsletter.
Photos below show Merrylees Cottage now complete.
July 11
The main news story this month has been the granting of Listed Building Consent for our proposals for the refurbishment and extension of Panmure House. The proposal to rennovate the former Edinburgh home of Adam Smith was granted planning approval last June but the associated application for Listed Building Consent was blocked by Historic Scotland. After a lengthy debate and a public enquiry the final decision was taken by Scottish Ministers this month. The Ministers over-ruled Historic Scotland's objections and confirmed that the proposals can go ahead.
Further comment can be found on The Scotsman's website and on EKJN's Facebook page.
June 11
June has been busy with projects under construction, such as the Morrison house shown below.
May 11
We have quite a few projects on site this month. Merrylees Cottage is making good progress with Craig Fleming Construction. The Morrison House is soon to get started with T Muir Construction. Blue Sky Dental Practice is nearing completion with SAS shopfitters. The Mirza house is nearing completion with John Heaney Builders and John Heaney is also on site at the Gibbs house where we are working alongside Luma Interiors. The Law house is progressing with Murdoch Smith and the Boyes house is progressing with Gillies Builders.
Building Warrant applications submitted this month include Teddy Bear House children's nursery, the Guthrie House in Mid Calder, the Stewart house in Linlithgow, the Steel house in Armadale and the Walker house on Royal Terrace.
Building Warrants granted this month include the Alexander house in Redding, the Davis house in Linlithgow, and the Winstanley house in Linlithgow.
Photo: Westport dental practice, now complete.
April 11
Bathgate dental practice nearing completion.....
...and the Octagon House, in progress
"Thankyou so much for all your work. It really is exciting to see your drawings".
Noel Proven
"We are delighted with the final design for our house and have enjoyed working with you. We are looking forward to seeing the extension in reality. It is a pleasure working with you and many, many thanks".
Christine and John Convy
"Thankyou for coming to our ‘World of Work’ project. The
models that you made were amazing. Being an architect sounds really fun. I
might want to be an architect".
Calum K, Echline Primary School, South Queensferry
March 11
Waterside Cottage is now complete. A self-catering holiday cottage on the outskirts of Linlithgow, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 5, off-street parking, south-facing courtyard garden. Available for letting. More info on the website click here.
For bookings please email waterside@ekjn.co.uk
Planning permission has been granted for our proposal for a frameless glass extension to a listed building. No, not Panmure House but a small extension to part of the children's day nursery on Linlithgow's High Street.
February 11
February has been dominated by the build-up to the Panmure House public inquiry. More details on our Facebook page. Meanwhile other projects have progressed. Waterside Cottage is nearing completion, the Meeks Road Orthodontic practice has gone out to tender, and so have the Gould House and the Brodie House amongst others.
In addition we've been appointed to oversee repairs to the fire-damaged Merrylees Cottage which was struck by lightning during last month's storms.
January 11
EKJN are now associated with Swedish architects MONSÉN ARKITEKTER regarding introducting new technology to old buildings and scheduled ancient monuments. This has resulted in an initial collabration on Duntarvie Castle.
The Mirza House, The Pontin House, The Low House and The Gould House are all poised to start construction work.
The public inquiry into Panmure House is set for 2nd to 4th of March. More information on this project is available on our facebook page.
The Convy House in Abernethy has been granted planning permission.
The Boyes House in South Queensferry is currently out to tender.
Tender package for Meeks Road Dental Practice, Falkirk, is in progress, programmed for a strat on construction in spring 2011.
Work on Easton Dental Practice, Linlithgow, is approaching completion.
The Lyall House has been granted planning permission.
Blue Sky Dental Practice, Bathgate has been given planning permission and building warrant approval and work has started on site.
A proposed extension to a childrens day nursery in Linlithgow has been submitted for planning approval.
December 10
JN checking the chimney on Waterside Cottage for compliance with the new European Santa Access regulations (regulation X.25.12, perhaps...).
As they say in the movies "These stunts are perfomed by trained professionals, do not try this as home", and yes, he is tied on with a full harness and 3 separate lanyards...
Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
November 10
After a wee bit of restructuring the beat goes on. New clients this month include a development comprising a dental practice and flats in the Borders, and more new clients in Falkirk, Dalkeith, Queensferry, Currie, and Stirling. A date has been set for the Panmure House public enquiry - last week in Feruary 2011 - and planning permission has been granted for the Towned House, the Davis House and the Morrison House. So, as usual, there's plenty to keep the team busy!
You can now follow us on Facebook and Twitter too.
October 10
Ed, Jon and Ian spent a busy weekend at the Self-Build and Home Improvement show at Ingliston. It was fantastic to see so many people who are passionate about new buildings, good architecture and green technology and to see so many good ideas on display.
Jon's registration for accreditation in Sustainable Architecture has been presented to the RIAS. If accepted he will join a select band of only 20 architects in Scotland to have achieved such accreditation. Fingers crossed!
New and improved Building Standards came into force on 1 October. Some parts of the regulations have been completely re-written, such as the rules on fire escapes, while others have been redrafted and updated, such as the guidance covering thermal insulation and energy saving. The full impact of the new regulations will only become clear once they've been in force for a while but EKJN's team have been doing their best to assess the changes to make sure our design work keeps up to date.
September 10
New projects for September include designs for an eco house in Mounquharry in Fife, the Lyall house, the Davis house and the Brown house in Linlithgow, and some new ideas for the future of Duntarvie Castle. Meanwhile preparations are under way for our first involvement in the Edinburgh Self-Build and Home Improvement show next month. Free tickets available by visiting our 'About Us' page.
August 10
August already. How the months fly by. The big news this month is that after a lot of debate, effort, redraws, resubmissions and good fortune the proposed extension to Meeks Road dental (orthodontics) surgery has at last been awarded planning permission.
Meanwhile the Westport Dental Practice in Linlithgow is nearing completion - photos next month.
New projects this month include the Davis House, the Lyall house, the Brown house, the Law house and an eco-house in Fife. Plenty to be getting on with then....
July 10
July has been another busy month despite the summer holidays. While Ed has been shivering through an Australian winter we've been basking in seasonal Scottish sunshine....
This month planning approval has been granted for the Maternaghan house in the Avon Valley (pictured) and work is already in progress on site. Meanwhile Whiburn Dental surgery has reached completion (photos to come later) and so too has the dental surgery in Haddington. Several projects are currently out to tender including the Scobbie house, the Masson house and the Ferrington house. Meanwhile the Westport Dental practice is progressing on site and should be wind and watertight this week.
...and as promised last month, some images of the Wade house, Linlithgow are shown below, now complete. We'll get better images when that seasonal sunshine arrives....
June 10
This month we submitted planning applications for the Alexander House in Redding, and for the Richardson Residence and the Wilson House, both in Linlithgow. Planning permission was granted for a new sea wall as part of a project in Queensferry, and Warrants were granted for the Benbow House in Kinross, the Masson house in Linlithgow and the Evans House in Boness.
Meanwhile the Wade House project has been progressing on site (photos next month!) as have various dental practices and other projects.
New projects this month have included two more dental practices in West Lothian and new private clients in Linlithgow Bridge and Abernethy.
May 10
Some recent client comments:
"The overall design has worked out so much better than I initially planned. You can't put a price on good quality of service these days. Thank you once again for for all your efforts and time spent on this small but complex project". Private client, Whitburn.
"You work impressively fast". Private client, Linlithgow
"A big well done to Ed and his team for all their designs and graphic input". Commercial client, Edinburgh.
"Your website is great - this is a first for us so its really giving me lots of useful information - thanks!" Potential client, Dunblane
"It is both your architectural and project management input that we value". Commercial client, Ross-shire.
"I think you must be as efficient as I seem to be obsessive about this project! Thanks for being so patient and thorough". Private client, Linlithgow.
"We are delighted with the design. Its definitely green for go". Private client, Fife
"Thank
you for the efficient service provided". Private client, Linlithgow
April 10
This month our team have been busy getting started on new extension projects in Polmont, Edinburgh, Redding and Linlithgow.
The Ferrington House in Queensferry was granted planning approval and so were the Mackay house in Whitburn, the Starkey house in Queensferry and the Mirza house in Linlithgow.
Meanwhile the curved roof on the extension to Whitburn dental practice is taking shape on site as seen in this progress photo.
March 10
One of our bigger projects, our controversial Panmure House project, successfully negotiated the Edinburgh Planning Committee this month and was granted approval in principle. This means that the Edinburgh Business School is one step closer to taking up residence on Edinburgh's Lochend Close.
Meanwhile new domestic projects in Edinburgh, Polmont, Linlithgow, Oban, South Queensferry and Falkland are keeping our team busy.
February 10
Congratulations this month to Rachel and her husband, Nick, on the successful arrival of a son, Billy.
The weather continues to dominate activities, or lack of activities, across the construction industry. Several of our construction sites have been at a standstill in the cold. Concrete doesn't cure properly at temperatures below 4 degrees C, and workmen would rather be indoors at those temperatures too.
The weather has also delayed the archaeologists working on one of our projects who believe they've found evidence of a prehistoric round house. They won't know for sure until the ground thaws.
The cold weather has also been putting strain on people's heating systems and Jon and Ian are both becoming experts in the minutiae of boiler settings, flue seals, flow switches, fuel additives and warranties as a result. Roll on springtime!
January 10
The big news this month is that Partner Ed Kelly has been formally confirmed as an Accredited Conservation Architect. This accolade comes as a just reward for his many years of painstaking work on projects such as Duntarvie Castle and Edinburgh Weaving Mill to name just two.
Other news this month: Our Beecraigs Eco-centre and our Victoria Walk project have both been formally granted their respective planning approvals. Improvements to Whitburn Dental surgery have started on site and so has the extension to the Molloy house.
December 09
The last couple of months have seen a flurry of planning applications submitted and approved, including 201A Pitt Street, Glasgow; the Strachan House, Edinburgh; the Reid House, Whitburn; the Evan House, Bo'ness; the Benbow House, Kinross, the Masson House, Linlithgow. Permission was granted for a new house at Creag an Tuirc on Linlithgow's Station Road.
Building Warrants have been granted for Haddington Dental Surgery and The Wade House, and prestart meetings have been held for Whitburn Dental Surgery and the Molloy house.
The Beecriags Visitor Centre project is now firmly underway with intensive collaboration with the Structural Engineers, Arup, and the M&E Engineers, Cundalls. We submitted the Warrant application this month and hope to be on site n the spring
The new Shieldaig Restaurant and Bar has finally been granted its final certificate. Other projects that have reached completion this month include Westerhailes Dental surgery, and Regent Dental Surgery,Dalgety Bay, which has now opened to the public. See image below.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all!
October 09
Our list of domestic projects continues to increase, with the Winstanley House, the Evans House, the Strachan House and the Masson house all having their planning applications submitted this month. Two other house projects, the Molloy House and the Denhan House are both due to start on site very soon, and the Halliday House reached completion this month also.
Our Dental Practice projects are also moving ahead. The Westport Dental Practice and the Haddington Dental Surgery have been submitted for building warrant. Westerhailes Dental Surgery has now started on site, and Whitburn Dental surgery is due to start in 2 weeks. Dalgety Bay Dental Surgery is now nearing completion
September 09
This year our Autumn annual day out was to the art and architecture exhibitions in Kielder Forest. Highlights were the new Kielder Forest Observatory, getting lost in a stone gabion maze, and a really good lunch where Jon consumed the mightiest apple crumble ever seen.
Projects on site this month include the Dalgety Bay Dental Surgery and the Halliday House in Linlithgow. The Park Terrace Apartments in Falkirk are nearing completion, as is the CSJ headquarters building in Falkirk. CSJ hope to be occupying the new factory and showroom sometime in October. Photos of the completed exterior can be seen here
The Finch House (below) has just reached completion.
A Warrant has been granted for the Westerhails Dental Surgery, and this job should be starting on site very soon.
Planning applications submitted this month include the Winstanley House, and planning has been granted for the new shop at 201A Pitt Street in Glasgow. See photomontage below.
August 09
We've all been on holiday at one time or another this month, so news is a little thin on the ground.
However, one exciting development is that some of our completed projects have been professionally photographed by DCS Photography. The results are fantastic - see for yourself on our updated project pages!
Dalgety Bay Dental Surgery has started on site - the refurbishment is due to be complete in 10 weeks.
The Building Warrant has been granted for the Denholm House, Kirkliston. The project includes a classic car garage and a new Art Studio.
July 09
The planning application for Panmure House, Edinburgh, was submitted last week, following an exhausting but well-recieved Public Consulation Open day on the 28th. You can see our exhibition boards by clicking the image below. The exhibition tells the story of the house, our thinking behind the design development and images of the current proposals.
Planning had finally been granted for the Victoria Walk project (see June's news) subject to the potential for it to be 'called in' by the Scottish Executive.
Our scheme for the new visitor centre at Beecraigs Country park has been submitted for planning. Click here to see the planning drawings
Buildng Works at the Finch House will be complete within the next month.
Building works at Park Terrace Apartments are well under way - the timber frame is now up to 3rd floor.
Planning and listed building consent has been granted for an extension to the Westport dental Practice, Linlithgow
The building warrant for the Jamieson House extension has been granted.
Works at Dalgety Bay Dental Surgery have started on site. The new Dental Surgery will be complete in November.
We have been commisioned to design a new Children's Nursery building in Linlithgow.
June 2009
Our Victoria Walk project almost got planning approval this month, but after 3 years of design and 8 months of negotiating with the Planners someone noticed at the last minute that one of the boxes on the application form hadn't been ticked so the Planning Committee deferred the whole application until next month. Ah the joys of red tape!! A new planning system comes into force from the start of August, so maybe there is hope for us yet, but first drafts of the new application form reveal it to be 24 pages long with more boxes to tick than ever before.
