BJSS Workspaces – Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow

ASDA Petrol Filling Stations – across the UK

Locations: Blackwood, Hinckley, Ipswich, Liscard, Llanelli, Bideford, Fleetwood, Gloucester, South Shields, Watford, Rhyl, Wootton and Taunton

A national programme of forecourt projects

Bowman Riley worked with ASDA on a programme of petrol filling station projects across the UK, bringing together our experience in retail, architecture and CDM Principal Designer services.

From Blackwood and Rhyl to Hinckley, Ipswich and Taunton, we delivered projects across 13 locations, each with its own site constraints, technical challenges and operational requirements.

Our role involved developing practical, well-considered designs that worked alongside existing ASDA stores and wider retail environments, while meeting the technical, safety and operational requirements of a busy petrol filling station.

Responding to every site

No two sites were the same. Our work included new forecourts, canopies, kiosks, underground fuel storage, vehicle access, parking, drainage, lighting, signage and associated facilities including jet washes and vacuum areas.

At Blackwood, the former landfill site presented challenging ground conditions, including ground gas considerations. At Rhyl, the coastal location and high groundwater table required a carefully considered approach to the underground fuel storage.

We also supported ASDA on projects with particularly demanding timescales. At Rhyl, Bowman Riley joined the project just two weeks before construction was due to begin, rapidly reviewing the existing proposals and producing the information required to maintain the programme.

Building on experience

Working across multiple ASDA sites enabled us to build a strong understanding of the client’s requirements while responding to the individual characteristics of each location.

The programme demonstrated our ability to combine practical design, technical expertise and responsive project delivery across a national retail estate.

13 locations. One trusted relationship.

Our work for ASDA demonstrated the value of an established client relationship – bringing consistency, knowledge and experience to every new project while delivering solutions tailored to each site.

Shell Shell | Reimagining the Energy Forecourt – Barnet and Fulham, London

Bowman Riley worked with Shell on two pioneering London projects that explored how the traditional petrol filling station could evolve to meet changing customer needs and the transition towards electric mobility.

Our relationship with Shell began with a competition-winning design for a flagship forecourt in Barnet, combining traditional fuel with fast electric vehicle charging. This was followed by the transformation of an existing Shell site in Fulham into the company’s first fully electric vehicle charging hub.

Together, the projects demonstrated how thoughtful design, customer experience and emerging technology could reshape the traditional forecourt.

Flagship Shell Forecourt – Barnet

Bowman Riley won a design competition to create a flagship Shell forecourt in the London Borough of Barnet.

The scheme replaced an existing traditional fuel filling station with a new facility designed around customer choice, with an ambition to provide an equal balance of traditional and electric refuelling.

The new forecourt incorporated an enhanced convenience store, café and drive-through offer, alongside the latest fuel and rapid-charging technology.

Sustainability was central to the design, with low-carbon technologies, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling incorporated into the proposals. The project was intended to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating and demonstrated Shell’s commitment to the energy transition.

Shell Electric Vehicle Charge Hub – Fulham

Following the success of the Barnet competition, Bowman Riley was invited to develop designs for Shell’s first fully electric vehicle charging hub in Fulham.

The project transformed a traditional fuels site into an entirely electric facility, providing rapid charging alongside a more comfortable and engaging customer experience.

We introduced a dedicated area where customers could work while their vehicles charged, together with refreshments from Waitrose and Costa Coffee.

Two prefabricated timber glulam canopies were designed to support a solar array, with semi-transparent photovoltaic panels providing shelter while allowing natural light through to the charging area. A sustainable drainage strategy incorporated permeable paving and underground attenuation.

We also redesigned Shell’s traditional monolith signage, developing a new digital version for Shell Global that provided live information for approaching electric vehicle drivers.

Designing for the future

Together, the Barnet and Fulham projects demonstrated Bowman Riley’s experience in designing for a rapidly changing energy landscape.

From integrating electric vehicle charging into a new-generation forecourt to completely reimagining an existing petrol station as an electric charging hub, the projects placed customer experience, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the design.

Our work helped Shell explore new ways of delivering energy infrastructure that responded to changing technology and the evolving needs of drivers.

Two projects. One changing industry. A new generation of energy forecourts.

GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourts – Braintree, Norwich, Gatwick, Stevenage and Markham Vale

Designing the next generation of electric vehicle charging

Reimagining the forecourt

Bowman Riley worked with GRIDSERVE to develop a new generation of electric vehicle charging facilities, helping transform the traditional forecourt model for an increasingly electric future.

Our relationship began with the development of GRIDSERVE’s pioneering Electric Forecourt® at Braintree – the UK’s first dedicated electric vehicle charging forecourt. Since then, we have worked with GRIDSERVE on a growing portfolio of schemes across the UK, adapting and evolving the concept to suit different locations, sites and customer requirements.

From a large-scale flagship forecourt to compact urban facilities and an airport charging hub, the projects demonstrated how EV infrastructure could combine high-power charging with high-quality customer facilities and sustainable design.

Braintree | Establishing the concept

Bowman Riley supported the development of GRIDSERVE’s first Electric Forecourt® at Braintree, Essex.

Located on a greenfield technology park, the 100% renewable fast-charging facility was designed around a 5MVA power supply, with capacity for future expansion to 10MVA.

Alongside the charging facilities, we designed a modular building incorporating a vehicle showroom, convenience store, meeting spaces and customer lounge, creating a more comfortable experience while drivers charged their vehicles.

Photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, extensive greenery and sustainable drainage were incorporated into the scheme, which targeted BREEAM Excellent.

Our role covered the whole site, including lead designer, project manager and Principal Designer responsibilities, as well as architectural design of the forecourt and delivery architect services for the modular building.

Norwich | Developing a compact model

Following Braintree, we worked with GRIDSERVE to develop its second electric service station in Norwich.

The challenge was to provide a similar charging and customer experience on a significantly smaller footprint. We responded by placing the charging bays beneath a two-storey building, with customer facilities located above.

The resulting Compact Electric Forecourt® incorporated the same number of chargers as Braintree, alongside a customer lounge, office pods, retail facilities and café.

The project demonstrated how the Electric Forecourt concept could be adapted to different sites while retaining its core customer experience.

Gatwick | Taking the concept to the airport

At London Gatwick Airport, Bowman Riley designed and delivered GRIDSERVE’s third major scheme with the client.

The compact Electric Forecourt® introduced high-power charging alongside a range of customer amenities, including a Costa Coffee, convenience store, EV showroom, lounge, meeting room and washrooms.

The facility incorporated a 5MW battery storage system and photovoltaic panels, with renewable energy generated through GRIDSERVE’s solar network.

Located at Gatwick’s South Terminal, the facility brought GRIDSERVE’s electric charging concept into a major international transport environment and was the first of its kind at a European international airport.

Stevenage | A new generation of Electric Forecourt®

At Stevenage, Bowman Riley supported the delivery of another major Electric Forecourt® scheme, taking the project through RIBA Stages 1–7.

The development incorporated a two-storey modular amenity building, rapid-charging bays beneath photovoltaic canopies and associated civil and electrical infrastructure.

Located on greenfield land within the Knebworth Estate alongside the A1(M), the design responded carefully to its rural setting while delivering the infrastructure and customer facilities required at a high-capacity EV charging destination.

Sustainability informed the project from the outset, including renewable energy generation, off-site modular construction and consideration of whole-life carbon.

The completed scheme went on to win the Alternative Fuels Outlet Award at the Forecourt Trader Awards 2025, recognising its innovation in EV infrastructure.

Markham Vale | Continuing the partnership

Our work with GRIDSERVE continued with the Electric Forecourt® at Markham Vale, which became the fifth electric forecourt Bowman Riley had delivered with the client.

The project further demonstrated the value of the established relationship, with our team providing architectural, lead designer and CDM Principal Designer services.

The opening marked another milestone in a partnership focused on supporting the transition towards a more sustainable road network.

Designing for a changing future

Across these projects, Bowman Riley helped GRIDSERVE evolve the Electric Forecourt® concept to respond to different locations, scales and customer needs.

From establishing the original model at Braintree, to developing compact solutions, an airport hub and larger-scale facilities, each project built on the knowledge gained from the last.

The relationship demonstrated our ability to combine forecourt expertise, architectural design, technical coordination and sustainable thinking to create infrastructure for a rapidly changing transport landscape.

Five projects. One evolving concept. A partnership shaping the future of EV charging.

Grantley Hall Hotel and Wellness Retreat – Ripon

The magnificent Grantley Hall opened in the summer of 2019 as one of the UK’s most luxurious hotels and spas in the UK.  This five-star country retreat is the only member of Relais & Châteaux in Yorkshire, was named ‘Best Newcomer 2020’ by Conde Nast and labelled the second-best new luxury hotel in the world by Luxury Travel Intelligence.

Bowman Riley delivered the transformation of the elegant Grade II* listed Grantley Hall into one of the UK’s finest country hotels and wellness retreats.

Surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful Yorkshire countryside, the magnificently imposing Grantley Hall is set on an artificial island created by the canalisation of the River Skell in Ripon.

The 17th century classically styled property was built as a private residence for the Grantley family. Extensions in the 18th and 19th centuries followed leaving a principally Georgian elevation. The building has enjoyed a colourful history which includes its use as a shooting lodge, convalescent home during the Second World War and an adult education college.

Inspired by its grandeur, the renovation of Grantley Hall accentuates the historic details of the imposing property featuring a magnificent dual height presidential suite, signature restaurant, brasserie and cocktail bar set in exquisite formal gardens.

To complement the historic Hall, a new spa building and bedroom wing have been created in a modern Georgian style.  Four months after opening,  the Three Graces Spa was awarded 5 Bubble Luxury status by the Good Spa Guide.

A new subterranean Garden Pavilion building featuring a bar, private lounge, an exclusive after-hours club and restaurant has been integrated within the 1910 listed Japanese garden restored to become one of the most important of its type in the country.

The renovation of the historic hall alongside the creation of two new bespoke buildings allows hotel guests to experience a five-star luxury getaway in opulent surroundings.

We worked with a Yorkshire based consultant team including project managers and surveyors, Lucas Lee, engineers GHD and the interiors were delivered in conjunction with JMDA.   The two main contractors were locally based, RN Wooler & Co and HACS. This team along with numerous other consultants and subcontractors made the Grantley Hall vision a reality.

Grantley Hall won the Heritage Award at the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards Yorkshire and Humber and has reached the national finals.

RICS Head Judge Mark Rugg said:

“Grantley Hall oozes historic character and quality. After decades of inappropriate uses and vacancy the multi-phase Grade II* listed mansion dating back to the 17th century, has been lovingly transformed into a five-star hotel and wellness retreat. The painstaking restoration programme included extensions and new buildings designed to enhance the character and use of the site. The Japanese Garden is a jewel in the crown and was designated a Grade II Registered Park and Garden during the course of the project.”

View the website here

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Skipton Building Society Branch – Clitheroe, Lancashire

Bowman Riley was appointed by Skipton Building Society to modernise its Clitheroe branch with the aim of bringing the building in line with the organisation’s latest branch standards. A key requirement of the project was to maintain branch operations wherever possible, which required a carefully considered phased approach to the works.

The refurbishment introduced a range of new customer-facing elements, including a redesigned counter, an improved meet-and-greet station, new admin desks, and an upgraded tea point for staff. High-quality timber slat feature walls and glazed partitions were installed to modernise the interior aesthetic, while new flooring, ceilings, and refreshed decorative finishes were applied throughout. Externally, the shopfront received a full refurbishment along with upgraded signage. The project also delivered significant M&E upgrades. All asbestos removal was undertaken in strict accordance with CDM regulations.

Sustainability was an important consideration throughout the project. Wherever possible, existing structural elements were retained and reused to minimise waste. Energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems were installed to reduce ongoing energy consumption, and durable, low-maintenance finishes were selected to lower long-term lifecycle costs.

The completed refurbishment of Skipton Building Society Clitheroe resulted in a modern, open-plan branch environment that significantly improves the customer experience and creates a more welcoming atmosphere. The redesign has increased operational efficiency and ensured that the branch complies with current health, safety and accessibility standards.

See our other retail projects.

Harrogate Grammar School – North Yorkshire

Over the past 15 years, Bowman Riley has collaborated closely with Harrogate Grammar School to meet the growing demand for pupil places. This partnership has expanded the school’s facilities, enhanced the learning environment, and supported its continued academic excellence.

Working with the Red Kite Learning Trust and the school’s leadership team, we developed a phased expansion plan that aligned with the school’s educational goals, budget, and timelines.
The new buildings were integrated seamlessly with the campus, respecting the school’s 1930s architectural style while introducing modern, innovative elements that reflect its progressive ethos.

Key projects include:

Sixth Form Pavilion
We designed a £2 million Sixth Form Pavilion to replace temporary classrooms and provide purpose-built, world-class facilities to support students’ academic and career progression. The Pavilion consolidates all sixth-form facilities on one site, including well-equipped classrooms, independent study areas, collaborative spaces, social areas, and a cloister garden. The advanced science laboratories cater specifically to sixth-form students, and the Forum, a 300-seat lecture theatre, serves as a hub for academic events.

Science Building
We designed a new science building to replace the crumbling 1950s block. Funded with £1 million from the Education Funding Agency, the building was needed by September, just months after funding was secured. We proposed a modular design to meet the tight timeline, minimising disruption through off-site manufacturing. The striking new building, featuring a contemporary façade and entrance, blends with the existing 1930s structure, offering four new laboratories, a preparation room, and a link corridor to ease congestion in the busiest part of the school.

Atrium and Entrance
We designed a new building to connect the 1930s to a 1960s block, with three classrooms on the first floor and a large atrium below, forming the new entrance. The project means the school can increase the number of student places.  The design infills the courtyard, reusing space within the footprint of the building with a new double-height central atrium providing flexible teaching and exhibition space, with three new teaching classrooms at the first-floor level. This has created naturally light-filled spaces with natural ventilation, creating a sustainable environment. The new spaces improve circulation and provide a new student-focused entrance. Previously, students, staff and visitors had to use the same narrow entrance. A key project driver was to improve connections throughout the school; therefore, as part of our designs, we reworked the existing floor levels to improve accessibility.

Key Challenges and Solutions
Throughout the partnership, Bowman Riley has faced several challenges, including expanding the school within the confines of a limited campus and minimising disruption to students and staff during construction. However, the architects approached these challenges with innovative solutions. By working in close collaboration with the school and local authorities, Bowman Riley was able to deliver projects on time and within budget, ensuring that the school could continue to operate smoothly during each phase of development.

The partnership between Bowman Riley and Harrogate Grammar School over the last 15 years has been a testament to the power of collaboration and strategic planning. Through careful consideration of both current needs and future growth, Bowman Riley has help Harrogate Grammar School expand its physical capacity while preserving the school’s commitment to academic excellence.

York College Framework

York College is a highly regarded education institution that ranks among the top three colleges in the UK. As the sole supplier of a multidisciplinary consultancy team, we support the College’s investment in its campus and ensure the best possible learning environments.

We have been a trusted partner of York College since 2018, when appointed to the college’s first framework. Reappointed to the College’s framework in 2024 for a second term, we offer an integrated solution combining architecture, building surveying, project management, interior design, and principal designer services. We also work with trusted partners, including quantity surveyors Summers Inman and Adept civil and structural engineers, to cover all necessary disciplines.

Our partnership is underpinned by consistently excellent KPI results, demonstrating our commitment to the College’s long-term success. With a real understanding of the campus, we have forged strong working relationships with key College staff and continuously support their objectives.

Key Projects

Atrium Repair: Our first project involved overseeing the £100k repair of the central glazed atrium within a six-week summer break. Despite challenging weather, we completed the work on time with a 20-year guarantee.

Institute of Technology Refurbishments: Our relationship with York College grew stronger when we assisted the college in securing central government funding to create an Institute of Technology. York College was selected as one of only 12 Institutes of Technology in England, leading to several refurbishment projects, including remodelling the library, teaching spaces, and media areas.

Motor Vehicle Workshop: The £600,000 project created additional space for training mechanics, engineers, and technicians. Delivered during the 2020 lockdown, it provided teaching space and supported social distancing. The handover to the client was planned to coincide with Reading Week at the College, which allowed the tutors time and space to set up before the students returned for the next term.

Construction Centre: Supporting the introduction of T-Level qualifications, we oversaw a two-storey extension to the construction centre, which included joinery and brickwork workshops, classrooms, and IT suites. The 44-week programme was strategically phased outside of term time. The construction centre extension addressed immediate space requirements, demonstrating innovative problem-solving and a commitment to sustainability. The project was completed on time and within budget, earning a Very Good BREEAM rating.

Student Hub: We designed the refurbishment of the student hub, creating a welcoming, efficient space that integrates reception, student services, and learning resources for students to work and collaborate.

Lecture Theatre Refurbishment: Working in collaboration with Ben Johnson Interiors, we refurbished an existing lecture theatre into a space capable of supporting modern teaching, presentations, seminars and college events. The five-week programme included removing and reupholstering seats, installing a new lighting system throughout and fitting new acoustic wall panelling. The theatre has also been given new flooring, a sleek black ceiling, a brand-new lectern and a range of contemporary specialist furniture, creating a flexible and engaging environment for students, staff and visitors.

Beauty Training Centre:  Working in collaboration with fit out contractor Ben Johnson Interiors, we transformed a redundant office space into a modern beauty training centre. The refurbishment included reconfiguring the internal layout, upgrading finishes throughout and accommodating specialist equipment to create a professional environment that reflects industry standards and enhances practical learning opportunities for students.

See our other education projects.

The White House – York

Bowman Riley collaborated with the Places for People Asset Management Team and the appointed contractor to refurbish The White House, an 18th-century Grade II listed building in York used as office accommodation for Places for People.

The project unfolded as a comprehensive refurbishment aimed at resolving water ingress issues, preserving the building’s structural integrity, and enhancing both its external and internal aesthetics.

The primary challenge lay in investigating and mitigating water ingress, a concern that threatened the building’s longevity. Our team meticulously examined the property, identifying areas requiring immediate attention, including rendering, flashing, and chimney repairs. The team seamlessly integrated these repairs while ensuring the interventions were in harmony with the historic character of the structure.

Externally, the building was rejuvenated with a breathable white paint application, carefully selected to protect and preserve its heritage charm. The restoration also addressed a shared gutter issue, preventing further leaks into neighbouring properties. Internally, the bathrooms and kitchens were revitalised with a complete internal redecoration breathed new life into the spaces, creating a refreshed appeal for the building’s occupants.

The refurbishment of the White House project delivered tangible benefits, transforming the space to meet both the functional and aesthetic needs of office users. The refreshed interiors provide a modern, comfortable working environment, perfectly aligned with the project’s overarching goals.

Please see other commercial projects.

Pure Padel Tennis Clubs – Nationwide roll-out

Designing the next generation of padel venues

Bowman Riley is working with Pure Padel to deliver a growing network of premium indoor padel centres across the UK.

Appointed as lead architect, interior designer and principal designer, we support Pure Padel from early design through to delivery, adapting each venue to its location, building and operational requirements while maintaining a strong and recognisable customer experience.

Our portfolio includes three very different facilities in Darlington, Nottingham and Stockport, demonstrating our ability to transform existing buildings and new-build shells into high-quality sporting and social destinations.

Darlington

Pure Padel Darlington is a dedicated indoor facility featuring seven panoramic courts, high-specification lighting and a vibrant social area.

Designed as more than simply a place to play, the centre provides a flexible destination for casual games, competitive sport, corporate events and private functions. The design combines sporting performance with hospitality and social spaces to create an accessible and engaging environment.

Nottingham

In Nottingham, Bowman Riley transformed a disused 1920s bus depot into a distinctive indoor padel centre while retaining and celebrating the building’s industrial character.

The existing concrete floor required a specialist screed solution, while the barrel-vaulted roof and low structural beams presented further challenges. Working closely with the court supplier, we developed a layout accommodating seven courts within the existing building – three singles courts and four panoramic doubles courts.

A bar, café and pro shop complement the courts, while bespoke internal and external signage strengthens the venue’s identity and visibility.

Stockport

At Stockport, Bowman Riley was brought in during construction of a new-build industrial unit to transform the shell into a vibrant five-court padel centre.

The design maximised the number of courts within the available footprint while incorporating bespoke changing and toilet facilities. A bar and café provide a social hub, complemented by a mezzanine viewing gallery overlooking the courts.

Cost efficiency was a key consideration, with our supplier network used to achieve a premium look and feel while working within the client’s budget.

A scalable approach

Across the three venues, our work demonstrates a flexible and repeatable approach to delivering indoor padel facilities.

From adapting historic buildings to working within new-build industrial shells, we combine efficient planning, robust materials, strong interiors and distinctive branding to create venues that work for players, spectators and operators.

As Pure Padel continues its nationwide expansion, Bowman Riley is supporting the development of a consistent, high-quality experience across its growing portfolio.

See more of our Leisure projects here.

The George Hotel Redevelopment – Huddersfield

Kirklees Council

Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Bowman Riley has provided architecture, conservation architecture, interior design and the roles of lead consultant and principal designer on the George Hotel redevelopment for Kirklees Council.

The George is an elegant Grade II* listed 1851 landmark next to the railway station in Huddersfield to meet the needs of the Victorian traveller. In 2013, the 60-bed hotel closed due to competition from budget hotels.

Following our project to provide conservation architecture on the repair and conservation of the façade of the George, we prepared a feasibility study to consider the alterations necessary to create a 90+ bedroom hotel.  Development partner Queensberry undertook a preliminary assessment of the George. The findings were that the building would need substantial changes to attract a hotel chain to secure its long-term future. Our designs helped attract Radisson to operate the building as a Radisson Red Hotel.

Following a review of the heritage significance of the building, we identified the 1930s wing as having the most capacity for change, followed by the east wing. We developed plans to demolish the 1930s wing and substantially alter the east wing to achieve 90+ bedrooms. Historic England understands the need for change and is keen to see this heritage asset brought back into viable reuse, which supported the planning approval application.

We are leading a multi-disciplined team bringing external consultants and specialists for quantity surveying provided by Turner & Townsend, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering provided by Ramboll, and fire, BREEAM and acoustics by Mott MacDonald, combining expertise and resources to ensure a seamless project execution.

“We have been impressed with Bowman Riley’s pragmatic approach and knowledge to overcome some tricky issues, especially regarding planning/Listed Building Consent. We look forward to carrying the scheme forward with them.”

Jack Pasley, Queensberry

Bloomfield Central – Blackpool

Bowman Riley has helped revitalise Bloomfield Central leisure park in Blackpool with the design of a vibrant new bingo hall and a convenient drive-thru Starbucks coffee shop.

Working alongside Aim Capital, the new owners of Bloomfield Central, we have supported the redevelopment of the park to better meet the local market needs. Close to Blackpool Football Club’s stadium, Bloomfield Central is a small yet significant leisure hub, now poised for a fresh chapter.

On the site of a once-struggling pub, we designed a modern 25,000ft2 single-storey bingo hall for Club3000. Far from a typical, windowless box, we created an striking bespoke building with feature glazing on the active façade.

Midway through construction, the main contractor went into administration, leaving the building exposed to the elements. We worked quickly on behalf of our client to source a new contractor to repair the water damage and complete the building.

Adding to the park’s appeal, we designed a stylish new drive-thru coffee shop on the former site of a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant. Now occupied by Starbucks, this cosy spot offers visitors a place to relax, meet friends, or grab a quick coffee on the go.

Additionally, to support the operations of the leisure park, we reconfigured the car park and created new site access.

These developments inject new energy into Bloomfield Central, elevating the leisure experience for everyone who visits.

Images courtesy of Aim Capital.

See our other retail projects.

Chemistry Laboratory Refurbishments, University of Bradford

As part of an ongoing framework agreement with the University of Bradford, Bowman Riley was appointed to design and project manage two undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratory refurbishments within the University’s 1960s Richmond Building on the main city campus.

The laboratories were dated in appearance and no longer met the requirements of a modern teaching environment, particularly in terms of lighting, layout and overall student experience. The University identified the need to upgrade the spaces to enhance teaching delivery and create a more engaging and professional learning environment for both current and prospective students.

One laboratory underwent a full refurbishment, including the installation of new benching, flooring, suspended ceilings, energy-efficient lighting and integrated IT infrastructure. The second space was refreshed with new lighting and redecoration to bring it in line with the University’s contemporary teaching standards.

A key design intervention was the removal of a pinch point between the laboratories to improve sight lines and connectivity. We also introduced a bespoke teaching podium to support a more dynamic and flexible teaching style.

The result is a pair of revitalised laboratories that meet modern educational standards, support high-quality teaching and learning, and reflect the University’s commitment to continuously improving its estate.

See our other science and innovation projects.

Duncombe Barracks – York

Bowman Riley was appointed by City of York Council to act as Principal Designer under the Building Safety Act for the internal fit-out of a single commercial unit within the Duncombe Barracks Passive House development.

Our role was to plan, manage, and monitor the design work throughout the design and construction stages, ensuring full compliance with Building Regulations.

The project presented a unique challenge: delivering a fully compliant commercial space which also needs to maintain Passive House credentials. This included triple-glazed windows and doors, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), and hybrid heating systems. As work progressed on site, our team attended regular site visits to monitor compliance, provided detailed responses to Building Regulation queries, reviewed subcontractor designs, advised York City Council on Building Control matters, and managed change control in material specifications.

Our involvement required close coordination with the contractor and our client to ensure the project was executed in accordance with the building regulations. The result is a 52m² commercial unit that meets rigorous energy efficiency standards while offering improved air quality, passive heating and cooling, and long-term sustainability.

The Duncombe Barracks project marks a milestone as York’s first Passive House commercial unit, providing a high-performance space that supports the city’s low-carbon future.

Image credit: architect Mikhail Riches and Caddick Construction.

Explore more of our commercial projects here.

New Hampton by Hilton – Ashford Kent

Rees Mellish
Ashford, Kent

Bowman Riley developed the design of a new Hampton by Hilton hotel in Ashford, Kent. The six-storey building forms part of the town’s key area of urban regeneration located in a central location close to the domestic and international railway stations.

We became involved in the project to amend the approved planning application following confirmation of Hampton by Hilton as the hotel operator. We have increased the overall building footprint, introduced an additional storey and redesigned the interiors to meet Hilton’s brand standards.

We considered using modern methods of construction for the building, which led to the decision to use volumetric modular units. Designed using BIM, the project team worked collaboratively to achieve efficient project delivery.  The result is 140 modern and spacious bedrooms for a comfortable stay with lounges, a bar, a gym and a restaurant.

We designed the interior public spaces featuring a spacious six-storey entrance and atrium on a prominent corner of the building. We interpreted the Hilton brand whilst ensuring the hotel retained a local identity. We achieved this through the layout, materials, lighting and textures.

A crucial part of the interior design was introducing zoning to create separate areas within the open-plan public spaces. The reception and bar areas have luxe materials and soft furnishings to create a welcoming entrance. The living zone is a cosy corner screened off from the rest of the open-plan space with coffee tables and soft furnishings to create a relaxing environment. The breakfast area has a fresh colour palette and rich textures using lighting to create intimate dining spaces.

Now open, the three-star hotel brings a new landmark to the town and provides a great addition to the town’s visitor economy.

View more of our Hotel Experience

Barclays’ Bank High Street Branch Retrofit Programme

Bowman Riley supported Morris and Spottiswood to bring their expertise in architecture, conservation architecture, and the role of principal designer to support a nationwide overhaul of Barclays Bank’s retail branches.

The programme supported Barclays Bank’s plans to reshape their branch network over a 3-5 year period to adapt to the demands of modern banking, which included a series of retrofits and some branch closures.

The projects focused on refurbishing the exteriors, tackling stonework, windows, and roofing while also reconfiguring the interiors with new layouts, digital display installations, and updated decor. This comprehensive refurbishment aimed to enhance everyday banking experiences and refresh the bank’s brand with new screens and signage.

Collaboration with Morris & Spottiswood was key, ensuring that all work adhered to regulations, particularly given the historic and listed status of many buildings. As conservation architects, we assessed Barclays’ portfolio of Grade II and Grade II* listed properties, spanning from the early 18th to early 20th centuries. We prepared detailed Heritage Statements and determined the necessary permissions for refurbishments—whether listed building consent or lawful development certificates.

Our assessments covered over 15 historic sites, with most requiring only a lawful development certificate, streamlining the process for swift and efficient progress. Through this careful and strategic approach, we facilitated a transformation that respects the past while embracing the future of banking.

See more of our retail projects.

The Co-operative Group 50+ Years of Partnership – Across the UK

For more than 50 years, Bowman Riley has worked with The Co-operative Group, supporting the evolution of one of the UK’s best-known retail and consumer brands.

Our relationship spans hundreds of projects across the UK, covering food and non-food retail, convenience stores, distribution and logistics, workplaces, petrol stations, funeral care and other property assets.

Our long-standing understanding of the Co-op’s estate, operational requirements and brand has enabled us to support projects ranging from strategic estate planning and surveys through to design, refurbishment, roll-outs and delivery.

A relationship built over decades

Our work with the Co-op has included:

• Estate rationalisation and development strategy
• Property and condition surveys
• Feasibility studies and development appraisals
• Convenience store conversions and refurbishments
• Internal store planning
• Programme and roll-out management
• Architecture and Principal Designer services
• Distribution and logistics facilities
• Workplace and customer-facing environments
• Conservation and refurbishment of historic assets

We have worked across the Co-op estate from Orkney to Exeter, responding to different building types, locations and operational requirements.

From retail roll-outs to innovation

Our relationship has evolved alongside the Co-op.

We worked with the organisation to develop food, funeral and logistics model manuals and have supported extensive roll-out programmes, including food and funeral care refits, new sites and planned and unplanned asset renewal.

More recently, our work has included the development of new approaches to convenience retail.

Co-op Micro Store

Bowman Riley worked with the Co-op to develop a new compact food-focused retail format designed for high-footfall urban locations.

The Solihull store rethinks the traditional convenience store, focusing on immediacy, a tightly curated food and drink offer and a prominent hot food serve-over. The successful launch provides a foundation for future roll-out of the concept.

Co-op Soham

At Soham, we delivered the Co-op’s first sustainability showcase branch, transforming an ageing 1970s supermarket through targeted retrofit and operational improvements.

Thermal modelling informed the investment strategy, with improvements including roof insulation, high-performance glazing and targeted low-carbon measures. An asbestos-containing rear shed was also removed and replaced with a small biodiversity area.

The £1.2m refurbishment was delivered within an eight-week programme, demonstrating how existing retail assets can be upgraded to improve energy performance, operational efficiency and customer experience.

Supporting the wider Co-op estate

Our work extends beyond individual stores.

At Wellingborough, we refurbished a 330,000 sq ft former logistics facility to create additional regional distribution capacity. The project incorporated new ambient, chilled and freezer areas, alongside improvements to offices, yard capacity and fuelling facilities. The first phase was delivered within six months to support the Co-op’s Easter trading peak.

At One Angel Square in Manchester, we created Foodology, an innovative food development and testing environment for the Co-op’s in-house chefs. The scheme transformed a business lounge into a flexible environment incorporating demonstration, presentation, agile working and food innovation spaces.

Our conservation team has also supported the Co-op’s historic estate, including the Grade II-listed 17th-century Co-op store in Long Buckby, where we developed a sensitive strategy for replacement of its historic thatched roof.

A trusted property partner

In 2021, Bowman Riley was named Supplier of the Year at the Co-op Property and Charity Awards, recognising the strength of the relationship and the breadth of support provided.

Today, our work continues to support the Co-op as its property portfolio evolves – combining strategic insight, technical expertise and a detailed understanding of its buildings, operations and customers.

50+ years. Hundreds of projects. One enduring partnership.

Visit their website

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Willow House – Menston

The Bankhead Group

Menston, West Yorkshire

Bowman Riley has designed Willow House, a new five-bedroom detached property on the Main Street of the desirable West Yorkshire village of Menston.

Our design approach has been to create a bespoke new family home that combines Georgian features with a sleek modern twist. The front facade with its long Georgian windows and symmetrical proportions will be built in punched face blackened stone to be in keeping with the existing street scene. Aluminium cladding and zinc at the rear provide a more contemporary aesthetic featuring a frameless glazed box protruding into the back garden.

Willow House will provide a high standard of living with quality finishes and interesting features including a striking entranceway made entirely with smooth-faced ashlar stone and a recessed balcony to the master bedroom.

Located on brownfield land on the site of a former annex building to the original farmhouse, the new property is a narrow slither of land with various restrictions. Our challenge was to create a five bedroom property with driveway and garage ensuring positive views from all habitable rooms.

The placement of the building included working around an agreed zone on the site that the building footprint could not cross. We had to manage window to window distances between the neighboring plot with narrow conditions.

We retained as much of the existing trees and plants on the site as possible, making sure not to interfere with the identified root protection zones whilst providing a generously sized driveway for three cars with turning head and garage.

This commision for Bankhead Group followed the successful completion of Westbourne Drive in Menston.

Follow Bankhead Group on Instagram to follow their work:  https://www.instagram.com/bankhead_group/

Nilorn UK Head Office and Factory – North Yorkshire

Nilorn

Cononley, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed a contemporary commercial unit for developer Candelisa, The Motor Works, as part of a wider mixed-use development to renovate a historic mill complex and six-acre brownfield site in the village of Cononley, North Yorkshire.  Our journey on the project then extended to working for Sutcliffe Construction to build the unit’s shell.

The commercial unit was purchased by, Nilorn, a leading fashion label specialist, who had been leasing office and factory space in the neighbouring town of Keighley.  Our interior design team was commissioned by Nilorn to create a unique contemporary office space and bespoke facilities for the production side of their business.

A Scandinavian-inspired interior concept was partnered with a Yorkshire industrial aesthetic to reflect the company’s Swedish roots and the site’s Yorkshire heritage.

With staff wellbeing and increased efficiency are at the heart of Nilorn’s aspirations, the designs provide spacious, flexible open-plan office space with a layout that has been carefully coordinated to ensure the wellbeing of their staff.  Facilities include high-quality showers and washrooms, cloakrooms, ample storage, an open plan coffee bar and catering standard kitchen for events.

Following an analysis of their existing factory facilities, the new production space was carefully laid out to increase efficiency.  Working closely with our client, we examined the work-flow of the production from printing and packaging to distribution and devised the most efficient layout to reduce distances between tasks.

Now complete, the project was a real collaboration between our architects, interior designers and principal designers, who provided health and safety advice on the interior fit-out.  In addition, we worked closely with the interior fit-out contractor, Ultimate, the quantity surveyor, Shelby and the mechanical and electrical consultants, Novo.

Images courtesy of Ultimate.

Harrogate Town Football Club Stadium Redevelopment

Creating a stadium fit for league football

Since 2016, Bowman Riley has worked closely with Harrogate Town AFC to transform its Wetherby Road stadium and facilities, supporting the Club through its progression into the English Football League.

Our long-standing involvement has encompassed the phased redevelopment of spectator facilities, hospitality spaces, player facilities and supporter amenities, creating a stronger matchday experience while providing the infrastructure needed to support the Club’s continued growth.

The programme has included increasing spectator capacity from 2,800 to more than 5,000, new seated and standing terraces, a new main stand, improved hospitality facilities, player changing rooms, supporter facilities and proposals for further expansion.

Stadium redevelopment

The initial redevelopment introduced three new spectator terraces and adapted the existing terraces to significantly increase capacity.

The next phase replaced the existing family stand with a new main stand, incorporating a food outlet, bar and new toilet and laundry facilities beneath the terrace.

The completion of the new main terrace in 2020 coincided with a landmark moment for the Club as Harrogate Town achieved promotion to the English Football League for the first time in its history.

Future proposals have included a new two-storey clubhouse with modern changing facilities, hospitality accommodation and elevated terrace seating, alongside improved entrance, turnstile, ticketing and staff facilities.

Hospitality

As the Club’s corporate hospitality requirements grew, Bowman Riley transformed an existing external balcony into additional enclosed space, creating room for a further 40 guests.

The existing hospitality suite was also refreshed with a new interior design scheme, creating a cohesive environment between the original and new spaces and improving the arrival, bar and dining experience for corporate guests.

Player facilities

The Club’s outdated changing facilities were transformed into a bold, contemporary environment reflecting Harrogate Town’s identity and ambitions.

A darker palette combined with the Club’s distinctive yellow creates an energetic atmosphere, while robust, easy-to-clean finishes and durable flooring respond to the demands of professional football.

Integrated storage provides players with practical space to store and charge their phones, combining functionality with a strong visual identity.

Supporter experience

An underused area within the stadium was transformed into a dedicated bar for home supporters.

The narrow space required a practical layout incorporating a substantial bar and social areas without fixed seating. A corrugated steel bar front references the industrial character of the stadium and the Club’s existing corporate stand, while the interior uses the Club’s colours to create a distinctive matchday atmosphere.

Environmental graphics reinforce the identity of the space, with large-scale diagonal graphics inspired by the angular elements of the Harrogate Town brand running across the exposed blockwork and architectural features.

A long-standing partnership

Our continued work with Harrogate Town AFC demonstrates the value of a long-term client relationship, with Bowman Riley supporting the Club through multiple stages of its development and growth.

From increasing stadium capacity and delivering new spectator facilities to improving hospitality, player and supporter spaces, each phase has responded to the Club’s evolving needs while contributing to a cohesive identity across the stadium.

Since 2016, Bowman Riley has been working with Harrogate Town Football Club to significantly redevelop its Wetherby Road CNG Stadium and grounds to support its ambition of securing promotion to the English Football League.

We have provided architecture, project management, contract administration and the role of principal designer to upgrade the player and spectator facilities in phases to aid the club’s continued success and growth.

Harrogate Town needed to expand its facilities to increase spectator capacity from 2,800 to over 5,000 to meet the ground criteria of higher football leagues.  This ambition was realised in 2020 with the introduction of new seated and standing terraces.  Additionally, the plans have involved a new two-storey clubhouse, an office building, improved hospitality areas and a new floodlighting solution.

The first phase of the redevelopment comprised the introduction of three new terraces for spectators and adaptations to their existing terraces to increase capacity.  The second phase was the replacement of the existing family stand with a new main stand including new food outlet, bar area and new toilet and laundry facilities beneath the terrace.  As the new main terrace reached completion in 2020, Harrogate Town achieved its long-term vision of reaching the English Football League for the first time in its history.

Subsequent phases will be a new office building and a new two-storey clubhouse providing modern changing facilities at pitch level in a striking new building.   The first floor of the clubhouse will provide a hospitality space with external elevated terrace seating for 128 spectators overlooking the pitch.  Additionally, we are designing a new face for the club to strengthen its existing presence replacing the existing entrance structure and included improved turnstile access, ground floor ticket area and staff offices.

The final phase will be the redevelopment of the east side of the terrace to replace the existing terrace with additional hospitality areas.

Aspire Apartments – Herschel Street, Slough

Mid Group for Click Properties

Bowman Riley provided architecture and the principal designer role on Aspire Apartments, a major eight-storey residential scheme on a large brownfield site in Slough, one of the UK’s fastest-growing regeneration hotspots.

The 238 high-quality new homes are close to Slough’s Crossrail station and within the town centre where high-density residential development is sought, helping to meet the increasing demand for new homes and contributing towards the ongoing renaissance of the town.

Appointed to develop the designs, we had to comprehensively redesign the scheme to align with Mid Group’s approach to using off-site and modern methods of construction. The development used SFC light gauge steelwork system, which speeds up the construction process and reduces time and waste on site.

The scheme’s design and layout are suited to the site, the asymmetrical design.is sympathetic in terms of scale, appearance, materials, form and use to the surrounding buildings, and creates efficient site use. We adjusted the buildings’ lines to relate to the street geometry and to create amenity space, defensible space and improve the public realm. We designed a scheme of appropriate scale and density with high-quality landscaping and rooftop gardens with views over Windsor Castle.

The first block, completed and comprising 87 apartments, was sold to Pinnacle Homes to provide affordable housing, apartments for social rent and shared ownership. We worked directly with Pinnacle to finalise the designs and finishes to meet customer requirements.

We worked closely with the local police force to create safe and secure buildings achieving Gold Standard of Secured by Design. We took a fabric-first approach with photovoltaic panels on the roof and drainage attenuation as sustainable features. The location is sustainable, close to both Slough town centre and Slough railway station.

Andrew Shepherd, CEO at Mid Group said:

“We are delighted that Bowman Riley has come on board to deliver this prestigious development.  We are confident that their design expertise combined with a strong track record in the delivery of residential schemes will contribute towards the successful completion of this major scheme.”

See the Insider article and Yorkshire Post article on the scheme.

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Middletons Hotel – York City Centre

The House of Daniel Thwaites
York, Inside York City Walls

Centred around a picturesque courtyard garden within York’s historic city walls and dating back to 1700s, Middletons Hotel comprises 56 bedrooms spread across eight different buildings – six of which are Grade II and Grade II* listed – together with restaurant and leisure facilities.

Middletons has been operating as a hotel since the 1970s. Daniel Thwaites acquired the property in 2017 and appointed Bowman Riley to support the phased redevelopment of the site. An initial review of the hotel revealed that many of the bedrooms were tired and in need of refurbishment, with aspects of acoustics and fire protection between bedrooms in need of updating.

The design concept at the Middletons Hotel is to celebrate the history of each building whilst adding elements of modern guest experience that people expect from a city centre hotel.  This design plays on the unique characteristics related to the heritage of each part of the site.

The first phase of works started on site in January 2019 following lengthy negotiations with York City Council. It involved the refurbishment of 18 bedrooms within Cromwell House and Sir Joseph Terry Cottages, which comprises two guest suites.  The Grade II 19th Century Cromwell House was originally a sawmill complex, and one of the walls at the far end of The Sawmill restaurant is actually part of an old city jail.  Designed by the architect Walter G. Pentry in 1899, the Grade II Listed Sir Joseph Terry Cottages were former almshouses funded by public subscription in memory of Sir Joseph Terry, former mayor.

The hotel remained in operation throughout the works, but careful coordination between the hotel manager, client and contractor ensured that disruption to guests was kept to a minimum. The bedrooms and guest suites were handed over in April 2019 to the delight of the guests. Bowman Riley also acted as the principal designer during the works to ensure health and safety compliance.

In 2022, we returned to the project to begin designing the second phase of works involving the refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Lady Anne House over two floors with 19 rooms.  This listed building takes its name from Dame Anne Middleton, who was the wife of the Sheriff of York in 1659 and funded the hospital. In 1829, the property was rebuilt and extended.  By 1972 it was nearly derelict when it was purchased and incorporated into the hotel. In the centre of the front is a statue of a woman, which is believed to survive from the original building.  At Lady Anne House, we are designing the refurbishment of the bedrooms, replacing ensuites and adding new secondary glazing and air conditioning along with external works involving resurfacing of footpaths including ramped access and railings .

Further phases at Middletons Hotel will comprise the conversion of function rooms within the Organ Factory into two guest suites, works to Chaplin House, no. 56 Skeldergate and Staff House.

See more of our hotel experience here or contact us to talk about your development ideas.

Hallmark Building/Green Quarter 7 Residential Development – Manchester

Beaumont Morgan

Manchester

Bowman Riley was appointed to deliver the architectural and interior designs on The Hallmark Building, a major residential development at Green Quarter in Manchester, a one million ft2 mixed-use development alongside the River Irk in northern Manchester.

With continued excess demand at Green Quarter, the developer Beaumont Morgan purchased a site with planning already secured to develop a new building entitled The Hallmark Building.

When Bowman Riley became involved in the project, the Hallmark Building had already been designed prior to the 2017 Grenfell tower fire. We were brought on board to work with the concept designs to provide the technical and construction information to deliver the scheme.

Our greatest challenge was to amend the designs to create a safe and secure building following new guidance around building materials and fire safety. This limited the options for the facade of the building and resulted in an amended design.

Additionally, we were involved in providing a detailed package of interior design on the reception and common areas. The interior design for the common areas featured a palette of tonal colours and materials from gold, to marble and timber. We provided a technical package of information involving the creation of a detailed plan and specification for the foyer and reception.

Images courtesy of Beaumont Morgan.

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Priory Meadows Residential Development – Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge

Caedmon Homes

Kirby Hill, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed and project managed Priory Meadows, a new residential development in the village of Kirby Hill with views towards the Kilburn White Horse, one of the most famous North Yorkshire landmarks.

Bowman Riley was commissioned by Caedmon Homes to develop a reserved matters planning application in line with the client’s preferred housing mix. Our role was then to design the properties and provide the role of project manager working with the contractor to deliver the scheme.

We retained the essence of the principles established at the outline planning stage whilst increasing the net floor area. We designed a mix of 34 new build traditional properties in various sizes from two-bedroom dormer bungalows and three-bedroom semis to three, four and five-bedroom detached homes.

Designed to blend seamlessly with the local vernacular creating high-quality homes to attract buyers with specifications that exceed the standard volume house types in acknowledgement of the competition in the market from brand-name volume housing providers. Onsite affordable homes have been designed to be indistinguishable from the open market properties.

Contemporary, modern homes in red or buff brick with oak porches have quality designed into every detail. At Priory Meadows there are solid oak doors throughout with brushed chrome door furniture, Roundel kitchens with integrated German manufactured appliances and Porcelanosa bathrooms. Each home has a garden, its own parking or garage, which may be internal or external depending on house type and the entire development is set within carefully considered landscaping.

Images courtesy of Caedmon Homes

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The West Park Hotel – Harrogate

Provenance Inns

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley transformed The West Park Hotel, a former 19th coaching inn located on the Stray, in Harrogate’s Conservation Area into a luxury boutique hotel.

In 2012, Provenance Inns’ purchased the hotel following several years under-performance, due to the unsuitability of the accommodation and facilities.

Bowman Riley was commissioned to evaluate the existing building and design the transformation into a boutique five star hotel.

Our design reflects the client’s philosophy to bring together the principles of the great British inn with good food, friendly service and high quality accommodation. 25 of the bedrooms rooms have been individually designed, (eight executive suites), bar, restaurant and function suite.

Within the constraints of an incredibly tight urban site, we secured planning consent to demolish the rear half of the hotel and design a new four storey structure (over an extensive new basement), comprising new hotel entrance, lounge, kitchen and en-suite bedrooms.

Bowman Riley worked closely with Provenance Inns and the neighbouring property owners to acquire a new private access road to serve the site and provide additional offsite parking for neighbours. In addition to architecture, Bowman Riley provided party wall surveying and CDM coordination.

Image credit – Style Contracts

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Providence Quarter Residential Development – North Yorkshire

Candelisa Ltd

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley was commissioned by award-winning developer Candelisa to design Providence Quarter, the conversion of a former 1970s office building in the centre of Skipton into private residential apartments.

Formerly the home of HML, a division of Skipton Building Society, the four storey 5500m² residential development helps meet the shortage of homes in this desirable market town with the provision of 39 one and two bedroom apartments.

Permitted development approval was obtained from Craven District Council under new legislation introduced to facilitate the re-use of under-utilised office spaces in urban environments.  This allowed the development to bypass a potentially lengthy and costly planning approval process resulting in a rapid construction period.

Bowman Riley prepared technical drawings suitable for Building Control approval and construction, liaised with the client’s nominated consultants and produced 3D visuals for marketing purposes.  Our design involves replacement windows throughout and the addition of double balconies to the east and west elevations and Juliet balconies to the south elevation.  A feature living wall system above the secondary entrance and a communal roof terrace with spectacular views across the district of Craven.

The amenities provided at the development for the residents include a gym, planned roof garden and one hobby room per apartment on the basement level, under-croft car parking and separate car parking.

Providence Quarter reached the finals at the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2015.

Images courtesy of Candelsa.  To register your interest in the development please email:  sales@candelisa.com.

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Frances Street Mixed Use Development – Woolwich, London

Bowman Riley designed a five-storey residential building with a convenience store on the lower floors, located on a brownfield site of a former pub in Woolwich, Greenwich, London, for a private developer, P2P Residential.

Situated on a prominent corner, this development makes a bold addition to the street scene. It contributes positively to Woolwich’s ongoing regeneration, spurred by the opening of the Woolwich Arsenal DLR station and the arrival of Crossrail.

The building includes 19 apartments with private balconies, a large communal amenity space, and parking with electric charging points. It was meticulously designed, using form and materials that respond to the local context while enhancing the streetscape with a clean, contemporary look.

Collaboration with the council was essential to creating this new building, which features innovative design and construction methods. We guided our client through the planning process in partnership with the planning consultant. The project meets all the London Plan standards while maximising development potential on a small brownfield site.

The scheme achieves a 100% reduction in carbon emissions through mechanical heat recovery, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting. Additionally, we have planned for electric car charging facilities to meet the rising demand for electric vehicles in the area.

The design maximises natural light in the apartments while preventing overheating and ensuring high air quality in an urban setting. The addition of green roofs provides rainwater attenuation and enhances biodiversity. We have also included a shared amenity garden to encourage community interaction among new residents.

The building is designed to lifetime homes standards, ensuring it meets requirements for inclusivity, accessibility, adaptability, and sustainability.

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Milton Keynes University Hospital New Entrance and Retail Building

Catfoss

Milton Keynes

Bowman Riley designed and delivered a new hospital entrance and retail building at Milton Keynes University Hospital, a medium-sized district general hospital.

The building accommodates three retail units to be occupied by Amigo, Costa Coffee and Subway for patients, staff and visitors bringing much-needed revenue into the hospital.

As part of the hospital’s wider redevelopment programme to upgrade the infrastructure and facilities, the new entrance was designed on a former car park.

We worked in partnership with the NHS Trust, Compass Group, Catfoss, Kier Construction and the local authority to deliver the 987m² free-standing single-storey entrance building. The South Westerly facing building has brise soleil to provide shading and links building back into the existing Outpatients, Ear, Nose and Throat, Speech Therapy and Physiotherapy departments.

The modular building was constructed in an offsite controlled environment, which vastly reduced the time spent on-site resulting in less waste material. Constructed with a hot-rolled steel chassis, the fabric of the building offers an engineered solution featuring high levels of fire resistance and thermal efficiency.

Delivered to the site in 19 modular sections, the building was erected in just three days despite the challenge of transporting and installing a 15m long x 4m chassis.

Complex ground conditions included an existing live services tunnel beneath the development. The quick installation time meant that site works were kept to a minimum and air quality conditions were maintained – crucial for a healthcare environment.  The final fit-out was conducted within 12 weeks keeping disruption to the hospital to an absolute minimum.

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Swinton Park Country Club and Spa – near Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire

RN Wooler & Co

Swinton, near Masham, Ripon in North Yorkshire

The Swinton Estate, one of England’s largest privately owned estates, is set within 20,000 acres, much of which is designated as a Grade II* Registered Historic Park and Garden.

Bowman Riley supported the design delivery on the site of a new country club and destination spa inspired by the stunning countryside in which it lies.

Sitting right in the heart of the estate, adjacent to Grade II listed Swinton Park – a 32-bedroom hotel and cookery school – the design combines both existing estate buildings with new contemporary structures.

The new spa is home to nine treatment rooms, an 18-metre pool, a steam room and sauna, six treatment rooms, three heat experiences, a rasul, wellness pool and full fitness facilities.  Outside there within a secluded spa garden is a herbal sauna and shower, a cedar hot tub plus a 10-metre natural water swimming pool.

The wider estate has been incorporated into the overall offering with the use of produce from the four-acre walled kitchen garden – the largest hotel kitchen garden in the UK – and using the outdoor space for activities such as walking, hiking, running, cycling or outdoor yoga.

Next to the spa, The Terrace restaurant serves dishes by Swinton’s Executive Chef, Simon Crannage. The restaurant, kitchen and lounge are accommodated in a converted and extended joinery shop building, which cleverly brings the outside in with light and airy rooms.  A wood-panelled bar and coffee house adjoins The Terrace, housed in the former powerhouse, with its own courtyard garden. The large terrace garden provides space for alfresco dining.

In 2020, we were subsequently commissioned to design a new laundry building to sit unobtrusively within the estate grounds, which achieved planning consent.

First aired in 2021, the Swinton Estate was featured in the BBC Two TV Series, Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, catch it on BBC iPlayer.

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Bridgewater Point Residential Development – Salford, Manchester

Beaumont Morgan Developments

Salford, Greater Manchester

Bowman Riley was appointed by developer and contractor, Beaumont Morgan to develop the designs on Bridgewater Point, a major residential development close to Salford’s city centre and a short walk to Manchester’s city centre.

The Bridgewater Point development provides 220 residences divided into 207 apartments and 13 town houses across two buildings.  Building A is five storeys and Building B is seven storeys connected at level one with a podium deck incorporating shared open space and gardens to the town houses.  The upper floors are set back from the main elevation and have a perimeter balcony.

The development was designed to meet the needs of private investors and tenants in Salford’s booming rental market.  This high quality development provides city living for the in-demand residential market in the city, providing a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

Bridgewater Point features a range amenities including an on-site gym, landscaped communal garden areas, secure parking below the podium deck and bicycle storage.

The build duration is 78 weeks and total cost £20,000,000.

As a result of our successful delivery of Bridgewater Point, Bowman Riley has been awarded two further significant projects by Beaumont Morgan.  Green Quarter, is a 15 storey residential development in Manchester near Victoria Station and Furness Quay, a major apartment scheme in Salford incorporating circa 800 apartments.

Images courtesy of Beaumont Morgan.

Click here to see the latest drone video.

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Office Relocation – Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

Completed

Bowman Riley supported a global financial administration company with their Dublin office relocation.

Our client’s existing premises were outdated and not in line with employee expectations for a modern working environment. The new offices are located in the heart of Dublin’s technology district offering panoramic views over the Wicklow mountains and excellent transport links.

Our brief was to provide a flexible modern working environment that optimises functionality whilst providing spaces that could be adapted for future usage. Our role involved the project management of the relocation leading a full design team including structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, acoustic consultants, approved inspectors and fire consultants.

The project involved the full strip out of the previous tenant’s fit-out and the installation of the bespoke new fit-out designed to meet our client’s needs. Acoustics was an area of concern, so we added new acoustic features including a suspended ceiling, partitions and new floor and wall finishes with acoustic absorbers. Glazed screens, new mechanical HVAC, lighting, power, data and AV were also installed. Additionally, we managed the fit-out of a bespoke new kitchen, coffee bar, reception and shower room.

Involved from the outset, our interior designers provided designs and space planning in line with our client’s corporate branding and furniture.

The works were completed on time and budget by Graham Interior Fit Out within a very short 10 week construction period. The end results are smart flexible offices with new breakout areas and a multi-functional meeting spaces that help to fulfil the team based ethos of our client and provide an enhanced environment designed to improve staff health and wellbeing.

Images courtesy of Graham Fit Out.

Caroline House Mixed Use Development – Skipton, North Yorkshire

Candelisa Ltd

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley developed the designs to transform the 19th century Caroline House in Skipton into apartments and a bespoke office space for Award Winning Developer Candelisa.

The three storey 19th century former warehouse building is located in a conservation area in Skipton town centre. Constructed of coursed Yorkshire stone, the building was occupied by The Skipton Building Society until 2010 and had remained vacant ever since.

Bowman Riley worked with the developer, Candelisa to develop the conversion for Caroline House from office to predominantly residential use through changes in Permitted Development law.

This project followed the redevelopment of the adjacent 1970s office building, Providence Quarter, into apartments. The knowledge and experience gained from working on the neighbouring building was applied to Caroline House resulting in a smooth project delivery.

Caroline House was a complex project due to the age and numerous building alterations and extensions. Through selected demolition and the addition of a contemporary rooftop box and large balconies, we designed a scheme for six apartments. The building includes a duplex apartment on the upper floor with office and garage accommodation on the ground floor and basement storage.

The building also provides contemporary office accommodation featuring a bespoke open plan office and entertainment space, meeting rooms and internal car parking.

The overall result is a sensitive and commercially viable reuse of an existing building in a tight town centre locale.

To register your interest in the development please email:  sales@candelisa.com.

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Firth Street Mill Residential Development – North Yorkshire

Candelisa Ltd

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley was commissioned to design the conversion of the vacant Firth Street Mill located in Skipton’s conservation area into a residential development for award-winning developer Candelisa.

Firth Mill was built in 1877 during the Industrial Revolution as it lay on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. At this time many mills sprung up in the area including Firth Mill. The mill building previously housed a warehouse, storage and offices but in recent years was largely redundant.

The residential use of the Mill for housing fits in with the surrounding residential houses neighbouring the site. The development enhances the character of the conservation area by restoring the Mill for residential use, retaining the history of the area and bringing it into modern day use.

The development provides 35 one and two bedroom apartments to meet the housing demand in the area. The floor layout for each apartment is bespoke and responds to the existing structure and openings in the Mill building. The design was developed with close attention to the original structure and the existing openings and columns were retained internally as far as possible. The design of the apartments makes use of the existing large windows offering each flat a recessed balcony and maximum daylighting to each apartment.

The appearance of the mill remains largely as before maintaining and upgrading the principal elevations. The elevations retain the original openings, alternating between replacement full height windows and recessed balconies, providing interest and depth to the elevations. Images courtesy of Candelisa.

Firth Street Mill reached the finals of the LABC awards 2018.

Images courtesy of Candelisa and Heidi Marfitt.

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Horace Mills Mixed Use Development – North Yorkshire

Cononley, North Yorkshire

Candelisa

Bowman Riley transformed a traditional 19th-century Horace Mills, a Yorkshire mill building and six-acre brownfield site into a mixed-use development in the North Yorkshire village of Cononley.

Our design retained the historic core of the heritage asset, including the iconic mill chimney. A sympathetic extension was created to double the size of the mill to accommodate circa 50 bespoke apartments with recessed balconies.

The original north light weaving sheds that occupied the site were removed to make way for 46 traditional houses. Each house was individually designed, 40% of which comprise affordable housing.

In addition, the site includes a 15,500ft2 commercial building to the rear of the mill to maintain an element of employment on the site.

The site is adjacent to the railway station, with direct commuter links into Leeds and Bradford and views over the picturesque Aire Valley. As part of the redevelopment, new pedestrian and cycle access links the village to the railway bridge. This provides a route to and from the village centre and rail passengers are able to bypass the often closed level crossing to catch a Leeds or Bradford-bound train.

Historic England said:

“We very much welcome the retention and conversion of the existing mill buildings and consider the design of the proposed extension is a clever and interesting, yet sympathetic, response to its historic context”

Since completion Horace Mills has won two accolades; the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2021 (North & West Yorkshire) for Best High Volume New Housing Development and the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards 2021 for Best Large Development of the Year.

Images courtesy of Candelisa.

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ByHaus Apartments – Greater London

Vernon & Co

West Byfleet, Surrey, Greater London

Bowman Riley designed high specification, eco-friendly ByHaus apartments on three storeys with a retail unit at ground level in a confined central West Byfleet site with easy commuter links to London. On behalf of Sodajo Limited, we assessed the development potential of the confined site adjacent to the railway line within a Conservation Area.

Our design comprises 12 apartments on three storeys with a retail unit at ground level with the footprint of the building covering most of the site with minimal service access.

Bowman Riley assisted in pulling together the design team, working the team together with specialists in acoustics and air tightness to develop the scheme using the BIM software Revit.

This sustainable development is designed with the residential element to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. The building will be highly insulated and heating will be provided by air source heat pumps with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery. Careful consideration has been given to acoustics and buildability due to the proximity to the rail line. U values for the building will approach Passivhaus standards and the air permeability target rate is currently set at 1.5m2/hr@50Pa. Solar photovoltaic roof panels will be considered to generate additional income for the client.

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The Bridges – Sunderland

AEW Europe

Sunderland

Bowman Riley has been working at The Bridges shopping centre in the city centre of Sunderland since 2006 providing architectural and interior design services working initially for Landsec and subsequently for AEW Europe after they purchased the site in 2014.

The shopping centre contains over 100 stores and receives 21 million shopping visits in 2012 and provides employment to 2,000 people.

Bowman Riley designed a striking new extension to The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland city centre as part of a wider £15 million development.

The development’s aim was to enhance the retail experience for The Bridge’s 21 million annual customers by ensuring that the most popular high street brands are located within the shopping centre.

The extension was designed to bring Primark into the shopping centre providing the retailer with larger floor plates not available elsewhere in the city.

Twice the size of their former Sunderland store at 60,000 ft2 arranged over three-storeys, the new development provides Primark with an enhanced retail space.  The new store significantly improves the retail opportunities and boosting the local economy with the creation of 150 jobs for local people.

A bold new High Street West entrance was created through the Primark store to replace two 1960s concrete streets of shops updating the streetscape and creating greater footfall for Primark and the Bridges.

Bowman Riley was involved from the project’s conception through to tender stage for Land Securities and from tender to completion with Morgan Sindall, under a design and build contract. The project achieved a BREEAM rating of Very Good.

Following the success of the development, we were appointed to replicate the design across the shopping centre’s three other entrances.

We also designed a new contemporary Café Nero featuring a 180 degree glazed façade.

Newsome Vale Independent Living – South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Housing Association

Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Bowman Riley supported the delivery of Newsome Vale, a new apartment complex specifically designed to provide independent living for older people.

Supported by a £1.87 million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, Newsome Vale comprises 50 one and two bedroom apartments on three floors with communal gardens and lounge areas.

Following the closure of South Yorkshire Housing’s in-house architects department, Bowman Riley was commissioned to facilitate the completion of the development. At this stage, the project was significantly behind programme and there was an ongoing dispute with the contractor.

Providing a contract administrator role as the client’s agent, we worked closely with the housing association and contractor to resolve the dispute and support the completion of the development. We also undertook the role of principal designer to ensure the completion of the health and safety file prepared by the contractor.

Newsome Vale now offers high-quality apartments for older people that eliminate the usual housing problems like stairs and bathtubs and provides spacious living areas, corridors and bathrooms for easy accessibility. Residents take part in the daily activities ranging from knitting and chair aerobics, to bingo, line dancing and quiz nights.

“The best decision we have made to move into Newsome Vale apartment, it is superb… Newsome vale is a very secure place, which gives the residents peace of mind.”

John (resident 2016)

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Dales Market Corner and Petrol Filling Station – Harrogate

Private Client

Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire

The Dales Market Corner is a uniquely designed, independent convenience store with a petrol filling station in the heart of the scenic market town of Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale, an area of outstanding beauty. On a brownfield site (formerly a car dealership), a Costcutter kiosk was enlarged, rebranded and reopened as a wholly independent convenience store.

This followed the successful first phase of the development; the refurbishment of the petrol filling station and forecourt. Phase 1 involved the refurbishment of the petrol filling station including a new canopy, forecourt alterations and replacement fuel tanks, pumps and lines in conjunction with a specialist petrol filling station contractor. Phase 2 was the partial demolition and extension to the convenience store building to create a circa 300m² footprint (an increase of 200%). The works were planned to be phased to enable the store to continue to trade with minimal disruption.

The store is a uniquely five-sided extension seamlessly integrate into the local vernacular with its use of traditional building materials applied in a contemporary form. From afar, the angular and split-level roof responds to its unique and varied neighbours both in form and height whilst addressing the client’s need for a single storey building. Taking its form from the unusual sized plot, the double-height volume enhances the sense of place and space whilst seamlessly integrating into the original forecourt building. This enabled the store to continue trading throughout and now provides for a logical and considered building. Daylight floods what would otherwise be a typically artificially lit space, thanks to a quirky interpretation of the local dry stone walls and the relationship to contemporary glazing arrangements.

This bespoke development responds specifically to the needs of the local community and makes a positive contribution to the public realm and is a valuable asset to the community, who had to travel as far as Harrogate to buy groceries.

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The Oakwell Centre – Dewsbury and District Hospital

University of Bradford

Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed and managed The Oakwell Centre, a new School of Nursing at the Dewsbury and District Hospital under the framework agreement with the University of Bradford.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust identified the need to offer a locally based degree programme to attract student nurses that may not otherwise apply to a University nursing course outside of the district. With this in mind, the Trust approached the University to deliver a satellite nursing degree programme at Dewsbury and District Hospital.

The objective was to create an on-site learning facility that will allow for up to 80 trainee nurses to learn whilst gaining practical hospital experience.

The project involved the refurbishment and reconfiguration of a 460m2 flat-roofed building constructed in 1960 that had been used as a training and archive facility and had not been extensively refurbished for forty years.

We undertook a space planning exercise to make sure the spaces met the needs of the users and to created the best use of the available space. We specified and arranged the installation of all finishes and fittings.

The Oakwell Centre was completed within the client’s target timescales in preparation for the intake of students in the new academic year and opened by Professor Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England.

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St John’s Mews Apartments – York

Bowman Riley supported developer Caedmon Homes on the design and delivery of St John’s Mews, a conversion of a 1960s former care home into a new contemporary residential development in heart of York city centre.

The project involved the part demolition and part conversion of the 1960s property into 29 private apartments.

Our role was originally to deliver the technical drawing package and construction of the project. Upon review of the planning approved scheme, we found that several apartments within the roof space did not have sufficient head height and the scheme as a whole was inefficient in its use of space. Additionally, the unit mix was unrepresentative of the local area.

Bowman Riley reworked the design to create a more efficient scheme and replaced plans in the extant planning permission using a Section 73 Application.

St John’s Mews makes the most of the stunning views of York Minster.  The ground-floor apartments feature patio doors opening onto communal gardens and the two-bedroom first-floor apartments have Juliet balconies.  On the top floor, the three-bedroom apartments have floor to ceiling double-glazed picture windows to the gable and living rooms.

Our designs improved the efficiency of the development, which enabled it to move forward to the construction phase with the contractor, Pacy & Wheatley. We also provided the role of principal designer and building surveyor during the construction phase of the project to practical completion.

Images courtesy of Caedmon Homes.

Culture Fusion Youth Centre – Bradford City Centre

BAM Construction

Bradford, Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed the award-winning Culture Fusion, a state-of-the-art youth centre for Bradford YMCA.  The centre has been designed to provide inspiring learning, creative, training and recreational spaces for the young people of Bradford.

The centre provides 3200m² accommodation for tenants offering services to young people on issues ranging from employment, healthcare, housing to counselling.

The centre includes unique features such as a rooftop performance venue and café with views across the city, an urban meadow and a secret rooftop garden.

Won through competition, Bowman Riley’s design was selected by a panel of young people as their preferred choice. Engagement from the outset with the young advisors set the tone for the collaborative approach taken throughout the design.

The project comprised the transformation of a historic mill building into a vibrant new youth centre by linking it with a new five-storey extension.  The design responds to the historical significance of its former industrial site and provides a striking new building, which significantly contributes to the city centre’s regeneration.

Culture Fusion was awarded the 2012 LABC Building Excellence award in the category of community and achieved BREEAM Excellent at the design stage.

For more information see http://www.culturefusion.org.uk/

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Brakes – Croydon, London

Bowman Riley was commissioned by Brakes, a leading supplier to the UK foodservice sector.  We supported their ambitious plans to move into the business-to-business food market, capitalising on a strong brand and distribution network.

Working in partnership with Brakes and the wider design team, we provided architectural services and CDM coordination, leveraging our considerable expertise in designing and master planning developments in the retail sector.

The first project was the refurbishment of an existing warehouse to convert it into a 25,000ft² food market in Croydon. The designs provide a friendly and appealing environment whilst maximising the functionality and efficiency of the development. We were involved in the concept planning of the scheme, store layout and the design of the building envelope, including a new customer entrance to present their branding on the first scheme.

We facilitated a quick delivery on a nine-week programme to a high standard. We introduced value engineering details to ensure the project was delivered within the target budget. The new food market we delivered has enabled Brakes to embark on its journey in this new venture. The specific internal layout and design have given Brakes a unique identity, differentiating their offering from those of their competitors.

Bowman Riley continued to work closely with Brakes to develop their standards and specifications, whilst reviewing new sites to assist them in their expansion plans.

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Central House Office Development – Leeds City Centre

Moorgarth Group Ltd

Leeds City Centre

Bowman Riley designed the refurbishment of Central House, a prominent five-storey 1980s brick building in a prime location in Leeds city centre’s business district.

Developer, Moorgarth Properties purchased the building as their new home and identified the need to renovate it to create high-tech offices to showcase their talents and attract high calibre tenants to lease the remaining offices.

Adjacent to a listed building, the 10,435ft² building is classified as an important building of architectural merit.  This influenced the design and led to a careful manipulation of areas to retain the classical order of the façade.

Key features were enhanced with the introduction of striking new contemporary elements including:  balconies and Juliet balconies, a large external entertainment space and new full height windows on the upper floors.  The result is that the building is now flooded with natural light and all floors offering views of the surrounding cityscape.

The building was transformed into Grade A office space and was three quarters occupied soon after completion.  Central House reached the finals of the 2016 British Council of Offices (BCO) Awards and RICS Yorkshire Awards.

“We are delighted with the refurbishment of Central House.  The building has been transformed into a smart light-filled office environment we are proud to show off.”  Philip Whiting, Moorgarth

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University of Bradford Framework

Under a framework agreement, Bowman Riley provides multi-disciplinary services as the single supplier for the provision of the University of Bradford’s professional services.

The University of Bradford received its Royal Charter in 1966, but its origins date back to the early 19th century. The University has a diverse and complex estate with many 19th-century, 1960s and 1970s buildings. Our support helps the University get the most out of its assets.

Our team has worked at the University for over nine years, successfully delivering over 500 schemes. We understand the multifaceted stakeholders, evolving priorities and objectives and the requirement for flexibility and future-proofing. Key projects include: Digital Health and Enterprise Zone Academic Building, the Faculty of Management and Law including a mock courtroom, the Faculty of Life Sciences upgrade, the refurbishments of the Richmond and Norcroft buildings, the Atrium refresh and the Oakwell Centre at Dewsbury and District Hospitals.

Our knowledge of the construction forms and service installations across the estate enables us to respond quickly to the inherent design confinements and challenges, such as frame span restrictions, wall construction, floor slab and rebar limitations, vibration issues, access/fire compliance, thermal performance, and asbestos. Identifying design considerations from the outset provides greater efficiency for the University.

Our knowledge of the University’s procurement processes, stakeholder sign-off procedures, project board, and workbook processes has enabled us to deliver fast-track strategies to achieve the design, programme, and financial objectives. Following a five-week design and tender period, we completed a £500k refurbishment of the Workshop Block.

Our extensive knowledge of the estate, our team’s expertise, and our commitment to the University have formed a trusted advisor relationship with the university’s estate team.

View our other education projects.

Wythenshawe Hospital New Modular Building

Bowman Riley provided the detailed design for a new 365m2 modular building at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of the University Hospital Southern Manchester NHS Foundation Trust to create a new main hospital entrance.

The building houses a Costa Coffee and M&S Simply Food to provide an upgraded food retail offering at the hospital and bring in much needed additional revenue to the NHS Trust.

The building was constructed beneath an undercroft of an existing tower, which was the original hospital’s main entrance. The existing structural columns were integrated into the new building’s fabric.

A modular solution was ideal for the live hospital environment with the project delivered on site in only 12 weeks.  Site access was very tight resulting in all materials brought in on a gurney through an access corridor between two existing buildings.

Our role was to take the design from planning through to completion. We liaised with the local authority to discharge complex planning conditions and manage the building regulations submission.  We prepared drawings for inclusion within legal documentation including phasing drawings, superstructure, site logistics and fire strategy.  Working collaboratively using the SharePoint software, we shared our documents with the contractors and reviewed by the client.

We provided ongoing support throughout the time on site and reviewed contractor design information and commented for HTM compliance. We also attended the coordination meetings with the NHS Trust.

The Red House Luxury Retirement Village – Ripon

Barnardo Developments Limited

Ripon, North Yorkshire (Ripon Conservation Area)

Bowman Riley provided architecture and the role of principal designer on the redevelopment of The Red House, an Edwardian property set within a conservation area and a protected landscape in Ripon.

Derelict for many years, the Red House was built in 1905 as a private residence before it became a Barnardo’s children’s home in the 1940s. The scheme comprised the refurbishment of the historic building and new build elements. The significant alterations to the original building had to remain in keeping with the character and sympathetic to the history of the site.

In consultation with the local community, we helped secure planning consent to transform the site into a retirement community of 59 properties. Delivered in two phases, the development provides one and two-bedroom private homes comprising apartments, cottages and two-storey houses. The Red House building was refurbished and extended to accommodate a range of communal facilities, including lounges, a bar, a library, a restaurant, consulting suite, a hair salon and a gym. The existing lodge, stable block and cottage were refurbished and extended to form apartments and cottage accommodation.

Working with an arboriculturist, we decided which trees remained on site, and this dictated the masterplan for the site layout and levels and new build elements. The landscaping preserved the protected trees and woodland zones, and further planting complemented and supplemented the mature landscape. A particular challenge was to design and install footings that could adequately contend with the rare local gypsum geology.

“Bowman Riley achieved an extremely successful outcome for a detailed planning submission… against a very difficult background both politically and in planning terms… They achieved maximum density to maintain the viability of the scheme and undertook extensive public and officer consultation to gain support for the scheme.”

Jim Pegg, Barnardo’s Developments Ltd.

Images credit RN Wooler and The Red House.

For further information, visit the website here

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Toronto Square Office Development – Leeds City Centre

Highcross Strategic Advisers

Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed the award-winning Toronto Square, the extension and full refurbishment of an existing five storey building in the heart of Leeds’ professional core. The BREEAM Excellent rated building provides 82,649 ft² of Grade A office accommodation.

This £10m Toronto Square redevelopment won the Estates Gazette Green Office Development 2009.

The project involved the demolition of the existing fifth floor mansard roof level and the construction of three new glazed upper levels with views of Leeds’ skyline and a rear full height extension. The additional floors, along with an extension to the secure courtyard, provided extra floor space at every level.

Toronto Square was carefully designed with corporate occupiers in mind providing high quality accommodation. Over 30% of the scheme is newly constructed office space. A key part of the scheme was the relocation of the building’s main entrance to front Toronto Street and the central landscaped square which provides a welcome for staff and visitors.

Sustainability and environmental considerations were paramount in the scheme’s design with local and recyclable materials used throughout. All timber came from sustainable supplies / forests. Cycle racks, showers and changing facilities are also provided. The development achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Visit their website

Southlands Retirement Apartments – Roundhay, Leeds

Bowman Riley designed the reconfiguration of 19 nursing bedrooms within Southlands, an existing residential community for older people into eight luxury independent living apartments in the Leeds suburb of Roundhay.

Located in a conservation area, Southlands is a substantial period property that was built between 1893 and 1908. It was purchased by William Hemingway of Hemingway Brewery in 1912. From 1936, Hemingway’s daughter Ivy resided in the property with her husband, Captain Hugh Bowman, who was in the Yorkshire Regiment and was awarded the military cross during the 1st World War.

Southlands is a collection of self-contained retirement apartments that allow older people to lead independent lives and run their own homes without the worries of maintaining them. They also have the reassurance of round-the-clock care and support on-site. The one—and two-bedroom homes were created in direct response to demand for additional self-contained apartments on the site, which already contained 23 apartments.

Our work included redesigning the interior of the building to remove the staircase to additional areas of the apartments. This led to the need for a new sprinkler system.

The apartments were carefully designed to reflect the residents’ needs and mobility demands, enabling them to live independently. Each apartment showcased a unique character, with many featuring large windows offering views of the landscaped gardens. Due to the poor condition of the existing windows, 61 windows were replaced.

The Chocolate Works Mixed Use Development – York

Henry Boot Developments

Bowman Riley masterplanned York’s historic Terry’s Bishopthorpe Factory, creating The Chocolate Works, a vibrant new neighbourhood that won a Game Changer Award at the Yorkshire Property Awards.

Constructed in 1927, Terry’s chocolate factory became an iconic part of the York skyline and was a significant local employer. The site includes five Grade II listed 1920s Art Deco buildings: the Clock Tower and Boiler House, Fruit and Nut store, Headquarters, Time Office and Main Factory.

The factory was the heart of Terry’s operations until Kraft Foods acquired it in the 1990s, and operations moved to Europe. The factory closed in 2005, leaving the buildings vacant English Heritage added five listed buildings to its at-risk Register.

Henry Boot Developments purchased the site in 2013, tasking us with masterplanning a sustainable new neighbourhood. Though the previous owner had secured planning, it didn’t meet the evolving needs of the local population and was heavily weighted toward office and retail.

After reassessing the market and engaging with local people, we focused the masterplan on addressing significant residential demand driven by population growth and an ageing population. We created a masterplan that allowed HBD to adopt a phased approach to the site over several years.

We undertook feasibility studies for developments on the site including a hotel, offices, convenience store and medical centre.  We also provided principal designer services to support the health and safety of the development.

The development now delivers 163 apartments and a commercial unit within the Factory; The Clock Tower now houses 21 apartments within the Clock Tower; a dementia care village within the Headquarters building; a new build 40-bedroom Acquired Brain Injury hospital.  In addition, the iconic clock was restored, and a museum was created within the clock tower, The Liquor Store hosts a café, dentist, and offices with new streets, squares, green spaces, children’s play areas, and a Peace Garden connect the site to nearby districts.

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Skipton Town Hall Refurbishment – North Yorkshire

Craven District Council

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley provided strategic master planning on the Skipton Town Hall complex of buildings located on the High Street . The Grade II listed Town Hall was built in 1862 and today is home to Craven Museum & Gallery, Tourist Information and Skipton Concert Hall.

Working closely with Craven District Council, the masterplan was developed into a series of phased projects that could be delivered according to the client’s programme and allocation of funding.

On the first phase of the strategic masterplan, Bowman Riley provided full architectural design, project management, CDM coordination and cost advice from inception to completion. Phase One created a striking contemporary extension providing a new accessible entrance to the side and reinstated the original entrance to the front, replaced the public facilities, created a commercial unit on the ground floor to let and refurbished office spaces.

The demolition of an existing building close to a busy public highway required coordination with the local highways authority, the contractor and the client team and resulted in public safety at all times.

Careful planning between the contractor and the client team enabled the works to be undertaken while parliamentary elections were taking place within the building.

Now complete, the Skipton Town Hall project has restored the building as a key civic asset by providing an active frontage and vibrant street scene. The project sees the sustainable re-use of a public building improving the public realm and community facilities, whilst also providing a source of revenue from the refurbished lettable space.

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Trade and Public Mill Shop – Leeds

Abraham Moon and Sons Ltd

Guiseley, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Abraham Moon is a weaving manufacturer in Yorkshire, the traditional home of the English cloth mills. Following a successful project to design the refurbishment of a section of the mill building into a Design Studio, Office and Meeting Room, Bowman Riley Interiors was appointed design a Mill Shop.

Abraham Moon sells to the trade, however, they operate a successful pop-up shop each December to sell their country apparel, high-end furniture upholstery, off-cuts and end-of -line fabrics directly to the public. Abraham Moon wanted to create a permanent shop to enable them to trade to the public throughout the year.

An existing workers cottage was identified on the mill site for conversion and a detailed feasibility was undertaken to explore the design, layout and future expansion for the shop. Following a presentation of the design concept, the scheme was developed into a full construction drawing package for tender.

Our design involved removing the cottage’s internal walls and the ceiling to create a flexible open plan space with exposed roof beams. The heritage elements were retained including wooden floors and existing stone walls sandblasted a large feature sign was to be hand painted onto the gable end of the new Mill Shop.

The retail space was designed with a dedicated shop frontage and car parking for adjacent residents, staff and customers for the new shop.  Visit their website here

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Cawingredients Soft Drinks Factory – North Yorkshire

Cawingredients Ltd

Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire

For more than a decade, Bowman Riley has helped soft drinks manufacturer, Cawingredients, to construct one of the most technologically advanced soft drink facilities in the country.

We continue to assist with the overall masterplanning of the site, with its evolving flagship factory to produce carbonated soft drinks, supplying major UK customers.

At the outset, we supported Cawingredients in identifying a suitable site (minimum 25 acres) for their new factory with excellent transport links to ensure that the company would not outgrow their premises once operations expanded. We assessed the viability of a number of potential sites before a plot alongside the A1 was identified.

We designed 240,000 ft2 of purpose-built factory space, which accommodates multiple bottling and canning lines. Supporting the production facility is 213,000 ft2 of warehousing space, plus 23,000 ft2 of office and laboratory space.

We have also assisted Cawingredients with strategic land purchases. This work has created a new site entrance for all vehicular traffic, additional development land, a new car park (to facilitate ongoing expansion), plus a new bespoke trade effluent plant. All of which has now secured planning consent.

Construction work has commenced on the latest phase of development, which is a 100,000ft2 warehouse with packaging robots, seven new HGV docking stations, extensive HGV parking and turning areas, plus surface water attenuation infrastructure.

Digital Health Enterprise Zone Academic Building – Bradford

University of Bradford

Bowman Riley provided the roles of architect, client’s agent, party wall surveyor and principal designer on a new research and innovation centre for The University of Bradford and the Digital Health Enterprise Zone created to support the research and development of digital health innovations to improve the lives of people living with long-term conditions.

The rambling and under-used 19th-century mill complex, Phoenix South West, on the University’s campus has undergone an extensive transformation to become a leading edge digital health research facility entitled the Digital Health Enterprise Zone Academic Building. The design retains many original features including cast iron columns and a structural frame supporting a north-light roof profile to a large part of the building.

It is the University’s focal point for access to the newest technology, research, and projects in digital health. The key design challenge involved creating a visual identity for the various parties housed in the Centre as a unified community and to provide a gateway to the campus that is accessible to the public.

The centre offers four floors of research, learning, exhibition and business incubation space. It has public clinics for physiotherapy, eye examinations and reviews of patient medicines. A key feature is a full-size two bedroom Technology Smart House that links to a 50-seat lecture theatre.

The Technology House will serve as a dynamic demonstrator of research and undergraduate and postgraduate projects to showcase technological advancement in digital health that can benefit people in their homes.

Bowman Riley has played a pivotal role in the delivery of the building from condition surveys and feasibility reports to the full design of the project. Our client’s agent oversaw the project’s delivery to ensure that the client’s vision was maintained and the works were completed to the highest standard.

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Brotherton Library External Lift – University of Leeds

Bowman Riley provided architecture, project management, and the role of principal designer on a new lift for the unique Brotherton Library on the main campus at the University of Leeds.

The Brotherton Library is a Grade II listed Beaux-Arts brick building built in 1936 with Art Deco fittings. The original lift was designed to transport books between floors and cannot be modified to accommodate wheelchair users. The University needed a new lift to provide full wheelchair access to the library in line with the Equality Act; our solution was to create a new external lift shaft and walkway. Centrally located, the lift provides access for all library users and improves the fire evacuation process for disabled users.

Initially, the planners insisted on a traditional brick construction for the new lift, which would be labour-intensive and costly and has increased health and safety risks. We actively engaged with the planners in the design process through early and continued consultation. This resulted in the agreement to install a steel frame lift shaft with a robust, high-performance cladding system.

This reduced the construction programme on-site, provided financial cost savings, and reduced disruption to the day-to-day activities of the highly utilised library facilities.

Due to the high access restrictions to the external site and proximity to the critical delivery access route, close management of the design and health and safety matters was required. Programming and coordination of noisy works, drilling, and cranes were meticulously programmed from the outset to ensure minimal disruption to the library, which offers 365 days a year service.

The new lift provides access for all library users and enables wheelchair users to obtain access to all floors of the Brotherton Library independently and with assistance if required.

The Sidings Residential Development – Menston

Bankhead Group

Menston, West Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed two new four-bedroom detached homes for the developer, the Bankhead Group, on a narrow strip of land located between Burley Lane and the existing railway line in the desirable village of Menston near the cities of Leeds and Bradford.

Permission had previously been granted for a single property on the site, however, our client aspired to develop the site more effectively by introducing a second property to the site. To achieve this, we made changes to the approved application and resubmitted it to allow for a shared drive, optimising the rear garden space and providing private parking on site. We also made minor tweaks to the layout of the already approved scheme.

Working on a very narrow site, the design of the second plot is bespoke and reflects the topography including restrictions such as avoiding root protection areas and ensuring adequate space alongside both plots where provided.

Each property was designed individually, however, the development is drawn together cohesively by incorporating the same materials and design details on both properties.

Each property welcomes residents with a double height atrium entrance using the contemporary feature slot windows to create a light-filled space. High-quality natural stone roofing materials are proposed.

Bespoke boundary treatments use horizontal sleepers spaced apart between steel grey posts to boundary walls replicate the look of the railway line.  Image credit: Bankhead Group.

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Abraham Moon Design Office – Leeds

Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd

Guiseley, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Abraham Moon & Sons is a weaving manufacturer located in Yorkshire, the traditional home of the English cloth mills. The manufacturer had outgrown their premises and needed to expand to retain their location and modernise working methods. Bowman Riley was commissioned to provide architecture, interior design, contract administration and CDMC to extend the factory by 45,000 ft2 bringing all machinery into one location in an open plan space.

Considering the site’s adjacency to a railway line, we communicated with Network Rail to ensure the factory and railway line were kept safe throughout construction.

Following the successful completion of the extension, we designed the refurbishment of a redundant first floor space within the mill into a dynamic design office and showroom.

Over 70% of the cloth produced by the factory is exported to America and Asia with clients visiting the factory from overseas to source traditional tweeds and cloths. The existing design studio was unable to handle large client meetings with no facility to display the fabrics.

The brief involved forming a new entrance with vertical circulation providing direct access to staff and visitors. A state-of-the-art heating and cooling system was required to convert the factory space into a comfortable office and showroom. Historic features were retained and the whole space was sandblasted exposing the original brickwork and stone details.

Located within a conservation area, the mill was fully operational during the construction. The design pays respect to the local vernacular and the site planning and logistics were carefully considered to deliver a traditional appearance with modern facilities.

Esso Petroleum – Across the UK

Esso

Across the UK

Bowman Riley’s unparalleled experience in petroleum projects can be traced back to the 1970s when the practice was first appointed by Esso Petroleum to undertake projects relating to their retail forecourt network across the UK and Ireland.

In the 1990s, we took responsibility for managing the archive of information relating to Esso’s national estate portfolio. This resulted in our appointment by Esso Europe (Exxon Mobile) to develop European standard drawings to form the basis for all retail forecourt developments in Europe. We played a pivotal role in the development and coordination of these standards.

Today we continue to work with them to maintain their standards library to reflect the latest European trends and legislation. This involvement has kept the practice at the cutting edge of forecourt developments. We have also been instrumental in managing the national programme of forecourt upgrades to ensure access compliance on over 600 sites.

Our current activity for Esso reflects their current strategy for consolidation and technical upgrade of their estate resulting in the completion of a significant number of tank and line replacement projects as part of an on-going programme. We are also involved in minor works projects on 40 sites to update the site image to the latest low energy standards.

We have an on-going brief to prepare and update the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations drawings for Esso on a countrywide basis.

Carltonside Fold Residential development – North Yorkshire

Candelisa Ltd

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Bowman Riley designed Carltonside Fold, four semi-detached family homes in Skipton for local developer, Candelisa.  The homes are located within a residential area on land that was formally council owned garages.

The site had previously been granted outline planning for the principle of the development with all matters reserved.  We submitted a new full planning application to avoid any complications that might arise later in the project.

The site is bounded by a row of houses and a recent housing development.  The layout of the site had to consider the overlooking distances from the existing properties.  Access had to be maintained through the site to the area of land to the south purchased by Candelisa for a future development. Due to the close proximity of the land to the flood zone and the existing ground conditions, the properties had to use pile foundations.

The three bedroom properties feature an open plan kitchen and dining area with folding doors onto private gardens, a separate lounge with log burning stove, an additional large attic room and two private parking spaces.

The desirable new houses were all sold prior to completion and occupied in April 2016 contributing to meeting the demand for additional homes in the Craven area of North Yorkshire.

Queen’s Hall and Community Library – Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire

Creating a stronger community hub for Burley in Wharfedale

A new chapter for two community buildings

Bowman Riley was appointed by Burley Parish Council to refurbish two important community buildings in the village – the historic Queen’s Hall and the community library.

The projects were delivered alongside each other following the transfer of ownership and management from Bradford Metropolitan District Council to the Parish Council. Both buildings required investment to bring them up to modern standards, improve their functionality and secure their long-term future as valued community assets.

Together, the projects created more welcoming, flexible and accessible spaces for the local community while respecting the character and history of the existing buildings.

Queen’s Hall

Dating from 1868, the Queen’s Hall is a landmark Victorian building that had served a variety of purposes over its history, including a cinema and lecture hall. By the time Bowman Riley was appointed, the building required extensive refurbishment, from roof repairs and window replacement to improvements to its dated and inefficient internal spaces.

Following a design competition, Bowman Riley developed proposals to transform the building into a vibrant community hub.

The design introduced a range of flexible spaces for local groups, clubs and community activities, alongside catering facilities and a bar. A new single-storey extension to the rear provided a large multi-purpose space, significantly increasing the building’s flexibility.

We explored how each space could work for different activities and user groups, using 3D modelling and animation to communicate the proposals and gather feedback from the local community.

Bowman Riley specified the works, managed the competitive tender process and provided project management, contract administration and Principal Designer services through to completion.

The refurbished Queen’s Hall reopened as a flexible community venue and a renewed hub for village life.

Community Library

Alongside the Queen’s Hall, Bowman Riley refurbished Burley’s community library, a 1970s building located next to Grange Park and on the edge of a conservation area.

The refurbishment brought the building up to modern standards while retaining its relationship with the surrounding area. The design created a more welcoming and flexible environment for library users and the wider community.

The building continued to provide space for a range of local activities and groups, including a chess club, under-fives’ storytime, local history group, knitting group and reading group.

Designed around the community

The two projects shared a common ambition: to create sustainable, well-used community buildings that would continue to serve Burley in Wharfedale for years to come.

Community engagement was central to the process. At the Queen’s Hall, regular consultation helped shape the proposals and ensure the spaces responded to the needs of local groups and users.

The result was a coordinated programme of improvements that gave two important village buildings a new lease of life.

Two buildings. One community. A lasting legacy for Burley in Wharfedale.

Take a look at our community experience here.

Boundary Mill Superstore – Colne

Bowman Riley designed the flagship Boundary Mill Store in Colne, for one of the UK’s largest mill store retailers offering discounted branded clothing and homeware products.

Our design replaced the former store on the site with a new contemporary piece of retail architecture, located in a prominent position at the head of the M65.

The building incorporates a double height curved glass façade, restaurant and café facilities with spacious balconies providing views over the surrounding countryside and a central glazed atrium with escalators and lift access.

Alongside the two storeys of retail space, we designed the associated warehousing, offices, and ancillary accommodation, along with external works to support approximately 1000 car parking spaces and a bus park.

The project incorporated a separate traditional style restaurant with 300 covers, tourist information, retail pavilions and a maintenance store with generators and a sprinkler plant.

Delivered on time and on budget, this successful development allowed Boundary Mill Stores to attract more customers, operate more effectively and grow their business at this flagship site.

View other retail case studies here

Timothy Taylor Transport Hub – Keighley

Timothy Taylor

Keighley, Bradford

Since 1858, Timothy Taylor has been producing award-winning Yorkshire beers and ales from its base in Keighley using spring water that wells up from deep under the Pennines. By 2007, the site had become too small and cramped for Timothy Taylor’s expanding operations. A new four-acre site was purchased across from the brewery, formerly the home of WASK Engineering.

Bowman Riley was commissioned to survey the site and design a new transport depot. We were involved in the demolition of the old factory buildings and designing fit-for-purpose, large modern warehouses and sheds whilst still leaving plenty of room for further expansion. This work included creating a refuelling depot, fuel tank storage, and hops store, as well as sinking a borehole to provide further spring water for the site. The new transport depot provides the brewer with an efficient vehicle distribution centre for its refrigerated lorries, which enables them to deliver twice the volume of beer than was previously possible and frees up their existing site of vehicles. This allows Timothy Taylor to respond far quicker and more efficiently to their customer base.

The design included ample vehicular and bicycle parking and disabled and public transport access. The site redevelopment has proved attractive to TransDev, a public transport operator that leases land, bringing Timothy Taylor additional revenue. Landscape design enhanced the area’s appearance and maintained an adjacent millpond and its surroundings as a haven for wildlife.