December News from Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects

All the team at Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects would like to wish a Joyous and Peaceful Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to our clients past, present and future, and to our Contractors, Consultants and all readers of our News Blog.

Below is just a taster of what the KPTA team has been up to during December.

• This month we helped submit the Heritage Lottery Grants for Places of Worship application for Ovington Church, who are looking to repair their roof. The local school children are also helping by creating “a childrens guide” to the flora and fauna in the churchyard and the history of the church. Fingers crossed as we wait for HLF’s response!
• The drawing and schedule package for a new orangery and accessible bedroom, at The Retreat House Pleshey, will be sent to the client for perusal over the Christmas break and is going out to competitive tender in the New Year.
• Plans for a new swimming pool, gym and leisure outbuilding for a Grade II Listed Arts and Crafts house in Essex are with the client for their perusal, and will be submitted for Planning Permission early in the New Year.
• The pre-application has been submitted for the demolition of a poorly constructed 1960s bungalow, and to rebuild it as a 1 ½ storey lodge, which will be more in keeping for its surroundings at a large farm estate in Essex.
• At a Grade II, C.17th timber frame, thatched house in Cambridgeshire, we have carried out a survey to prepare drawings for the demolition of a 1960s garage and for a replacement timber frame outbuilding; and for repairs to a further large timber frame outbuilding close to the house; and also to some internal alterations to the house.
• We have submitted the application for Planning Permission and Certificate of Lawfulness for internal alterations, rear ground and first floor extension; providing an oak framed sunroom, a new Breakfast Room with new first floor bedroom, and a new balcony for an C.18th unlisted house, bordering National Trust property in Essex.
• Our clients are settled and enjoying their first Christmas for two years back in the C.15th Hall House, with C17th rear range, following extensive renovation works.
• We are currently in discussion with the Listed Building Officer over the proposed works to a C.18th Grade II Listed small thatched cottage in Essex, which it is proposed to extend on the rear.
• The Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent applications will be submitted in the New Year for the internal remodelling of the house and the external re-design of a rear range for a Grade II Listed early C.16th in-line Hall house in Essex.
• We have started the feasibility for a new village hall and sports pavilion in Cambridgeshire
• We have started the feasibility study, measure and drawings for the new ancillary building and internal alteration for St Mary’s Church in Saffron Walden. This is a glorious 
• We have completed the concept design to convert a little threshing barn into ancillary accommodation for a 16th Century grade II listed Farm House in Essex
• We are in currently doing the concept design for a new indoor swimming pool, gym and games room extension to a Georgian villa house in Cambridgeshire. There will also be new courtyard garages and outbuildings which compliment this important country house. Historic research has revealed that the house originally had another Georgian service wing and outbuildings to one side that were demolished in the mid-20th century, which has given us some scope for the new design. There was also a Georgian single storey range with tall sashes, which was demolished and we may reinstate as an enlarged Kitchen/dining room.      
• We are in the rectification period at Finchingfield Guildhall, who had 150 visitors in one day this month to their Christmas craft fair!
• We have been appointed as the new Architect for the lovely Coppersale Church, near Epping Forest. 
• Construction Detailed Design Drawings are nearly complete and the schedule fo works is being written up for St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Galleywood, where we are designing  new carved oak panelling and a modern structural glazed screen to the North Transept to create a Youth Room and accessible WC with robing room on a new first floor.  We are also designing a new tower balcony and tower screen to take the Organ.
• We have been out to measure a Hall House near Huntington which is to have some internal alterations and have started the existing building drawings. 
• We celebrated Christmas in style in the historic setting of Ickworth House, where we ate a very good meal and everyone enjoyed the Secret Santa presents!
• The office is now closed for Christmas whilst we all eat lots of food and drink too much and will re-open on Monday 6th January 2014.