CSA Architects

Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth

The proposed extension to the Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth is a challenging and unique project that involves many technical as well as sensitive planning issues. The proposal consists of a major expansion, in the form of 4 fingers of new accommodation, to be constructed on piers projecting into the river.
The new development achieves 47 new rooms and hotel suites, projecting into the water and also includes a £3m project to remodel the existing hotel. This project required a full environmental impact assessment; a unique capability within an architectural firm. This comprehensive service enabled a more sensitive design solution, being more adaptive and aware of specialists consultants input. As such, the evolution of the scheme design changed dramatically, from initial concept to the final proposal. Specifically, there were 3 key issues to address, these related to flood risk, ecological impact on the foreshore, as well as potential impact on the character of the conservation area and listed quay. As such, these key issues were the primary focus of the design evolution, working closely with the specialist consultants and local planning authority and statutory consultees, including the Environment Agency and Natural England, to mitigate potential impact and to achieve a sensitive scheme for this unique setting. This culminated in the production of a scheme which opened up to the foreshore, being constructed on piers, rather than quays to maintain the ecological value of the foreshore and existing bank. In addition, the defined finished floor levels and wave deflection structures, incorporated within the scheme, further mitigate flood risk; to the satisfactory acceptance of the EA.
As lead consultant, it was also necessary to engage the public from an early stage; csa managed and coordinated public consultations, presentations and press releases, as well as the scheme design itself. Working with more than 15 consultants for the planning stage alone, as well as key stakeholders, the general public, the planning department and consultees further demonstrates the ability of csa to actively manage and coordinate major projects; working to a defined timetable, the application was submitted in accordance with the project programme. Clearly, with this number of consultants and the need to continuously refine the scheme design throughout the process, csa were flexible, sensitive but authoritative to successfully process this comprehensive planning application package.