Work has begun in earnest at the former Radbrook College site, as Floreat Homes commence phase 1 of their plans to transform the seminal victorian building and create a vibrant community of 126 architect-designed new homes that will include 22 independent living units.
The history of the college itself is woven into the history of Shrewsbury. Starting life as the Shropshire Technical School for girls and more recently Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology, Radbrook Hall as it is now known will take centre stage once more, at the heart of the new development.
Ever keen to ensure the preservation of the original architecture that gives the Hall its iconic character, whilst offering residents modern comforts including underfloor heating, the restoration will include the glorious stained-glass windows and elaborate stained-glass lantern at the head of the staircase, so that these distinctive characteristics can be enjoyed by generations to come.
Later additions with little architectural merit will be removed, returning the building to its original victorian footprint and injecting additional light and aspect into the 17 unique apartments contained within. High ceilings, original fireplaces and balconies will offer buyers a quality of space enhanced by authentic features but perfect for 21st century living.
Demolition work is expected to take around 18 weeks and will see five of the more recently constructed college buildings removed from the site, albeit with an eye on minimising waste, as Construction Manager Paul Goodman explains: “Anything that is not brick or concrete, such as doors, frames and pipework, is currently being removed by hand. Our target is to recycle up to 95% of the demolition material”.
The New Year will see the beginning of the former campus’ transformation into Radbrook Village, with the start of new-build construction. Award-winning local architectural practice AHR have worked closely with the design team at Floreat to offer a remarkable community of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes designed in response to the specific attributes of the site to provide generous space standards, to maximise natural light and to offer a genuine alternative to the frugal and uninspiring new homes replicating across the county.
Matthew Hill, Head of Development at Floreat, said: “We are delighted that work to sensitively re-model the site has finally begun. We are excited by and committed to this groundbreaking project, which over the next few years will see us deliver an ambitious vision for the site – weaving together the old and the new, with bespoke houses designed specifically for this location that breathe new life into the site and create a worthy addition to the thriving community in Radbrook.”
