May 31, 2017
Allison Pike have designed a 60 bedroom hotel and restaurant for Premier Inn Hotels for a sensitive site that has been granted planning permission by Northumberland County Council.
Situated in the historic walled centre of Berwick upon Tweed, within the Citadel area, the site lies in a Conservation Area which since the demise of the Playhouse Cinema has effectively become a vacant gap site. Evolved through consultation and negotiation, the approved scheme extends over four storeys plus a roof with attic bedrooms.The height and scale of the building fits within its setting, being higher than some of the adjoining buildings on Sandgate but lower than some of the buildings facing the Quay walls.
The modelling of the building reinforces the Sandgate missing frontage by creating a strong element, split vertically into 3 sub-elements, with eaves levels stepping up from that of the adjacent building up to four storeys as the building turns the corner into Drivers Lane.
Larger areas of glass feature at ground floor to link the reception and restaurant use to the street and create interest and vitality. Upper floor windows maintain a strong vertical emphasis, one of the defining features of the area. Detailing to eaves, verges and rainwater goods will be robust and simple.T
he scheme design incorporates heat recovery systems and air source heat pumps to create as low energy demand for the completed building as possible, incorporating appropriate renewable and low energy technology. Planning Consultancy was provided by Walsingham Planning.
Premier InnBerwick AdvertiserGuardian: Berwick Heritage statusWalsingham Planning