Aberdare Girls’ School
The Aberdare Girls School development was an historic conservation project, converting an existing Victorian school into accommodation for over 55’s, the project consisted of a number of bungalows to the rear of the existing school, providing adapted properties for our client Hafod Housing.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Originally built in 1908, the Aberdare Girls’ School became surplus to requirements as a result of RCT consolidating three existing schools into one new “super school”, adjacent to Sobell leisure centre. As historic building conservation specialists, we immediately recognised the site was of significant importance to the local community and the original school building should be preserved at all costs.
The redevelopment of the Upper Aberdare Girls School was an amazing opportunity for our organisation, the project did pose some difficult challenges, however, these challenges were overcome with the incorporation of modern construction methods and strategic site logistics.
We put a planning application together which turned the original school building into 26 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments aimed to accommodate over 55’s, as well as 18 new build properties to the rear of the site, made up of 16 bungalows and 2 houses.
Close to the town centre of Aberdare, we understood the development would be particularly attractive to residential occupants as they would be able to walk into Aberdare for various amenities, therefore supporting the local economy and high street.
The challenges we faced included:
- Maintaining the existing facade of the original school building whilst bringing the building up to modern building standards.
- Fusing the existing building elements with modern designs, ensuring its compatibility.
- Surface water drainage
HANDOVER
The development now renamed “Llys yr ysgol” was handed over to our Client, Hafod Housing Association in the summer of 2020.
Recognised as a significant development by industry professionals, the development made the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) magazine within the March 2020 addition, a very proud moment for everyone involved within the scheme.
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