March 2011

We have been working with the Museum of East Anglian Life for several years, with projects including moving a 'tin tabernacle' and a traction engine repair workshop to the museum's site in Stowmarket. Over the last year one of our more unusual projects has been for the museum and involved repairs to the Alton Watermill which was moved to Stowmarket in the 1970s by the late John Weller.

The water wheel's axle is a large shaft of timber, which inevitably suffered from decay due to the damp environment. After around 150 years of use, one end of the shaft finally reached the stage where it could no longer support the weight of the wheel and the museum had to stop using the mill for demonstrations. Our repair solution has been to construct a new steel end to the shaft, based on the design of the original cast iron spindle which was fitted into cross-shaped slots in the end of the shaft. The new spindle is supported on steelwork which clamps to approximately one third of the length of the shaft, taking the weight off the rotten end back onto sounder wood. The result is a relatively simple repair (much of which was carried out by museum volunteers) causing minimal damage to the original shaft (and so keeping the museum's curatorial staff happy) and a working watermill - one of only two working watermills left in Suffolk.

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February 2011

We have recently submitted a planning application for this new house to replace an existing bungalow on a site near Framlingham in Suffolk. With its elevated position facing south and across the River Ore valley, the site has prompted a design which allows the new house to make the most of its extensive views and incorporate passive and active solar energy techniques, within a building with a striking external design enclosing some stunning interior spaces. The house is also partly built into the hillside in order to reduce its impact in the landscape and by providing garages under the body of the house limit the space devoted to cars to one corner of the site and distinct separation between the private and semi-public parts of the plot. This is a self-build project where Poole and Pattle will be working very closely with the client throughout the detailed design stages to specify practical construction methods exploiting the client's particular skills.

January 2011

We are pleased to announce that the family-run clothing outlet Coes has now given the green light for an extensive redevelopment of it's flagship store in Ipswich. Building was initially postponed because of uncertainties following the worldwide economic downturn. The forward-thinking plans total around £2m and will give a great boost to the local economy - underlining the business's faith in the town's long-term future. The scheme shown above, designed by Poole and Pattle Architects, is just the first phase of an ambitious two-phase development. During the first half of 2011 a new shopfront and facade will be built and this will create a sleek, landmark building with greatly improved street appeal, and increased floor space above. Together with an extensive internal refurbishment going on behind, the overall shopping experience will be greatly enhanced. Crucially, this initial phase of work will include structural alterations which will allow an extensive second phase of building to follow on later - expanding the store by another 4000ft2 on the second floor.

August 2010

Breathing new life into redundant buildings is one way to a more sustainable architecture. Under a scheme designed by Poole and Pattle Architects, which has recently been granted listed-building consent as well as planning permission, these derelict farm buildings near Ipswich are to be put to new use. A mix of new business uses is proposed. Wherever possible the old building fabric is to be saved, renovated, and put to new use, while some elements, such as the main barn ( shown above) will require total reconstruction. New highly-efficient insulated walls and roof will replace the originals, with a proportion of bricks and roof tiles re-used. The new office spaces created will be heated by renewable energy from a combination of solar panels and air-source heat pumps.

Local wildlife was considered from the outset. The buildings, and even the new sustainable drainage system, were carefully planned to minimise loss of habitat for lizards, and the scheme includes a nesting box for barn owls.

June 2010

Stowmarket Facelifts

In 2009 Poole and Pattle were commissioned by Mid Suffolk District Council to produce ideas for improvements to Stowmarket town centre as part of the council’s bid for Big Lottery funding of a Townscape Heritage Initiative. The initial work has led to the council grant aiding two facelift schemes to town centre shops for which we expect planning permission to be granted in May 2010.

The schemes involve over-cladding a drab and poorly weathering block of shops built in the 1960s, the insertion of a new traditional shop front in the prominent and blank side elevation of a shop on the town’s Market Place, and the insertion of another shop front in a former church hall which is now has retail use.

April 2010

Poole and Pattle have recently completed the initial design phase of this new residential development close to Ipswich town centre.
The site context is highly urban, and the design features two specially developed two-storey houses in response. Each house contains two bedrooms and a large open-plan living space, together with off-street parking. A sun terrace separates the two houses at first-floor level and the sustainable design allows for water recycling and renewable energy production.

Poole and Pattle were invited to prepare the scheme, following an earlier successful planning application for a highly innovative house on a similar site in the same street. The two houses are programmed to move forward towards a planning application later in the year.

February 2010

Suffolk Coastal District Council's planning committee has recently agreed to grant planning permission for a business park development designed by Poole and Pattle for the former Girdlestone Pumps factory site in Melton near Woodbridge. The scheme will provide over 8,500m² of new business accommodation in 27 two-storey office/light industrial units and a two-storey business centre providing serviced offices for smaller and start-up businesses. The scheme is being designed to meet the 'very good' rating under the BREEAM environmental assessment scheme, being helped to achieve this standard through the use of features such as green roofs, timber framed and clad external walls, heat-pumps for space heating, and passive solar techniques.

The design model shown here was constructed in order to demonstrate the impact of the new development in the local scene, and was part of an extensive negotiation process which resulted in the council's resolution to grant planning permission.

January 2010

Recently completed: a bespoke energy-efficient extension and internal re-modelling of a Victorian terraced house in Trumpington near Cambridge.

The client, Diana Johnston, is an artist and grew up in Sydney Australia, so light and space were primary concerns. Diana came to Poole and Pattle with a number of issues relating to the house - in particular, the problematic location of the single bathroom, which was accessed through the second bedroom, and the dark and poorly laid out kitchen. The spacious new design includes a bright and airy full-width kitchen/eating space and a new wet-room with shower and wc on the ground floor. The new extension maximises daylight entering the original part of the house, using specially designed rooflights combined with a generous new ceiling height. Additional spaces were found for storage, and even a laundry cupboard. Space and window area increased, but a package of energy efficiency measures meant that overall energy consumption was reduced.

December 2009

Lidl is the biggest deep discount supermarket operator in the UK and will soon have 600 stores. Their latest outlet started trading in Felixstowe on Thursday 19 November. Not for Lidl a relaxed mid-morning opening though. Corporate policy dictated that the Mayor of Felixstowe had an early start that day, and by the time she was braving icy North Sea winds to cut the ribbon at 7.45am, a queue of eager shoppers had formed.

Poole and Pattle worked with Lidl UK GmbH to obtain planning permission and with RG Carter (Ipswich) Ltd and Richard Jackson plc during the construction phase. The site was formerly occupied by the town’s bus station.

Our office will be closed from the 24th of December to the 3rd of January for the Christmas holiday.

We have decided again this year not to send an office Christmas Card - Instead, Leukaemia Research will benefit.

Thank you to all of our clients and associates for their custom and support during 2009. We wish everyone a very enjoyable Christmas and a happy New Year.

November 2009

Last month saw the opening of a new branch of Ernest Doe & Sons in Rayne Road, Braintree, designed by Poole & Pattle and constructed by T J Evers Ltd.
The company have operated from the site since 1947 but their premises had become outdated. Planning permission was granted at appeal in 2008, for redevelopment to provide a new store for Lidl UK and new facilities for Ernest Doe which include a large showroom, offices, parts storage and workshop. The building has been designed to meet the BREEAM 'very good' rating; amongst a comprehensive range of energy-saving features, it has a ground source heat pump system linking eleven 90m deep boreholes to underfloor heating. The lighting system has automatic dimming which maintains constant light levels whilst reducing wastage. The new workshop will be able to cater for the world's largest capacity combine harvester, the New Holland CR 9090.
The original Ernest Doe building has now been demolished and Lidl UK have commenced construction of their new outlet which will open in Spring 2010.

October 2009


Just completed - An attractive garden room/studio in the rear garden of a listed cottage in Debenham's conservation area. This 7m x 3.5m timber framed building provides studio space, storage and a sheltered south-facing verandah overlooking the garden.

September 2009A further phase of expansion at Coes outfitters in Ipswich has been granted planning permission this month. Coes was established on Norwich Road in 1928 and is an independent clothing retailer, now run by the third generation of the Coe family. The Ipswich store is the company’s flagship location and the headquarters of a group spread throughout the region. This latest proposal designed by Poole and Pattle adds 3900ft2 of retail space on the second floor.

August 2009

May 2009

We are delighted to have been granted planning approval for this innovative new house on a brownfield site in Ipswich. The site lies within a town centre conservation area and the sustainable design features provisions for multiple renewable energy sources, recycled roofing and walling materials and low water use.

April 2009

February 2009

January 2009

December 2008

November 2008

Woodbridge

Melton

Ipswich