IMPRESSIVE MODERN ARCHITECTURE PLANNED AND BUILT IN A TRADITIONAL CITY
Everyone in Bath knew the city's distinctive Peugeot dealership on the Upper Bristol Road. Having the plans for such striking, modern architecture in the middle of a World Heritage Site accepted was a tricky proposition. By negotiating with the city’s planning department, the highways authorities and Peugeot itself, Carter Hughes Davies won planning permission for the construction and managed an end to end service including surveys, architecture and project management.
Previously, the site was split between a petrol station that also sold used cars, and a BANES council highways department depot. The client bought the site intending to build a modern car dealership, accommodating a car showroom, offices and the servicing department, and Carter Hughes Davies was involved from the inception stage.
The brief was for a new flagship dealership, with the showroom fronting on one of the main arterial roads through Bath. As the site is in a conservation area, the planners did not want the building set so far forward. However, by good design, planning permission was granted with the showroom set forward meaning that passers by would be able to see the brand new cars inside.
End-to-end service
Carter Hughes Davies carried out the topographical survey, drew up feasibility sketches, negotiated with the planning authorities and submitted the building regulations designs and applications. Working drawings were created for the construction, and Carter Hughes Davies managed the project including preparing the tender documents, choosing contractors, and administering the building contracts from start to finish. We also worked with Peugeot to ensure that the design of this dealership was part of the company's new corporate image, using finishes and brand colours that were part of this scheme.
The result is a building that was shortlisted for awards in Bath and North East Somerset, and was also up for a prize in RIBA’s national category for commercial buildings. Since construction, the building has changed hands and is now the city's Argos outlet, but the same striking architecture is on display.
The building is used by the planning department as a good example of modern commercial development in Bath, and within the World Heritage Site.