| Client | Eton College |
|---|---|
| Turley office | London |
| Status | Planning application approved |
| LPA | Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead |
Transforming modern sports facilities at historic Eton College
Our role
- Our Heritage team were appointed by the college to provide advice to help inform and guide evolving designs for new and improved sports facilities, across two sites within their historic campus.
- The main site at Common Lane comprises a collection of older and more modern buildings within the Eton Conservation Area and setting of a number of listed or locally listed buildings. The site to its north is located within a more open landscape area and former outdoor swimming pool, beyond the historic settlement at Eton.
- We undertook research and analysis to understand the heritage significance of the sites and heritage assets. This was used to actively guide the design process and also inform pre-application discussions with Historic England and Windsor and Maidenhead Council.
- We promoted the final scheme at application with a full Heritage Statement to justify, and also highlight, the benefits of the proposals.
Results
- Positive pre-application engagement with regard to the high quality, and also sensitivity of the architectural design to its context, was gained in support of the final scheme.
- The planning application was approved at planning committee with officer support; now promising a new multi-sports centre and separate aquatics facilities, refurbishment of the historic Rackets Courts building, refurbishment of the Fives Courts and clubroom, and new café.
- The first phase; compromising the Sports and Aquatics Centre is now complete and in operation. It won the RIBA Regional Award 2023 for Hopkins Architects. The next phase is in further development.
Images courtesy of Hopkins Architects