Crayford – Planning Approval

Delighted to see the project at Crayford achieve planning permission, delivering three industrial units totalling 300,000sqft of floor space with integral grade A office space to each unit and supported by a split deck car park.

Features of the scheme include PV Roof panels, LED lighting, cycle storage and EV Charging. The schemes target is to achieve BREEAM Excellent, EPC A and net zero carbon in whole life cycle. 

Crayford could attract £120 million inward investment and contribute an estimated 13.3 million per year to the regional economy. It could support as many as 470 full time jobs once complete.

Congratulations to the entire team for the huge effort and collaboration to get to this stage and we look forward to working with everyone to deliver the scheme on site.

Developer: Stoford Developments Ltd
Planning consultant: Pegasus Group
Project managers / QS: Trinity Property Consultants
M&E: Hoare Lea
Sustainability: Hoare Lea
Structures & Civils: Rodgers Leask
Transport: Rodgers Leask
Ground Investigation: Waterman Group
Landscape Architect: Charles Potterton
Ecology: Rachel Hacking Ecology

The Design

The development of the site layout progressed through various iterations, assessing the ideal solution to the site within the limits of the site constraints. The natural subdivision of the site promotes a three-unit development, creating distinct zones that work to specific unit formats. Layout of the service yards, the office blocks and parking arrangements emerge organically through the study of existing site access points, constraints of the cross rail and the functional demands of circulation through the site. 

Site efficiency was at the forefront of the concept design, maximising the potential of the site to provide the best solution within the requirements and vision set out in the Bexley Local Plan. The driving factor is providing the apparatus to encourage further employment opportunities to the area through a creative architectural solution to the site.

The conceptual development of the buildings was influenced by the surrounding buildings, utilising a colour palette that has been used throughout the wider industrial and logistics parks. The form is dictated by modern styling to introduce a contemporary architectural typology that unifies the three units. The aim was to ensure that the design reflected the identity of the surroundings while integrating a design that can influence and direct future industrial developments with a distinct architectural language. 

The primary design features are focused around the front facing elevation, clearly identifying the entrance through framing and material changes. Elsewhere, the concept uses changes in colour and texture to break down the mass of the building and avoid vast expanses of uniformity.

Initial sketches looked at establishing the main zones for intervention and how best scalability can be incorporated into the design to unify the three buildings. In this respect, repetition is the key, allowing the building to expand or contract to the size required by just changing the quantity of the components. This ensures the integrity of the design can be maintained regardless of the size of application. 

The key principles are based on a monolithic form and monochromatic colour palette. Contrast is used to break down the mass of the building and create a perceived hierarchy to the design. Textures and profiles are used selectively, with a ‘less is more’ approach that instills a level of restraint which reflects contemporary minimalism.