Déjà vu
Well, this is rather odd! Back in July last year, I wrote a blog post on this site about gaining a planning approval for Northstone, and moving into our new studio. Well, not much more than 8 months later, I’m writing a blog post about gaining a planning approval for Northstone, and moving into our new studio. No, it’s not old news, it’s a new approval and a new studio…
We’ve been working on Northstone’s site at Garnet Fold Farm, in Bolton, since we set up the business in 2019, and we’re delighted to have been involved right the way through to gaining permission for the 108-unit scheme at planning committee last Thursday. Congratulations to Northstone, and thanks to all the team who worked on the project!
When we moved into our studio at Stretfield Mill last July, we thought it was an ideal opportunity to start to end the COVID-19 working-from-home cycle and establish a proper home for the business. Most of the team would work from home most of the time, but there was space for a couple of people to come and work in the studio. We could also meet clients there and it made for a good location for all the facilities the practice needed, like plotters, drawing boards and less exciting things like laminators, hole punches, and so forth. While this was ideal last summer, we had no idea that by the new year, the team would have grown so much that there was no way we could all meet in the studio at the same time with even the faintest attempts at social distancing!
So it was time to move! We’ve been lucky to find some space in the centre of Hathersage, a village in the heart of the Hope Valley (where we got our name), in the Peak District National Park. We’re close to shops, cafes (when they open), pubs (when they open) and restaurants (when they open), plus we’re handy for public transport, and we’ve got a great view out across the village to the hills and Abney Moor beyond. We’ve also got loads more space - enough room for the whole team to work downstairs at a sensible distance apart, and enough room for 5 or 6 people to meet upstairs while still socially distancing. The building is listed, and was originally the coach house and stables of Hathersage Hall. It has been beautifully converted (not by us, although any architect would be proud to have this in their portfolio), and is a delight to spend time in.
We’re really excited by the opportunities we have now we have the space to grow, and we’re looking forward to welcoming all our clients to the studio as soon as we’re able!
