St James Works
Forfar

After several unsuccessful attempts to gain planning permission for a mixed retail and housing scheme in the centre of the historic market town of Forfar, the client partnership (of AWG and Deanway) approached Gareth Hoskins Architects. The brief required 4795sq.m of large span retail units and associated car parking; Angus Council planners also wanted much needed housing.

With planners and client, the architects developed a design comprising two terraces of twenty-two one and two bed flats- six to housing association standard- which knit the development into the urban fabric. The larger retail elements are aligned to desire routes and existing roads while their profile is broken by a serrated roofline reminiscent of the mills which they replace. Housing materials are traditional colour-washed lime harling with slate roofs. Retail units are clad with lead coloured metal panels softened with timber where shoppers touch the buildings. The project was successful in achieving planning permission in September 2008 and the client is now considering how to take it forward.