The site, formerly home to the Salcombe Gasworks and later occupied by a gasholder, was decommissioned and demolished in the late 1970s.

It is now tightly bordered on three sides by residential, utility, and industrial properties. The proposed development consists of six luxury houses located above a residential car park and a food retail store. Designed with a contemporary aesthetic, the project used a local palette of materials to integrate the new buildings with the surrounding environment.

Given the site's history as a gasworks, developing this brownfield location presented challenges, such as potential contamination and being located in a coastal flood zone. The design of the project included flood mitigation strategies, such as elevating the dwellings above predicted flood levels and using flood-resistant materials.

In addition to these technical and environmental considerations, the project had to navigate local planning and building regulations, especially given the site's location in a coastal flood zone. Ensuring the retail component is viable in a flood-prone area requires careful planning and design with the wider team. Also engaging with the local community and being sensitive to the site's industrial heritage.

Project Roundup:

Client: Private developer

Location: Salcombe, UK

Project Team: QSPM Consultants, BDC Structures & Cruse & Bridgeman

Scope of Works / Project Brief: 6no luxury houses above a retail unit on a former gas holder site. Tricky brownfield development in a coastal flood zone.

Associated Blog: Designing for flood risk