Oversley
Blog.
Oversley is involved in a number of exciting projects. Read more about our progress and general news.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
6 January 2022
A new icon for Alcester
For many years Oversley Castle has been unloved and untouched while a number of developers have tried and failed for find a use for it. Financially it is a black hole so there is no profit to be had in redeveloping either the existing building or reimagining it as we are now trying to do. Unfortunately due to work that was completed on the building back in the 1930’s we have a situation where Heritage England saw no value in listing the building and the existing fabric was of such a poor condition the cost and ability to redevelop it was unfeasible. Many parts of the building, including the tower were condemned so even if you had wanted to save it, it would need to be rebuilt again from the ground up.
Therefore earlier in 2021 we received news that our ability to demolish the existing building and recycle the materials into a new, ground up ‘castle’ got the green light. The first new castle to be built in the UK for a 100 years and one that as the new owner I will live in with my family for hopefully many happy years. Already our investment into the hill has been substantial seeing the investment into thousands of new trees, finishing off the work the previous developer didn’t manage to complete and finally finding a solution to the original building.
Work has begun and hopefully later this year you will start to see the new building rise from the ashes, so to speak, which will be much more in keeping in the local area being built from stone and oak with the highest levels of environmental standards possible. It will provide an updated and more in keeping position on the hill across the valley from Ragley Hall.
It is being covered by a well-known national television program so for those interested in the project keep an eye out later in 2023.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
10 January 2021
Does Bidford on Avon need more houses?
There is currently an application to turn the empty square piece of land off Waterloo Road into a further fifty houses. As if Bidford on Avon isn’t already drowning under the quantity of new homes that have and are being built.
When we invested in building Cosmic House, the fantastic and award winning home for Bidford Bright Stars children’s nursery, we were told that the land would become the site of a new supermarket, shops and office space. The council were adamant that this corner of the town needed retail, not more homes. It is therefore disappointing to see this application make it to the District Council.
They are registering feedback until 18th January so if you feel strongly that this, formally industrial site, should be used for retail, rather than more houses please express your concern.
Visit https://apps.stratford.gov.uk/eplanning/ and search for 20/03349/FUL
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
8 October 2020
Oversley Awarded Property Management Company of the Year
We are delighted to announce that Oversley has been recognised by Corporate Livewire’s Prestige Awards for the second year in a row, successfully winning Property Management Company of the Year for Central England.
The award was predominantly for our work on Cosmic House, a building that was specifically designed to house local Children’s Nursery, Bidford Bright Stars. Completed in 2019, Cosmic House has already become a focal point of the local community, providing 200 new childcare spaces for local children and 30 new jobs created for the area.
To find out more about the nursery, visit our website at Bidford Bright Stars.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
24 September 2020
Oversley Marathon Kids Charity Run
Run by Raceways Events have organised another successful charity run in aid of Marathon Kids (formally known as Kids Run Free). The 10k run began and finished in Oversley Green, running along the country paths through the Oversley estate and Oversley Woods, raising an impressive £550 pounds for charity.
Marathon Kids, an Alcester based charity, was founded in 2010 by Martine Verweij. Over the past ten years the charity has helped over one hundred thousand children to get active by providing free running events, for all ages ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
Charities such as Marathon Kids need support now more than ever following the impact of Covid-19, if you would like to donate you can do so by visiting the Marathon Kids website. We look forward to welcoming back Raceways Events and participants to Oversley Castle soon!
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
8 May 2020
Wixford Village Hall steps up to support the community
There is no doubt that the last few months has been both unprecedented and challenging, however, one of the positives that has come out of the Covid-19 pandemic is the selfless community spirit that can been seen up and down the country.
For those local to Oversley, Wixford Village Hall has launched the Wixford Village Hall Committee Support Team, who are supporting local vulnerable people with shopping, the collection of medicine and post office collection and drop off. As well as practical assistance, the support team is offering calls with anyone who is struggling, they are there to listen whether you need some emotional reassurance, advice or just someone to talk to.
You can find details of how to contact the team of volunteers here: https://www.wixfordhall.org/ or you can contact them via email: wixfordhall@gmail.com
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
13 March 2020
Bright Stars is officially opened by local MP, Nadhim Zahawi
We’re delighted to announce that Bright Stars Nursery, built by Oversley in 2019, was officially opened by local Stratford on Avon MP, Nadhim Zahawi on Friday. This was following on from a very successful initial six months for the Nursery since the soft opening in September 2019. Bright Stars currently has nearly one hundred and twenty children signed up and the business has already created twenty new jobs for local people, with further roles becoming available as the nursery continues to grow.
Oversley built Cosmic House (the home of Bright Stars) as a social enterprise project using local trades and materials to build a low carbon and natural environment dedicated to the specific purpose of becoming a nursery school. Oversley worked with Rixon Architects who designed the building using natural materials, in keeping with the theme of nature the nursery has adopted, Bright Stars encourages children to learn through exploration and observation and providing a safe, natural environment for play was key. The nursery boasts a large outside space and forest school, complete with natural wooden frames and toys. The school allows children to learn about nature and connect with the outside world.
Nadhim was first introduced to the project back in July 2016, by the founders of Bright Stars; Jane Walters, Elaine Geden and Lianne Golder. The aim of the project was to offer much needed local nursery spaces but also support working parents by accepting children from 7:30 am until 6:30 pm throughout the year. By offering not only nursery spaces but also comprehensive before and after school clubs the business supports a large part of the community. It also offers comprehensive holiday clubs meaning it is only closed on public holidays and weekends. In addition, Cosmic House was designed to include three community rooms which are offered for discount hire to help support local businesses and give people a space to meet and interact. There are three large rooms available which offer catering and Wi-Fi.
Nadhim has been very supportive of the initiative, saying ‘being able to officially open Bright Stars is a great demonstration of investment by local businesses to aid and support the community. Not only have we got a great new children’s nursery that raises the bar in terms of supporting early year development but also this was done in record time with ground being broken in January and the building being open in September. This demonstrates what can be done when communities pull together and invest into our future. I have always fully supported the continued development and prosperity of the Stratford on Avon constituency.’
For more information on Bidford Bright Stars and for details on how to register your child, or for information regarding hiring the community rooms, you can visit their website www.bidfordbrightstars.uk.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
25 February 2020
Wixford to receive new village hall
As part of the application for Oversley Castle and the Greenhouse we have made a commitment to donate an existing building we have at the site currently called the Woodstore to become the new village hall.
The current hall is over 90 years old but beyond economic repair which means the plans for a new hall are being well received by the community. The new hall provides a much-needed space for meetings, community recreation and hiring for weddings or birthday parties.
The new building will be constructed from a steel frame and timber cladding with a cedar shingle roof, providing over sixteen hundred square foot of space for the local community.
The village of Wixford is located just half a mile from the Oversley estate. Wixford Council have been a great support during the development of the Oversley Estate which has transformed over the past three years. The final stage will begin later this year when planning is finalised, and work begins on the Castle.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
21 November 2019
Lots of awards
We’re thrilled to report that Oversley has received not one, not two but three awards in recent weeks!
Last month Oversley received Property Management Company of the year 2019-2020. This was largely due to our work on Cosmic House, the new home of Bidford’s new Children’s nursery, Bidford Bright Stars. Since the doors of Cosmic House opened back in September, the nursery has been thriving, with applications coming in fast. You can find out more about Bidford Bright Stars here.
We received the award for ‘Architectural Single Residence, Warwickshire’ in the United Kingdom Property Awards, 2019-2020 for The Pool House.
Last week The Pool House was once again recognised, and was awarded silver in the national category for ‘Best Luxury House’ by What House. Work began on The Pool House earlier last year and completed in July. It is an exquisite addition to the site of Oversley and is sure to make a fantastic home for the new owners.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
24 October 2019
Planning is filed with Stratford District Council
We have made the press! Today in the Stratford Herald it was reported that planning has now been registered with the council for the development of Oversley Castle. While the article is quite straightforward, the focus for the headline is on the demolition, rather than on the exciting proposal we have in store for its replacement.
When I originally moved to the site in 2017, the previous developer had plans to convert the existing building into five small duplex apartments. This proved to be financially unviable and then it was proposed to demolish the building without sharing plans and proposals for its replacement. I saw what was proposed and suffice to say the local community was right to be concerned, especially as the proposal centred around five independent large houses.
Certainly, I feel what we are proposing now offers an opportunity to do something quite dramatic and offer the local community something that is much more in keeping with the existing folly while making the most of modern British architecture. My ambition post-completion is while the existing building wasn’t of interest to English Heritage as an independent listing, that the new building will be.
What I would like to add to the article is while I am developing the building, it is also home for my family and I. I am conscious that how you approach a project such as this is certainly different than if you are looking at it as a developer wanting to make a financial gain.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
4 September 2019
Planning applications with the District Council
We are pleased to announce that the planning applications for both Oversley Castle and The Greenhouse have been submitted to Stratford upon Avon District Council and are currently being processed on the planning portal. It has taken many months to get to this stage but we are hoping through the consultations we have carried out that the proposal will be well received and a positive decision will be made.
The applications are over eighty pages each and detail the technology we are looking to deploy into these future landmarks. The plan is to make both buildings self sufficient and minimise their impact on the local environment.
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Piers Daniell
@amazingalcester
4 September 2019
Nursery building nears completion
Last week we celebrated the opening of Cosmic House in Bidford-on-Avon which is the new home to Bright Stars children nursery. The specially designed building encompass the very best building techniques to create a stunning building that is somewhat of a tardis. The building is made up of a wooden glulam frame to which structural integrated panels (SIPS) provide high levels of thermal efficiency. To this is there is wooden ship-lap board to create a stunning finish. The last bit which is currently being fabricated are the aluminium casings for the doors and strips that will go across the building tying it together.
The building is now open as we complete work to it and already registrations are flying in as parents and their children get excited by the new space.
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