Following extensive pre-application collaboration with Durham Council, we are pleased to confirm that our proposal for an 89-bed student residence and retail store at Mount Oswald in Durham has been submitted for planning.
We worked with the client from inception through RIBA Stages 0–3. The proposal responds to the Mount Oswald masterplan and respects the surrounding context. We also addressed key site constraints, including root protection zones, the curve of the adjacent highway, and the site’s incline.
The design prioritises pedestrian links to encourage low-carbon travel. A central pedestrian route connects the site to the wider development. To the south, we created a link to an existing woodland recreational path. To the north, a living pergola walkway follows the curved site boundary. It provides a dedicated route from the retail unit into the wider area.
The material palette reflects the site character and context. We use locally sourced buff and anthracite bricks paired with anthracite zinc cladding. This combination offers a modern interpretation of traditional brick and blockwork construction.
We worked with a range of consultants throughout the design process to deliver a fully coordinated structural, environmental, and drainage response. We now look forward to building on this work as we move into RIBA Stage 4.
