Unit 6-7 Queensmere Shopping Centre – Retail Units Conversion

Beta Scope

•  Retail Units Conversion Design.
•  Measured Survey of existing commercial unit.
•  Advising the client on planning requirements.
•  Submitting planning application for the proposed outside seating area.
•  Submitting permitted development application for the subdivision.
•  Acting as Agents on behalf of the client and responding to local authority queries by providing solutions to the comments raised by the planning officer.
•  Preparing Building Regulation package.
•  BDC acted as a Project Manager.
•  BDC acted as CDM Regulations Principal Designer.

Background

Beta Design Consultants were commissioned by the client who leases Unit 6-7 of the Queensmere Shopping Centre in Slough and comprises 387.6 sqm floor space at ground and first floor levels.

–           First floor storage area 112.8 sqm

–           Ground floor (A1) retail unit 274.8 sqm

The client operational requirements were to subdivide the ground floor of an (A1) shop into two A1 units, Cosmetic and Bakery.

Beta Solution

The main Challenge that BDC faced was the shopping centre will be in use for only the next five years and the client wants to get the job done in no time to maximize yield and return on investment from the two units during this period.

To achieve that BDC aimed to propose a layout and specifications to achieve the client requirements in a tight schedule and to a reasonable cost. It was necessary to produce a comprehensive design package for the fit out to ensure contractors reduced margins and identified all hidden risks.

BDC coordinated with the building control company, the contractor, the shopping centre management and the other consultants e.g. fire risk assessor to manage the project and fulfil the client expectations. Requirements for ventilation, air conditioning, fire protection, alarms, sprinklers had to all be identified through various site visits and design meetings to eliminate hidden costs and produce compliant designs.

BDC worked to comply with all building control requirements and attend site visits to make sure that the contractor follows the specifications to avoid any delay in the timetable.