Case Study
Oakworth Homes, Bramcote
Bramcote is a village in Nottinghamshire with a long history. It’s located a short drive from Nottingham and other key towns and cities in the area, as well as boasting beautiful scenery and a traditional village centre, making it a sought-after place to live.
These qualities make the Bramcote area a prime target for new housing developments, and we were approached by Oakworth Homes to help in the development of several new 3, 4, and 5-bed detached houses.
OUR ROLE
Thomas Consulting was engaged to deliver a comprehensive superstructure design package for the development. Working closely with the client, architects and the wider design team, we developed structural solutions that ensured the architectural intent could be achieved efficiently and economically.
Our team was responsible for coordinating the structural design of each property, carefully integrating timber and steel construction techniques to create homes that were both structurally robust and energy efficient. Throughout the project, we collaborated with the wider project team to ensure the designs were practical to construct while maintaining compliance with current building standards.
Challenges
The development required structural solutions that balanced architectural ambition with practical construction methods. A key design objective was to maximise the quality of the living spaces while creating distinctive architectural features that enhanced the appearance of each home.
Several properties incorporated cantilevered elements to take advantage of the surrounding views, requiring carefully engineered structural solutions that could safely support these features without compromising the efficiency of the overall building design. At the same time, the structural system needed to deliver excellent thermal performance, minimise construction complexity and support an efficient build programme across the entire development.
SUCCESSES
To meet the project’s requirements, our engineers designed a hybrid structural system that combined the benefits of timber frame construction with strategically positioned structural steel elements. Timber frame walls, engineered joisted floors and pitched roof rafters provided an efficient, sustainable and highly insulated superstructure, contributing to the energy performance and long-term comfort of each home.
Where the architectural design called for projecting and cantilevered sections, bespoke structural steelwork was incorporated to provide the necessary strength and stability while maintaining open internal layouts and maximising views across the surrounding landscape.
The resulting design successfully combined structural performance, construction efficiency and architectural quality, helping to deliver an attractive and contemporary residential development that met both the client’s aspirations and the expectations of future homeowners.
