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Market Sectors
■	Aviation
■	Data Centres
■	Defence
■	Development
■	Education
■	Harbours and Waterways
■	Healthcare
■	Highways
■	Hotels
	■	City Inn
	■	Marriott Hotel
	■	St Pancras Chambers
	■	The Grove
■	Industrial
■	Laboratories and Pharmaceutical facilities
■	Media & Broadcasting
■	Offices
■	Rail
■	Residential
■	Sports / Leisure
■	Water
Services - Buildings
Services - Environment
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Sustainability
Capabilities A - Z

The Grove

Watford, UK

Project outline

The Grove, near Watford, is a substantial country estate, formerly the home of the Earl of Clarendon. The Site includes the main Mansion House dating from the 17th Century, a Stables Block, a Walled Garden and numerous other cottages, outbuildings and historical features. More recently, the site has been used as a management training centre by British Rail who constructed a large number of more modern buildings.

In 1996, the site was acquired by Ralph Trustees Ltd, an independent Hotel group who currently include the Runnymede Hotel and Athenaeum Hotel in their portfolio. Faber Maunsell have helped Ralph Trustees to obtain planning permission and subsequently to design and implement a major redevelopment of the site.

The new development involves the creation of a major five star Hotel and Leisure Resort including:

Restoration and refurbishment of the Mansion House to provide luxury hotel accommodation.
200 room new build extension designed to sensitively blend with the existing historic buildings and landscaping.
Luxury Spa complex including indoor swimming pool, whirlpools and treatment rooms.
Restoration of the Walled Garden including tennis courts and outdoor 25m swimming pool.
New championship standard 18 hole golf course and clubhouse.

Key features

Providing masterplanning, lead consult role, design and contract management, from inception through Planning, Public Enquiry and to completion for the external infrastructure.
Environmental and flood plain issues relating to 130 hectare site involving negotiations with MAFF, English Heritage, English Nature, British Waterways, Thames Water, Hertfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency.
Construction of footbridges over River Gade and underpass beneath public highway to link the different parts of the site.
Construction of new hotel extension using a significant amount of pre-fabricated elements including bathroom ‘pods’.
Highly imaginative structural design solutions in the Mansion refurbishment delivering exceptional added value to the Client, including strengthening of existing floors and creation of additional height, all within the strict limitations laid down by English Heritage.
Basement construction of Spa adjacent existing buildings to keep within overall height and area Planning restrictions.
Demolition of British Rail buildings and existing poultry farm on the site including geo-environmental risk assessments.

Appointment

Civil/Structural
Infrastructure
Geotechnics
Contract Administration.