Aspire Apartments – Herschel Street, Slough

Mid Group for Click Properties

Bowman Riley provided architecture and the principal designer role on Aspire Apartments, a major eight-storey residential scheme on a large brownfield site in Slough, one of the UK’s fastest-growing regeneration hotspots.

The 238 high-quality new homes are close to Slough’s Crossrail station and within the town centre where high-density residential development is sought, helping to meet the increasing demand for new homes and contributing towards the ongoing renaissance of the town.

Appointed to develop the designs, we had to comprehensively redesign the scheme to align with Mid Group’s approach to using off-site and modern methods of construction. The development used SFC light gauge steelwork system, which speeds up the construction process and reduces time and waste on site.

The scheme’s design and layout are suited to the site, the asymmetrical design.is sympathetic in terms of scale, appearance, materials, form and use to the surrounding buildings, and creates efficient site use. We adjusted the buildings’ lines to relate to the street geometry and to create amenity space, defensible space and improve the public realm. We designed a scheme of appropriate scale and density with high-quality landscaping and rooftop gardens with views over Windsor Castle.

The first block, completed and comprising 87 apartments, was sold to Pinnacle Homes to provide affordable housing, apartments for social rent and shared ownership. We worked directly with Pinnacle to finalise the designs and finishes to meet customer requirements.

We worked closely with the local police force to create safe and secure buildings achieving Gold Standard of Secured by Design. We took a fabric-first approach with photovoltaic panels on the roof and drainage attenuation as sustainable features. The location is sustainable, close to both Slough town centre and Slough railway station.

Andrew Shepherd, CEO at Mid Group said:

“We are delighted that Bowman Riley has come on board to deliver this prestigious development.  We are confident that their design expertise combined with a strong track record in the delivery of residential schemes will contribute towards the successful completion of this major scheme.”

See the Insider article and Yorkshire Post article on the scheme.

See more of our residential developments here.