Verified View of Previous scheme
Somerset House
Commercial
The balance of commercial design & community engagement.
Project Description
Renovation and roof extension of the existing Somerset House office building in Bristol.
The renovation aims to modernise the building while enhancing its visual appeal and functionality, contributing positively to the local commercial landscape.
Details of Our Work
Our team was commissioned by Architects Stride Treglown to produce Verified Views of Somerset House, a 1960s office building earmarked for refurbishment and an additional floor.
Our key tasks included:
1. Visual Development: We created design-led Verified Views, including AVR3s, to demonstrate how the new materials and extensions would enhance the building’s appearance.
2. Photo Integration: Our work involved blending photographs of the existing structure with a 3D model that accounted for the proposed changes.
3. Stakeholder Consultation: We provided visualisation of the proposed development to support the project team’s engagement with local residents and other stakeholders, ensuring that details of the project were clearly understood.
Capturing photos from residential homes posed a unique challenge, requiring us to seek permission and navigate the constraints of various window types in properties that included Edwardian homes. Our team’s dedication to respecting homeowners and making their experience comfortable was paramount throughout the process.
Location
- Canygne Road, Clifton, Bristol
Client
- BEGG (Nominees) Ltd
Collaborators
Architects – Stride Treglown
Somerset House Existing and Proposed Verified View
Challenges
The technical challenge of creating accurate external views included:
- Developing a rendered model that accurately reflected the existing structure with the proposed modifications.
- Adjusting for real-time elements such as light reflections and the removal of obstructive vegetation from views, which required numerous iterations to achieve an authentic representation.
Conclusion
Our thorough investigations and visual representations contributed to planning permission being successfully obtained in 2023.
The project has been noted for its innovative approach in blending new designs with pre-existing structures while prioritising community concerns.
This case study demonstrates the importance of considering the perspectives of surrounding residents in urban renovations and preparing high quality visualisations to communicate the impacts of change. Engaging with the community not only builds trust but also leads to mutually beneficially planning outcomes.
Student Accommodation, Little Holme Street, Leicester
Project Description
A major new 6–7 storey student accommodation scheme on Little Holme Street, Leicester, delivering 466 high‑quality student bed spaces in an area of significant historic sensitivity. Positioned across the River Soar from Leicester Castle and the Magazine Gateway Scheduled Monument, the site sits at the heart of a landscape where modern development must carefully respond to heritage setting, scale, and massing.
To support the planning process, we were commissioned by Crown Student Living—working closely with Alder King and Pearce Planning—to provide comprehensive visualisation services, including Verified Views, CGIs, and detailed visual impact assessment.
Heritage Context Visualisation
One of the central challenges for the project was demonstrating how a substantial new PBSA building would integrate with Leicester’s historic city centre. The site forms part of the wider setting of Castle Gardens and Castle Park, where long‑established heritage assets dominate key townscape views.
Because of its location, even small adjustments to height, form, and façade treatment could influence the visibility of the development from protected viewpoints. Ensuring that heritage sightlines remained respected was essential for establishing planning acceptability. The visualisation work therefore had to clearly illustrate how the modern building would appear in everyday views across this sensitive urban landscape.
Our Visual Assessment Strategy
Early engagement with Leicester City Council (LCC) was fundamental. Working collaboratively, we identified a series of critical heritage‑related viewpoints requiring assessment. These included locations along the River Soar, Castle Gardens, and principal pedestrian routes where the development could be perceived against historic backdrops.
An on‑site meeting with LCC enabled us to refine the selection, ensuring each viewpoint captured the correct visual context and level of detail. We then used DSM data and early-stage 3D modelling to test and confirm these views. Maintaining consistent viewpoint locations through multiple design revisions allowed decision-makers to assess changes with clarity and track how the proposal evolved in response to feedback.
Technical Visualisation Solutions
Given the sensitivity of the heritage context, the project required a technically rigorous approach. Our visualisation package combined three core elements:
Accurate Visual Representations (AVRs)
Using the agreed viewpoints, we produced precise AVRs illustrating height, massing, and spatial relationship to heritage assets. These formed the primary evidence base for understanding the built form’s impact.
Computer Generated Imagery (CGI)
We supplemented the AVRs with detailed CGIs showing architectural treatment, materials, landscape integration, and façade articulation. These aided design iteration and stakeholder communication.
Verified View Montages (VVMs)
VVMs provided high‑fidelity before‑and‑after comparisons from sensitive heritage viewpoints. For planning committees, these montages proved invaluable in conveying impacts that cannot be captured through drawings or descriptive text alone.
Throughout the design process, we updated the modelled content while retaining constant viewpoint positions. This continuity ensured that planners could focus on design changes rather than interpreting new view locations. Our modelling also incorporated the River Soar corridor and the specific topography of Castle Gardens, ensuring an accurate representation of the visual relationship between the proposed development and the historic setting.
Close collaboration with ECE Westworks supported architectural refinement, with our visuals helping guide heritage‑sensitive adjustments to massing, articulation, and overall townscape response.
Location
- Little Holme Street, Leicester
Client
- Crown Student Living
Evening CGI of Previous scheme
Stakeholder Communication & Consultation
The visual material served as a key tool for engaging multiple stakeholder groups. LCC’s conservation officers relied on our verified views to assess compliance with heritage policies, while planning committee members benefited from clear, easily interpretable visual evidence.
Public consultation also improved through the accessible before‑and‑after comparisons. These images demonstrated everyday visibility and helped reassure local residents that key heritage views remained protected. The clarity of this visual communication reduced uncertainty and allowed discussions to focus on genuine planning considerations.
Planning Outcome & Delivery
The scheme successfully secured planning permission, with our visualisations supporting the heritage assessment playing a central role.
The Verified Views and TVIA helped demonstrate that the development responded positively to its sensitive context while meeting the city’s need for additional student accommodation.
Delivering a contemporary, high‑density PBSA development that integrates effectively into Leicester’s historic environment. The project stands as a strong example of how comprehensive visual assessment and clear stakeholder communication can support appropriate development within heritage‑rich urban settings.
