Margaret Stancomb, Trowbridge, Wiltshire – Affordable Housing & Conversion

Quattro Design Architects were appointed by E G Carter & Co Ltd, and Selwood Housing Group, to design a scheme for residential development on the site of the former Margaret Stancomb Infant & Nursery School located to the north of Trowbridge town centre.

The site lies partly within Trowbridge Town Conservation Area and included the large stone-built school room of the former, now redundant, Margaret Stancomb Infant and Nursery School. This building, although not listed, was however recognised as a non-designated Heritage Asset and the site also had listed buildings within close proximity and was also surrounded by typical two-storey residential property, both period and modern. Other notable site features included substantial tree planting and an established access road.

The existing Margaret Stancomb Infant School building which has been retained and converted into 3 town houses as part of the approvals achieved, set much of the frame work from which the remaining site development and layout progressed. A stone built building with smooth faces quoins, window surrounds and parapet, with coursed rough infill stonework, prominent gable and full height dormer features, afforded the building with an attractive level of interest and detail, as well as a prominent presence within the street scape and immediate locality. This needed to be maintained and complemented through the proposals.