1. DESIGN PROPOSALS
St Philips Church, Dorridge
Issue Date: 10th February 2014
Project: 2865 | Ref: A140210A2865design-proposals

2. DESIGN STATEMENT
Introduc on
Robothams Architects were appointed in 2012 in a team led by Kier Construc0on to develop plans for a new church and
associated facili0es on St. Philip’s exis0ng site in Manor Road, Dorrdige.
Following consulta0on with the local planning authority, the congrega0on, neighbours, the wider community and a subgroup of the Diocesan Advising Commi6ee, revised proposals have been prepared for the redevelopment of the church and
set out in this document.
1.0
The Site
The church is situated close to Dorridge village centre with good links to pedestrian footpaths, vehicle routes and the
railway sta0on to the east. It is deemed to be a good loca0on for the churches ac0vi0es and therefore redevelopment on
the exis0ng site is considered the best op0on.
Figure 1 - the site and surrounding landscape is suburban in character.
The character of Manor Road is suburban with detached houses and a mature, verdant landscape (refer to figure 1 and site
photos). The site in addi0on to the exis0ng buildings accommodates a number of mature trees which the local planning
authority have indicated are worthy of reten0on and protec0on.
There are two principal views of the site, from Manor Road, which would be considered the front and from the east across
the railway sta0on car park, par0ally visible from the village centre.
2.0
The Exis ng Buildings
The current church building has evolved in a number of phases from the original chapel of ease built in 1878, the chancel
added in 1896, the community hall constructed in 1969 and the link structure built in the 1990’s. The church have
commissioned a Statement of Significance prepared by Asset Heritage Consul0ng, which provides a detailed narra0ve to
the development of the church, and iden0fica0on of its architectural and historical significance. The building was not
considered important enough to add to the statutory list by English Heritage however the church is included on a local list
held by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
Despite the exis0ng buildings (specifically the 1896 Chancel) a6rac0ve features the exis0ng facili0es do not lend themselves
to the modern worship aspired to by the congrega0on and clergy.
Site photos - from Manor Road and the raiway sta on carpark
Design Statement

3. The key issues which impact on use:
i.
The narrowness of the nave and its connec0on to the Chancel allow for only a tradi0onal linear form of sea0ng. The
available space means there is frequently insufficient sea0ng and many of the seats are detached from the focus of
worship within the Chancel. The church believes that a worship space needs to seat in excess of 350 to be successful.
ii.
The diverse nature of the buildings parts creates a range of maintenance issues, including the unfinished quality of
the worship space’s fabric.
iii.
Use of the building for children’s groups is inhibited by the exis0ng arrangement of rooms and availability of safe
external place space.
iv.
The youth group room is currently accommodated in a basement area with no means of access for the disabled. The
same is true of the commi6ee rooms at first floor level.
v.
The running costs of the building are considerable with the component parts bleeding heat through an inefficient
fabric with an unsophis0cated control system.
The project team have reviewed a number of op0ons for the displacement of the building on the site including reten0on of
the exis0ng Chancel (refer to figure 2). However this op0on will retain a number of exis0ng problems with the facility and
create addi0onal ones:
Figure 2 - a sketch design layout to illustrate the reten on of the chancel.
i.
If the main worship area includes the space within the retained Chancel then a linear form of sea0ng will con0nue to
constrain worship to a tradi0onal form.
ii.
The larger mass of the new ‘nave’ will impact nega0vely on the retained Chancel and be difficult to resolve
eleva0onally.
iii.
Should the Chancel be retained purely as a side chapel then the new worship space will be enlarged and impact
nega0vely on the building line in manor Road and the exis0ng trees.
In conclusion and aFer extensive debate and discussion it is felt reten0on of any part of the exis0ng building would
compromise and flaw the new facility, leaving future members of the congrega0on with a building as flawed as the exis0ng
one. The churches’ Statement of Need focuses on the requirements of the congrega0on moving forward and jus0fies the
need for a radical approach to the church’s facili0es.
Figure 3 & 4 - internal views of café and circula on space.
Design Statement

4. 3.0
The Proposals
The proposed facility will be located to the rear of the size minimising impact on the generally residen0al street scene and
maximising the opportunity to retain exis0ng trees and increase on-site parking. Parking is a key concern of neighbours and
although the church can do rela0vely li6le to improve the problem, a loss of parking would be seen as a significant issue.
5
The plan develops from the brief which requires two discrete major spaces, a worship space and a mul0 purpose hall. Both
4
3
are served by ancillary facili0es including toilets, entrance areas, mee0ng rooms and café. The design has been developed
2
6
to create a more compact worship space with the ability to spill out into the adjacent café to create 72 addi0onal sea0ng
spaces. By keeping the hall and worship spaces separate the design allows concurrent use of facili0es and retains a level of
‘spirituality’ about the interior of the worship space. The worship space is shaped around the retained east window and
1
references the forms and roof trusses of the exis0ng building.
Eleva0onally the redesigned worship space employs a bolder, gabled form crea0ng a more dis0nc0ve external appearance
which projects its use more posi0vely. The tradi0onal material pale6e and forms make a connec0on to the complex’s
context and the churches heritage as a humble 19th Century chapel of ease.
Figure 5 - features of the redesigned exterior.
1-
Facing red brickwork
2-
Stained mber boarding
3-
Concrete roof les
4-
South facing solar panels
5-
Sculptural roof feature
6-
Stone details
Design Statement

5. Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick CV34 4AB
T 01926 493843
F 01926 495314
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk
PROJECT TITLE
St. Phillp's Church, Manor Road,
Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8DX
DRAWING TITLE
Site Location Plan
STATUS
PRELIMINARY
SCALE
1:1250
DATE
April 2012
DWG NO. 2865-01
SHEET
SIZE
A3
DRAWN
JMet
CHECKED
SRJ
REVISION
-

6. 2.4m High Fencing
Existing Pedestrian
Access
Fire Exit
Tree T27
Removed
Plant Room
Fire Exit
Fire Exit
Two Storey Element
Worship Space
Hall
2.4m High Fencing
Tree T20
Removed
Entrance Foyer
Tree T33 Removed
Ceremonial
Entrance
Main
Entrance
Vicarage
(No. 6 Manor Road)
Pedestrian
Route
St. Philip's Church
Tree T35
Removed
Fire Exit
ST PHILIPS CHURCH
MANOR ROAD
DORRIDGE
New Boundary Line
Secure
Play Area
Tree T21 Removed
Tree T32 Removed
PROPOSED SITE LAYOUT
Bins
1
Tree T2 Removed
2
3
4
5
6
Tree T23 Removed
6 No. Disabled Parking Spaces
5
4
3
5 No. Car Parking Spaces
7
6
7 No. Car Parking Spaces
New Boundary Line
7
8
Cycle
Store
9
10
PRELIMINARY
1:250
October 2013
2865-30
2
11
1
Existing
Site Access
Existing
Site Access
New Pedestrian
Access
ARO
AF
-
Manor Road
Existing Pedestrian
Access

7. D
C
B
B
A
A
D
Store
19sq.m
'Pop Inn' Youth Room
59sq.m
Plant Room
12sq.m
WC
2.5sq.m
Creche Creche
Store 38.5sq.m
3sq.m
Store
18.5sq.m
Nursery
Store
6sq.m
C
Worship Space
364sq.m
Circulation
19.5sq.m
Male WC
25sq.m
Female WC
25sq.m
Lift
Entrance Foyer
129sq.m
Stairs
16sq.m
See drawing 2865-33 for alternative
seating layout options
Multipurpose Hall
163sq.m
D.WC
3.5sq.m
Cleaners Store
3.5sq.m
Kitchen
22sq.m
Office
34sq.m
Lobby
6.5sq.m
A
Lobby amended.
25.10.13 ARO AF
REV DESCRIPTION
DATE DRN CKD
Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick CV34 4AB
T 01926 493843
F 01926 495314
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk
PROJECT TITLE
ST PHILIPS CHURCH
MANOR ROAD
DORRIDGE
DRAWING TITLE
PROPOSED LAYOUT
GROUND FLOOR
STATUS
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
PRELIMINARY
SCALE
1:100
DATE
October 2013
CHECKED
AF
DWG NO.
2865-31
REVISION
A
SHEET
SIZE
A1
DRAWN
ARO

8. D
C
B
B
A
A
D
Roof below
Plant Room
6sq.m
Disabled
Refuge
C
Prayer Room
15sq.m
Committee
Room 1
18sq.m
Roof below
Circulation
20sq.m
Lift
Committee
Room 2
17.5sq.m
D.WC
3.5sq.m
Void above Worship Space
Stairs
18.9sq.m
Kitchenette
3.5sq.m
Counselling
Room
12.5sq.m
Void above Cafe Space
Store
5sq.m
Store
5sq.m
Sunday School 1
30sq.m
Void above Hall
Sunday School 2
30sq.m
Roof below
A
Window locations and Prayer Room amended.
REV DESCRIPTION
25.10.13 ARO AF
DATE DRN CKD
Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick CV34 4AB
T 01926 493843
F 01926 495314
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk
PROJECT TITLE
ST PHILIPS CHURCH
MANOR ROAD
DORRIDGE
DRAWING TITLE
PROPOSED LAYOUT
FIRST FLOOR
STATUS
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
PRELIMINARY
SCALE
1:100
DATE
October 2013
CHECKED
AF
DWG NO.
2865-32
REVISION
A
SHEET
SIZE
A1
DRAWN
ARO

9. OPTION A - 348 Seats
OPTION B - 326 Seats
OPTION C - 314 Seats
EXTENSION OPTION - +72 Seats
Alterna0ve Sea0ng Arrangements

10. Internal View of Worship Space

11. Internal Views of Worship Space and Foyer

12. External View 01

13. External View 02

14. External View 03

15. External View 04

16. D
C
B
B
A
A
D
C
KEY
A
B
D
G
G
G
E
G
E
G
E
G
E
Solar Panels
A
A
G
F
D
Reclaimed East Window
J
A
E
Composite Windows
H
G
B
G
Composite Doors
G
E
E
Vertical Timber Cladding
F
G
Stonework
E
G
Blue Engineering Brickwork
G
G
J
Red Facing Brickwork
C
G
Concrete Plain Tiles
G
B
G
E
G
D
B
C
C
SECTION D-D
WEST ELEVATION
G
SECTION C-C
G
G
G
G
A
G
G
A
E
F
G
A
G
E
G
G
G
B
PROJECT TITLE
ST PHILIPS CHURCH
MANOR ROAD
DORRIDGE
G
G
B
D
C
EAST ELEVATION
B
F
B
E
F
G
B
SECTION C-C
Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick CV34 4AB
T 01926 493843
F 01926 495314
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk
SECTION D-D
G
E
G
E
E
F
D
C
DRAWING TITLE
PROPOSED ELEVATIONS
EAST & WEST
STATUS
PRELIMINARY
SCALE
1:100
DATE
October 2013
CHECKED
AF
DWG NO.
2865-36
REVISION
-
SHEET
SIZE
A1
DRAWN
ARO

17. D
C
B
B
A
A
D
C
KEY
A
B
Red Facing Brickwork
C
Blue Engineering Brickwork
D
Stonework
E
Vertical Timber Cladding
F
Composite Doors
G
Composite Windows
H
Reclaimed East Window
J
G
Concrete Plain Tiles
Solar Panels
G
B
A
A
H
G
D
B
D
F
F
B
D
B
D
C
D
B
C
SECTION A-A
SOUTH ELEVATION
SECTION B-B
G
A
G
C
G
B
A
G
Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick CV34 4AB
T 01926 493843
F 01926 495314
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk
E
A
PROJECT TITLE
B
ST PHILIPS CHURCH
MANOR ROAD
DORRIDGE
E
B
B
NORTH ELEVATION
SECTION B-B
G
G
F
D
DRAWING TITLE
PROPOSED ELEVATIONS
NORTH & SOUTH
C
SECTION A-A
STATUS
PRELIMINARY
SCALE
1:100
DATE
October 2013
CHECKED
AF
DWG NO.
2865-37
REVISION
-
SHEET
SIZE
A1
DRAWN
ARO

18. Robothams Architects
The Old Library
12 Church Street
Warwick
CV34 4AB
t. 01926 493843
architects@robothams.co.uk
www.robothams.co.uk