Group Ginger have developed concept design ideas and planning material for Toddbrook Sailing Club’s new facilities. The brief included a new clubhouse, changing rooms, boat park, boat store, landscaping developed in parallel to a broader masterplan for the restoration of Toddbrook Reservoir.
Toddbrook Reservoir sits to the south of Whaley Bridge in the High Peak, and is home to Toddbrook Sailing Club. Following the 2019 incident, which caused damage to the reservoir’s auxiliary spillway, the restoration project requires the installation of a new replacement spillway, which requires the Sailing Club’s current facilities to be re-located.
Group Ginger have been working in collaboration with ARUP and the Canal & River Trust to lead on the architectural design solution for Toddbrook Sailing Club, working with ARUP’s multi-disciplinary engineering team to develop a site wide strategy. Throughout design development, we worked closely with Toddbrook Sailing Club to understand their operational requirements and aspirations for their new facilities. We also held public consultations to discuss design proposals with both members of the club and local residents, helping us to respond to feedback to enhance the design solution. Our conversations with the Sailing Club and local residents were translated into a site wide scheme and concept design proposal for the new clubhouse, with a particular focus on encouraging broader community use and improving the accessibility and inclusivity of the facilities, while responding to potential landscape and visual issues raised by close neighbours.
The concept design evolved into a trio of contemporary, asymmetrical pitched roof buildings with over-sailing eaves, offering both solar shading and cover for spectators. The south facing terrace offers a direct view from the clubhouse across the boat park and reservoir beyond, blurring the boundaries between outdoors and in. To the rear, a yard provides a teaching space, allowing classes prepare their equipment or practice techniques before heading over to the water.
One of the Club’s key brief requirements was the use of robust and low maintenance materials. In response to this, Group Ginger introduced panellised metal cladding which offered a low maintenance and durable solution, which can be removed, replaced and recycled throughout the building’s lifespan. This is paired with a natural stone plinth, adding robustness and alluding to the traditional materials typical of the High Peak area.
Group Ginger are pleased to share that the scheme was granted planning approval in March 2022, with the spillway works due to start on site later this year. We are excited to follow the scheme to site, with the construction of the new Sailing Club anticipated to commence in Summer 2024, as part of wider reservoir restoration project.
Group Ginger
Group ginger is a practice of architects. Our name derives from the political term, a ginger group. Ginger groups work to identify alternative ideas for the benefit of their host. As such Group Ginger works with clients to identify opportunities which amplify development potential and celebrate activity.
