Welcome to blog number 23 about my September site visit to Courtyard Gardens in Oxted – built on the former gasholder site.
This blog forms part of a series of ongoing updates visually documenting the process from the demolition of the gasholder in January 2019, right through to the completion of 111 high-end one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses by St William, part of the Berkeley Group.
A model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted, just opposite the development.
Block A on the right with Block B adjoining back centre and Block C on the left. Block A is Atkinson House, Block B is Beecham House and Block C is Hardwick House.
The photographs featured in this blog were taken on 3 September 2021 onsite showing the progress to date.
The photographs in the gallery below are each captioned top left – if viewing on a smartphone they may only be visible in landscape format.
Read on to find out more…
Now that the development is nearing completion it’s fascinating to compare the photographs taken during construction to the ones taken before the gas holder was demolished as the examples above and below.
This personal project has taught me so much about the building process from demolition back in January 2019 until now. From the foundations and footings to the types of bricks that are used and all the skilled trades and craftspeople involved to make this happen – not forgetting everyone working behind the scenes from the designers & architects to the team working onsite in the office (portacabins) and everyone in between to pull everything together.
I have been very fortunate to have been given access to go onsite regularly over the past nearly two years to photograph the changes for posterity. A huge thank you to the Berkeley Group for accepting my request to photograph the process and to Ness Kingham - Assistant Site Manager, for showing me around each time and telling or rather teaching me about the works and processes taking place.
I asked Ness to give a brief update about the stage the site was at during my visit and this is what she said:
‘We were preparing for the handover of Block B, undertaking final decorations, cleaning and podium landscaping. Internal trades and brickwork were continuing in Block C’.’
I hope you are enjoying seeing and learning about the progress of the development as much as I am.
All of the images taken are held within my personal archive for posterity, please do get in touch if you would like to know more.
To read the blog from July 2021 please click here.
To read previous blogs, these can be found towards the bottom of the main blog page under ‘Featured’ blogs – this includes all 22 previous gasholder blogs.
For further information about Courtyard Gardens please follow this link to the Berkeley Group St William website.
More information here on the Robert Leech website too.
Looking forward to going back in October to photograph the progress as we edge closer to completion.
Thank you
Stella
