Harbour View, Northfleet
Joe Miles wanted me to design a scheme for a couple of houses in Cathays, but first he needed to test me; if I wanted to work for Joe, I first had to demonstrate my skills on a project for his Bulgarian friend and colleague, Emil.
Emil, a carpenter, that Joe had brought forward over some years in his construction firm, had saved his earnings to purchase some land. The land he bought had outline planning permission for a block of flats, but the drawings were wrong; the proposed building would not fit on the land.
As I had only designed extensions previously, and this was a major project. I worked closely with the planners to both design a new building, and complete the associated documentation. The application was handled by the Gravesham Head of Planning, Michael Jessop. He wrote afterwards; “I think this has been a good example of proactive discussion between parties resulting in a high quality development. I look forward to approving the final details in due course and seeing this scheme be built”. Michael Jessop went on to become Head of Development Management at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, and I was playing in a bigger game; taught how-to by the planners themselves.
Emil completed his building with his father, by hand, over a couple of years. The main construction material is recycled woodfibre insulated concrete formwork; Durisol.