On behalf of Keepmoat Homes, the Pegasus Group Leeds Office was delighted to offer our expertise tohelp the BBC’s DIY SOS team build a new community building for a local Leeds charity, Getaway Girls. This project would form part of this year’s Children in Need.

The charity Getaway Girls empowers girls and young women to support each other to build confidence, resilience, raise aspirations, develop new skills, and take positive risks in a positive environment which offers co-operation and support. We have made connections with the charity that we hope will continue over the coming years, including providing work experience here in the Leeds office.

The new building sited in Seacroft will give a much-needed safe space for vulnerable girls and young women living in Leeds. They will be able to access support and advice. The new building will include offices, a creche, activity spaces, a music and media studio, counselling rooms and a garden.

The site, provided by Keepmoat, was assessed and a building concept and complementary outdoor space was designed to meet the client’s requirements.

The project involved work from four disciplines within the Leeds Pegasus Group Office:

  • Planning
    • Nigel Cussen – Senior Planning Director
    • Ben Gibson – Senior Planner
  • Design
    • Nigel Faulkes – Design Director
  • Landscape
    • Kate Curtis – Senior Landscape Director
  • Transport
    • Tony Jones – Transport Director
    • Alex Snartt – Senior Transport Planner

Nigel Faulkes and Kate Curtis worked closely with Getaway Girls and the BBC DIY SOS team to understand the design requirements for the building, supplying a building and site design which best meets the needs of the charity, whilst allowing a speedy and efficient build.

Our planning team coordinated and submitted the planning application, collaborating closely with officers of Leeds City Council to achieve a successful grant of the planning application, just 7 weeks after registration.

Pegasus Group’s transport team collaborated with the Council’s highways officers and Keepmoat Homes to agree on a suitable access solution to the site, involving a new access drive.

The design was then passed over to the detailing and construction team overlooked by the BBC.

Pegasus Group were excited to be involved in the scheme with Nigel Cussen saying, “We are really pleased to be able to support Getaway Girls in the very important support they provide within the community.” 

The episode was broadcast on 16th November 2022 as part of BBC Children in Need.

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