The Knab site occupies a substantial portion of a headland forming the eastern part of Lerwick, the capital of Shetland. Until recently, it was home to the former Anderson High School campus, which included several important listed buildings. With the completion of a new school campus, the site has become vacant.
GRAS was first appointed by Shetland Islands Council in 2017 to prepare a preliminary report assessing the significance of the listed buildings on the site as part of a wider masterplanning exercise. This report also identified suitable options for the future reuse of these heritage assets.
Following this, GRAS was commissioned to secure planning permission, listed building consent, and building warrant for the demolition of various modern structures on the site, including several linking corridors connected to the listed buildings. The project included the sympathetic infilling and making good of openings created by these demolitions, ensuring the listed buildings were properly protected.
Subsequently, GRAS was engaged to prepare a detailed report on the proposed ‘mothballing’ of the listed buildings. This report outlined recommended measures to minimise damage and deterioration during the period in which the buildings remain vacant and unused, helping to safeguard their fabric and significance for the future.
Thaxton is a newly developed urban village centre located near Lisburn in County Down. Comprising a total of ten buildings, the project delivers thirty-eight residential units alongside a commercial area featuring a supermarket, petrol station, offices, a health centre, and a pharmacy.
The design adopts a formal layout that establishes a strong urban character across the site. This, together with a classical architectural approach and buildings of a substantial scale, positions Thaxton as a landmark development within the region. The scheme aims to create a vibrant and cohesive community hub that balances residential and commercial uses within a refined and timeless setting.
In collaboration with Castlehume Golf & Leisure and Nick Faldo, GRAS developed the masterplan for the International Championship Course, Spa Hotel, golf village, and waterside apartments located on the shores of Lough Erne and Castlehume Lough in Enniskillen. The development includes approximately eighty-eight new holiday homes designed to complement the surrounding landscape and heritage.
Design inspiration was drawn from the historic estates of Castlehume and Ely Lodge, ensuring the village sits comfortably within its natural setting. The layout reflects the balanced hierarchical organisation characteristic of eighteenth-century estate planning, with carefully arranged spaces that promote a sense of order and connection to the wider landscape.
The site gained notable recognition when it hosted the inaugural ‘Duel on the Lough’ event in July 2009, a celebrated match between Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy. This event highlighted the course’s status as a world-class venue and reinforced the masterplan’s success in creating a distinguished leisure destination.