Spratley clocks up consent for bigger Bremont HQ

Spratley Studios has pocketed planning permission for a new headquarters for luxury watchmaker Bremont in the Oxfordshire town where both firms are based.

The practice last year secured consent for an 1,850 sq m base for the firm at an agricultural site in Henley-on-Thames, but its latest approval paves the way for a 3,250 sq m scheme offering almost double the floorspace on the same site.

South Oxfordshire District Council has backed the proposals, revised to help Bremont cope with rising staff numbers as part of its expansion.

The new building, where Bremont’s watches will be both designed and manufactured, will replace a set of disused piggery buildings on the Culden Faw Estate, owned by Swiss financier Urs Schwarzenbach.

Spratley director Stephen Smith said the new structure had needed to emulate the high design requirements of the brand, and do so in an “environmentally friendly and sustainable way”.

“Bremont came to us with a truly unique brief and some quite challenging requirements for the office and manufacturing elements of their HQ, which made for a dream commission for us,” he said.

“We are thrilled to now be able to deliver this building in our home town for a brand with as much design integrity as Bremont.”

Spratley designed Sawmills, Bremont’s first office in Henley-on-Thames, in 2012.

Prices of the watch firm’s products start at around £3,000, rising to well over £10,000.