JERSEY
Villa Cambray, St. Lawrence - A Bespoke Residential Property
March 10, 2026
Client
Sector
Residential
Scope & Services
Structural and Civil Engineering
Architect
Marc Medland Architects
Project Overview:
Villa Cambray is a high-specification residential dwelling located on an exposed hillside site in St Lawrence, Jersey. The three-storey structure incorporates steel framing, reinforced concrete elements, and loadbearing masonry to support large glazed façades, cantilevered elements, and open internal spaces.
The elevated site location results in increased wind exposure, making wind loading a governing design factor. In combination with large structural openings and overhangs throughout the building, the project required careful management of both structural stability and serviceability performance.
T&G were appointed to provide permanent structural and civil engineering design and SER certification, delivering a robust structural solution that balanced architectural intent, performance requirements, and buildability.
The Challenges:
Wind Exposure
The building’s location on top of a hillside exposes it to elevated wind speeds compared to surrounding areas. Wind loading therefore governed significant elements of the structural design, influencing both member sizing and the design of the global stability system.
Large Structural Openings
Architectural requirements included extensive glazed façades and structural openings spanning up to approximately 13 metres. Achieving these spans while maintaining strict serviceability limits required careful control of structural stiffness and deflection.
Structural Coordination
The building incorporates a combination of steel framing, reinforced concrete, and loadbearing masonry elements. Accurate coordination between these systems was critical to maintain architectural alignment and prevent construction clashes.
T&G’s Approach:
The structural solution was developed as a hybrid steel and concrete system to provide both strength and stiffness while allowing the architectural design to be realised.
Global stability is achieved through a combination of steel and reinforced concrete moment frames, supplemented by the buttressing effect of internal concrete and blockwork walls. This arrangement provides resistance to lateral wind loads while maintaining the open structural layout required by the architectural design.
The building is supported on a reinforced concrete raft foundation bearing onto a rock stratum, providing a stable and efficient foundation solution suited to the hillside site conditions.
Serviceability performance governed key design decisions. Particular emphasis was placed on limiting structural deflection around large glazed openings, ensuring that movement remained within acceptable limits for glazing systems and architectural finishes.
Wind loading was assessed in accordance with the relevant British Standards, and member sizing was developed to satisfy both strength and serviceability criteria.
Implementation:
T&G were responsible for the permanent structural and civil engineering design and certification of the development. The scope included:
• Structural design of foundations, superstructure, and stability systems
• Steel framing design for long-span openings and cantilevered elements
• Reinforced concrete elements and loadbearing masonry walls
• Surface and foul drainage design external to the building footprint
• Coordination with architectural, glazing, and specialist contractor designs
• SER certification
All structural elements were designed in accordance with relevant British Standards and were subject to internal technical review and independent checking prior to issue.
Collaboration & Delivery:
T&G worked closely with the architect, client, and specialist contractors throughout the design process.
A coordinated 3D structural model was developed early in the project, allowing the design team to visualise the structural layout and resolve complex interfaces between structural elements, glazing systems, and architectural features.
This approach enabled early identification of potential clashes and design conflicts, allowing them to be addressed before construction commenced. As a result, on-site modifications were minimised and the construction programme progressed efficiently.
Close collaboration with the glazing contractor was also essential to ensure that structural deflections remained within the strict limits required for the large glazed façades.
Outcome:
The completed structure successfully delivers the architectural vision of large open spaces and extensive glazing while maintaining robust structural performance.
Key outcomes include:
• A stable structural system capable of resisting elevated wind loads associated with the exposed hillside location
• Long-span structural openings achieved while maintaining strict serviceability limits
• A foundation solution efficiently bearing onto rock strata
• Reduced construction risk through early coordination using a 3D model
• Full compliance with British Standards and SER certification requirements
The project demonstrates the value of early collaboration and integrated design in delivering complex residential structures efficiently and safely.
For more information on T&G’s engineering solutions for this project or to discuss your own engineering enquiries, contact Tom McCarthy at [email protected], call 01534 867070, or visit www.tag.je.
The T & G team behind the
Creation of Cambray House
Why choose T & G?
Over more than 30 years in business, we have been involved in projects across the Channel Islands, spanning every type of construction, working on large commissions and small, encompassing the requirements of private and public sector clients. Each has been approached with the same determined, creative professionalism that drives everything T&G does.
Choosing to work with T&G in Guernsey or Jersey provides assurance of the same high quality approach. We take pride in understanding and meeting client requirements, in finding solutions to engineering challenges and ensuring satisfaction at the completion of every project or piece of work.
Tom McCarthy
DIRECTOR
Profile
An experienced and committed professional engineer coupled with a passion for organisational management and strategic development, Tom’s role and responsibilities at T&G encompass both managing its engineering design work and setting and delivering company plans and direction.
As a highly competent civil and structural engineer with over 12 years of practical experience, he oversees the work of T&G’s engineering team, focusing on excellence in design and quality delivery. Tom will also take the lead on his own projects, which can range from small refurbishments to large-scale new-build retail, residential, leisure and office developments.
As director at T&G he works with fellow senior management team members across a range of organisational planning, development and governance activities. These include competitive positioning, client relationships, system and process development, talent management and regulatory compliance and reporting.
Tom’s career to date has presented an extensive and wide range of challenging engineering engagements across a variety of industry sectors. This includes education, where he has been responsible for both extensions to existing schools and sensitive refurbishment of historic educational estate. He has worked on specific heritage developments including the conversion of listed farm buildings into contemporary dwellings. And been involved in several significant residential developments, including some of the largest carried out in Jersey.
Tom graduated from the University of Leeds in 2010 with a Master’s Degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and went on to qualify as a Chartered Engineer with the IStructE in October 2019.
Notable projects
West Lynn, Jersey
Refurbishment and extension of listed granite farmhouse to create a new modern home while preserving the existing structure.
Co-op En Route Trinity, Jersey
Construction of a new out-of-town retail store with first floor apartments and associated fuel station.
De Gruchy, Jersey
Internal alterations to an existing department store and construction of a new three storey extension to create additional retail floor space.
La Vielle Ecole, Jersey
Acclaimed redevelopment and refurbishment of the former St Martin’s primary school to create retail and commercial facilities for the benefit of the local community.
The Limes, Jersey
Construction of 130 apartments within six-storey complex that includes basement car park and landscaped communal gardens.
Merchants Square (Bath Street), Jersey
A £70 million development of 144 apartments over five blocks in central St Helier plus a 122-bedroom hotel and commercial units.
Qualifications: MEng (Hons), MI Struct E, CEng