The design, which was undertaken by William Simpson using a nucleus layout which was capable of expansion, was announced in December 1976 and planning permission granted in March 1978.
ðə dɪzˈaɪn, wˌɪtʃ wʌz ˌʌndɚtˈeɪkən baɪ wˈɪljəm sˈɪmpsən jˈuːzɪŋ ɐ nˈuːklɪəs lˈeɪaʊt wˌɪtʃ wʌz kˈeɪpəbəl ʌv ɛkspˈænʃən, wʌz ɐnˈaʊnst ɪn dᵻsˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɪks ænd plˈænɪŋ pɚmˈɪʃən ɡɹˈæntᵻd ɪn mˈɑːɹtʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt.