26 - 08 - 2022
BPTW have successfully secured planning permission with unanimous approval from Committee for 212 new sustainable homes to be built on the former Richmond College campus on Egerton Road in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames.
Designed for Clarion Housing Group, the Richmond College residential masterplan provides 182 apartments and 30 terraced houses of mixed tenure, with 51% of homes being provided as affordable split between affordable rent and shared ownership. Located within the historic college grounds, the design successfully transitions between a varied, predominantly low-rise, local context to apartment buildings at the centre of the site, and uses distinct character areas to create high quality spaces within the masterplan.
Inspired by the former college buildings, the apartment blocks wrap around a central courtyard which provides a focal point of greenery and landscape to the development. The public realm strategy unites each distinct character area into a cohesive development, successfully integrating it with the wider neighbourhood and providing a connecting ecological corridor.
BPTW’s design lead for Richmond College Richard Knight said, “It’s fantastic to see approval granted for these sustainable homes on the Richmond College site. The residential design successfully draws upon the historic Art Deco college buildings to create a contextually sensitive scheme. With strong placemaking principles at the heart of the proposals, the landscaping and public realm strategy unites each distinct character area into a cohesive development, successfully integrating it with the wider neighbourhood and encouraging natural amenity, with plenty of places for play, rest and interaction, within a central courtyard and new ecological corridor. We look forward to seeing the scheme realised.”
The completed scheme will be one of the first new residential housing developments in the borough with ‘net zero carbon compatible’ homes. All homes will be built with high levels of insulation and ventilation efficiency, with any carbon emissions offset by energy generated by photovoltaic solar panels and air source heat pumps. The proposals ensure that any loss of habitat will be replaced or enhanced to care for local protected species, and biodiversity will also be boosted through wildlife friendly landscaping, rain gardens and the ecological corridor of new trees and shrubs.
Richard Cook, Group Director of Development at Clarion Housing Group commented:
“We are delighted to gain planning consent to build this highly sustainable scheme in Richmond, delivering vital new affordable homes to local people in the borough. We are passionate about making our homes and communities fit for the future. Delivering net zero carbon homes in Richmond will not only make a significant positive impact to the environment but also help residents reduce their energy bills – at a time when this has never been more important.”
The new homes form part of the borough’s wider £80m college project which also includes a replacement college campus, two new schools, an extended sports hall and a science hub.
All visualisations created by Cityscape Digital
