Canbury Pavilion
Present:
Michael Squire (MS) Squire and Partners
Paul Harrison Squire and Partners
Nerea Mendicute Squire and Partners
Mike Spenser-Norris (MSN) NHP
Philip Trim NHP
Philip Villars Indigo Planning
Kevin Howlett PPS
Charles Chamberlain Merlion Capital
Hugh Scantlebury (HMS) CARA
Trevor Willis CARA
Bazil Arden CARA
Clare Francis CARA
Richard Mobbs CARA
Marilyn Mason CARA
Clive Howard Royal Quarter Residents Association
Cllr Dennis Doe RBK - Tudor Ward
Cllr Frank Thompson RBK - Tudor Ward
Cllr David Glasspool RBK - Canbury Ward
Cllr David Ryder-Mills RBK - Canbury Ward
Apologies: Cllr David Cunningham, Cllr Geoff Austin, Amanda Stephenson (Royal Qaurter), Penny D'Souza (CARA), Helen Moss (CARA)
HMS welcomed everyone to the meeting, set the scene and encouraged everyone to make the meeting a constructive and positive event to exchange views, ideas and opinions.
Mike Spenser-Norris of NHP:
Welcomed everyone to speak. Provided background on owning land since 1999; 27 months working with planning officers and committees. refusal, appeal process etc.
Given this has already been a very expensive exercise and a whole lot of work, decision made to amalgamate proposals that were welcomed e.g. the EDF substation contruction along Skerne Road. Michael Squire has been asked to come up with an alternative form of design for riverside development.
Michael Squire of Squire & Partners:
Been on job for two weeks. Tonight want to outline results of initial thoughts on what can be done to overcome objections. Most related to height and density. Affordable Housing is not an issue - merely a interior and financial technicality.
Squire & Partners are based in Kings Cross. Partner here tonight, Paul Harrison lives in Burton Road, Kingston-upon-Thames. Provided some example of work and an overview of site.
Commented on trees which are mature and which shield any view when in leaf.
Discussed walk through access to riverside.
Existing proposal is for a twin tower 15 + 12 storey construction linked to a 6 storey block on Skerne Road.
Aiming for 7/8 storeys (similar to Edwardian and Victorian mansion blocks found in much of London).
Examples given include:
- Simple Block Frontage
- Three Buildings + Slim Tall Tower
- Multiple Low Rise Small Riverfront Dwellings
Looking to design a simple building with rooftop 'jewellery'. Happy to sacrifice external space for external "vistas".
Iconic can mean a lot of things. Patterns of similar design, light, colour, all sorts. Believes this project would benefit from something interesting above the parapet line. Where height is applicable, looking for a slender design, not a land grab.
Bazil Ardren
Commented that he in fact liked the wooden ribs and timber of the recent design.
Cllr Denis Doe commented:
John Lewis is OK for something that signifies something as people enter Kingston over the bridge.
Believes narrower, taller buildings can be beautiful e.g. the Skylon at the Festival of Britain in 1951.
Recalled the facts around the 'poplars' issue whereby building activity disrupted the roots and damaged trees along with residents views being diffierent from those set out by the developer in the brochure material. Denis believes people would be irrationally unhappy if trees were affected.
Marilyn Mason:
Entering Kingston should reflect the 21st century
The chimneys on the old power station were iconic and beautiful.
Agrees that slender helps taller building appear beautiful.
No one objects to height of St Pauls
Green issues are a concern as are public access, sensitive lighting and sustainability.
Clive Howard (Royal Quarter)
Not affected by this section of the development too much (unlike the Skerne Road / EDF proposal). Felt the towers were thin. A small block allows views from back of site. Larger building would obstruct views.
Cllr Frank Thompson (RBK)
Likes
Glad to see back of poplars
Likes example number 5 so long as there is quality brickwork.
Richard Mobbs
View on entry to Kingston is key.
Towers / Blocks of flats are not the impression we want
If something is going to stick up, should be attractive e.g. Skylon, church spire etc..
Michael Squire commented that what he had in mind was a beautiful slender design and provided some examples.
Cllr David Glasspool (RBK)
Objected on grounds of height
Believes it is at this point that the river changes it's character from town centre to less formal landscape until Teddington Lock.
Liked the previous design, just believed it should be located elsewhere. Likes some of the ideas proposed and discussed tonight. Flats are a bad use = selfish. Need family housing. Contemporary design is ok. Would prefer density to be lower but understands nothing much can be done in this regards.
Trevor Willis
Feels state of town is very poor (e.g. Slug & Lettuce, new student accommodation block, time that power station site has lain dormant) and that along with others from Kingston Town Centre Management Committee, feels that Kingston might lose it's competitive advantage if things don't change soon. Requests that whatever happens, developers just get on with it!
Overall a request for high quality construction standards.
Claire Francis
Likes lower proposed schemes
Liked chimneys too but understands needs for new housing.
Cllr David Ryder-Mills (RBK)
Has considered his position on Development Committee but his comments have been made easier but has been said earlier. Believes beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Liked the towers but beyond the height, the whole bulk of the development was unacceptable. Does not want to see a whole lot of flats. Would like to turn around the development to have the tower on the riverside, believing the public aspects should face the river. Is reserving judgement re the the hotel.
MSN commented that with no access, no passing trade the 1998 plans for a hotel near the river resulted in no hotel chain taking an interest.
Dennis Doe commented that he had been very keen on the proposals that had been turned down and that a delay had been affecting the community and had previously voted in favour of the development.
David Ryder-Mills requested that the developers look hard at the 50% affordable housing target and that size of the units was addressed.
Philip Trim commented tht the GLA were happy with 23% and that the mix of dwellings would be addressed.
Other comments were raised with reference to the continuing existence of the barge dock proposals for a restaurant development and the potential negativity this would engender. It was strongly suggested that the developers communicated openly as regards the whole development, not sections of it.
Furthermore HMS ran through comments of absent Committee members and recalled previous comments made by residents at the expo held at the Pavilion previously.
HMS thanked everyone for their input and the meeting was closed.
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