Child Graddon Lewis (CGL) has completed Queen’s Court, an affordable housing project for Notting Hill Housing Group (NHHG). Overall the completed building is a high quality new addition to Bermondsey’s townscape, complementing both historic and new structures locally, whilst having its own unique identity and character.
The scheme replaces a TA building and comprises 51 new homes arranged over five storeys enclosing a landscaped courtyard. The development includes a lower ground floor semi basement car park area incorporating cycle parking refuse storage and plant area. The site is in the heart of Bermondsey and bounded by Abbey Street to the north, Old Jamaica Road to the east, a railway viaduct to the south-west and sits above a Jubilee line tube tunnel.
A key component of the design is in response to a listed war memorial incorporated within the development and adjacent listed buildings. The ‘u’ shaped layout allows the development to address the street frontages. The junction of both streets is defined by the tallest (5 storey) element, which is modulated by recessed balconies with lattice brickwork parapets and a prominent residential entrance. In addition, large windows and entrances create activity at ground level.
The central landscaped courtyard provides meaningful podium level landscaping and is a central focus to the development. It is open to the west, allowing direct light into the courtyard during the afternoon and evening. The raised courtyard is lined with front doors and private terraces which provide active frontages. The site layout also allows for private rear gardens to the south serving family sized duplex units.
CGL was appointed as lead consultants by NHHG from feasibility through to planning consent and tender. Services included resolving major site restrictions regarding listed buildings, archaeology and building next to a major rail link and within a high flood risk area. For the construction phase the selected contractor (Allenbuild) appointed CGL to provide lead consultant services.
