Welcome to Notting Hill Genesis’ Online Exhibition APRIL 2023

In December 2022, the Planning Inspectorate upheld the decision made by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames’ Planning Committee to refuse the planning application for St Clare Business Park which was originally submitted in 2019.

Notting Hill Genesis has reviewed the reasons for refusal in detail and has made some fundamental changes to the scheme to address comments made by the Planning Inspector and concerns raised by the local community.

We will be submitting an amendment to the planning application that has been submitted to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (ref 22/2204/FUL) in April 2023.

Please scroll down to view details and images of the proposals and changes that have been made to the scheme.

Notting Hill Genesis

Notting Hill Genesis is one of London’s largest housing associations and registered provider of social housing; we manage more than 66,000 homes in London and the South East. Our primary purpose is to provide homes for lower-income households in and around London. More than half of our homes are general needs properties, charged at social or affordable rent levels. In addition, we provide Shared Ownership, private market sale and market rent, student accommodation, temporary housing, extra care and supported accommodation for older people, office space and retail units. To find out more about our range of products click here.

We are passionate and experienced at developing successful communities that will thrive for generations to come. At St Clare, we are committed to providing high-quality, affordable homes that meet the needs of local people and commercial units to maximise local employment opportunities. We will maintain a long-term presence at St Clare, managing the new homes, commercial buildings and surrounding landscaped spaces.

Our Mission at St Clare

At St Clare, Notting Hill Genesis is committed to providing high-quality affordable homes that meet the needs of local people in the form of Shared Ownership and London Affordable Rent properties.  

Our Shared Ownership homes will provide a chance for local residents to get on the property ladder and make buying their first home more affordable.

The London Affordable Rented homes will provide Richmond residents, who are on the Council’s waiting list, with a low cost-rented home. Our low cost London Affordable Rent homes follow rents introduced by the Mayor of London in 2016. The rents are affordable to tenants who receive housing benefits.

The scheme will also deliver Market Sale homes, priced at local values. The sale of the Market Sale homes will ensure we can deliver 35% affordable homes on-site.

We will maintain a long-term presence at St Clare, managing the new homes, commercial buildings and surrounding landscaped spaces.

THE SITE

Click on the images above to view the existing St Clare Business Park.

Our Proposals

Our proposed scheme will provide:

• 100 new homes, of which 35% will be affordable homes for Shared Ownership and London Affordable Rent and 65% will be for Market Sale

• A mix of townhouses and apartments, including one, two and three bedroom homes. All homes will have private amenity space in the form of balconies or gardens

• 1885sqm of high quality, flexible commercial space for office, research and workshop uses

• A sustainable energy strategy featuring air source heat pumps

• New trees, a podium garden, landscaping and play space

• A new high-quality pedestrian and vehicle entrance on Windmill Road, creating a new safe pedestrian link through the site for the community

• Extensive greening and biodiversity uplift throughout the site.

CHANGES MAde (to 2022 APPLICATION)

The amendment to the planning application which is to be submitted in April 2023 includes the following changes:

• A reduction in height to the eastern element of the residential block

• A reduction in height to the commercial building on Windmill Road

• A reduction in homes from 112 to 100

• A reduction in affordable homes to 35% - 35 affordable homes (15 social rent and 20 shared ownership)

• Provision of c.1885sqm of commercial space – a reduction from the revised 2022 scheme but an increase to the original 2020 scheme.

• Removal of two external parking spaces on Holly Road side of the proposals

• Residential parking reduced to 83 spaces. Ratio of car parking spaces per home maintained at 0.83 spaces/home.

CGIs showing the changes to the proposed scheme

Proposed view from within St Clare residential zone

Proposed view of the Commercial building and Windmill Road Entrance

Proposed view from Holly Road showing the new apartment building

Please click here to view the site sections and elevations from the previous application and the current proposals (opens in new page)

Design Approach

The proposed design takes its reference and inspiration from the surrounding local context and buildings within the conservation area, which is close to the site.

Design components and details are common through all the building types to ensure that the new scheme has its own character while complementing and respecting the local context.

New Homes

Of the new homes, there will be 14 townhouses and 86 apartments with a mix of one, two and three bedrooms. Use of local yellow brick is proposed for the external elevations with decorative stone and detailing. The design follows similar principles to neighbouring homes on Holly Road and Windmill Road.

Each townhouse will have its own rear garden and all of the apartments will have private balconies.

Commercial Space

We are proposing 1,885sqm/20,290sqft of flexible commercial space for office, research and workshop (light industry) uses. The new commercial space on Windmill Road takes its inspiration and complements the adjacent Library building. Brick detailing and windows have been developed to provide continuity with the streetscape.

A new high-quality entrance will also be created on Windmill Road for both vehicle and safe pedestrian access.

Landscaping and Sustainability

We will be applying a zero-carbon standard to the residential units. The total CO2 reduction as a result of the energy efficiency measures across the development is 54% once renewable energy measures are incorporated, with a payment to the Council’s carbon offset fund to cover the remaining 46% reduction. We are also aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating for the commercial unit(s) to ensure it meets best practice standards.”

Construction

Notting Hill Genesis will only employ construction contractors who are part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which ensures the impact of the building works on local communities is minimised in terms of noise, traffic, access and hours of operation. The Considerate Constructors scheme is a national initiative set up by the construction industry.

There will be demolition and excavation as part of the works due to the existing buildings on-site and the proposed undercroft car parking. All works will be subject to a Construction Management Plan. The Construction Management Plan aims to mitigate against any disturbance and nuisance caused by construction to neighbours of the site. Notting Hill Genesis will be working to a strict Construction Management Plan, which the community will be consulted on before works start on-site. The Construction Management Plan will also need approval from London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

NEXT STEPS

We will be submitting an amendment to the planning application that has been submitted to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (ref 22/2204/FUL) in April 2023. This website will continue to be updated throughout the planning process and beyond.

Contact us

Thank you for taking the time to read our April 2023 Online Exhibition. If you have any queries, please do get in contact with the project team via our consultants Comm Comm:

Contact: Tamsin Hartin

Email: tamsinh@commcommuk.com

Telephone: 020 7125 0421

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