On 2nd June, we attempted to present this in the short time given. Here is the Full Text version.
Urban design
Non-Compliance of St George Scheme with RBK’s Eden Quarter Development Brief SPD
See below for text only version.
See below for text only version.
What is the existing character of Kingston centre?
A historic, riverside market town;
A range of new and old buildings;
Generally low-rise and architecturally diverse;
A vibrant and attractive place to live, to work and to visit.
What objectives were defined in the SPD?
We support all the Objectives defined in the SPD;
We would like to see the existing character of the town centre maintained and improved;
Where poorer quality buildings and re-development sites exist, we would like to see schemes that fulfil this.
How can Kingston town centre effectively be announced with a “gateway building"?
We support the idea of a “gateway building” that draws visitors into the centre of the town.
A suitable gateway for Kingston would be one that reflects the existing character shown in the slide above;
A modern tower-block bears no relation to the town’s scale and character and would be incongruous;
Many of the residents opposed this aspect during the consultation for the SPD;
We therefore disagree with the one of the Development Parameters set in the SPD, and its proposed implementation in St George’s scheme;
We nevertheless note that the SPD suggested 9+ storeys, not 19 storeys.
What is the SPD’s guidance on Building Heights?
We agree that “any new buildings must take the sensitivity of the historic core of the town centre into account”. The St George scheme does not fulfil this.
The KCFE tower has been cited by St George (ref. public meeting, All Saints Church, May 2015) as a precedent for additional tower blocks; it is a hideous building, conspicuous from some distance (Richmond Park; Hampton Court Home Park; etc.); it shows the adverse impact of any new tower block nearby; it should not be taken as a precedent for a new tower block on the TOPO site, or anywhere else in Kingston.
How can the TOPO site be enhanced?
We support other aspects of the Development Parameters set in the SPD;
The reference to the Apple Market is appropriate;
The proposed St George scheme bears no resemblance to the Apple Market and is therefore inappropriate.
How does the scheme impact on the site and its environs?
The proposed development comprises several tall buildings, all of which dwarf the existing surrounding buildings;
This overly-dense, high-rise scheme would create an impermeable block, through which there would be no public access;
The residents would be looking out of their windows directly into someone else’s windows – a most intrusive and un-homely sensation;
The nearby houses in Wheatfield Way and Grange Road would be overwhelmed.
The wind would be funnelled along Brooke Street and Ashdown Road, making the street-level walkways cold and unattractive;
The buildings would prevent the sun penetrating the communal residents’ gardens and the public areas, depriving the area of warmth and brightness (ref. shading analysis);
The new public open space would be cold, windy and shady due to its aspect and the surrounding blocks; in all seasons it would be an unattractive place to linger and wholly unsuitable for outdoor restaurants.
In Conclusion
The scheme proposed by St George is unsuitable for the TOPO site and does not comply with the SPD:
It is wholly out-of-character with Kingston.
It will not provide an effective gateway to Kingston town centre.
It will not enhance the site from its present condition.
There is no meaningful precedent for its proposed tower blocks.
It will significantly detract from the area by creating a cold, dark and windy environment.
It does not satisfy the SPD requirement to create an attractive new public space.
It is a gross over-development of the site.
We therefore request that the Councillors reject St George’s application.
Back to Speaker Notes
A historic, riverside market town;
A range of new and old buildings;
Generally low-rise and architecturally diverse;
A vibrant and attractive place to live, to work and to visit.
What objectives were defined in the SPD?
We support all the Objectives defined in the SPD;
We would like to see the existing character of the town centre maintained and improved;
Where poorer quality buildings and re-development sites exist, we would like to see schemes that fulfil this.
How can Kingston town centre effectively be announced with a “gateway building"?
We support the idea of a “gateway building” that draws visitors into the centre of the town.
A suitable gateway for Kingston would be one that reflects the existing character shown in the slide above;
A modern tower-block bears no relation to the town’s scale and character and would be incongruous;
Many of the residents opposed this aspect during the consultation for the SPD;
We therefore disagree with the one of the Development Parameters set in the SPD, and its proposed implementation in St George’s scheme;
We nevertheless note that the SPD suggested 9+ storeys, not 19 storeys.
What is the SPD’s guidance on Building Heights?
We agree that “any new buildings must take the sensitivity of the historic core of the town centre into account”. The St George scheme does not fulfil this.
The KCFE tower has been cited by St George (ref. public meeting, All Saints Church, May 2015) as a precedent for additional tower blocks; it is a hideous building, conspicuous from some distance (Richmond Park; Hampton Court Home Park; etc.); it shows the adverse impact of any new tower block nearby; it should not be taken as a precedent for a new tower block on the TOPO site, or anywhere else in Kingston.
How can the TOPO site be enhanced?
We support other aspects of the Development Parameters set in the SPD;
The reference to the Apple Market is appropriate;
The proposed St George scheme bears no resemblance to the Apple Market and is therefore inappropriate.
How does the scheme impact on the site and its environs?
The proposed development comprises several tall buildings, all of which dwarf the existing surrounding buildings;
This overly-dense, high-rise scheme would create an impermeable block, through which there would be no public access;
The residents would be looking out of their windows directly into someone else’s windows – a most intrusive and un-homely sensation;
The nearby houses in Wheatfield Way and Grange Road would be overwhelmed.
The wind would be funnelled along Brooke Street and Ashdown Road, making the street-level walkways cold and unattractive;
The buildings would prevent the sun penetrating the communal residents’ gardens and the public areas, depriving the area of warmth and brightness (ref. shading analysis);
The new public open space would be cold, windy and shady due to its aspect and the surrounding blocks; in all seasons it would be an unattractive place to linger and wholly unsuitable for outdoor restaurants.
In Conclusion
The scheme proposed by St George is unsuitable for the TOPO site and does not comply with the SPD:
It is wholly out-of-character with Kingston.
It will not provide an effective gateway to Kingston town centre.
It will not enhance the site from its present condition.
There is no meaningful precedent for its proposed tower blocks.
It will significantly detract from the area by creating a cold, dark and windy environment.
It does not satisfy the SPD requirement to create an attractive new public space.
It is a gross over-development of the site.
We therefore request that the Councillors reject St George’s application.
Back to Speaker Notes
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