| Consultation comment |
Design response |
| 1. RBKC Officers and the Quality Review Panel (QRP) supportive of the proposed height and massing which rises up to 9 storeys and a more contemporary design to mark the gateway to the wider masterplan site. |
- We have sought to ensure that the proposals are sympathetic to the local character in terms of height and façade design, while optimising the use of the site in line with planning policy. As such, following feedback from local residents and stakeholder groups, decided to retain the height at a maximum of 9 storeys and to ensure that the façade design takes clear visual and architectural cues from the neighbouring characters in Eardley Crescent and the Philbeach Conservation Area.
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| 2. In initial discussions with local stakeholders, they felt that any taller elements of the scheme should be located away from the residential character of Eardley Crescent. |
- This has been reflected in the proposals with the taller element (ground + 8) located to the west of the site and lower elements (ground + 5) located to the east to ‘bookend’ and better fit with the residential nature of Eardley Crescent and respond to stakeholder feedback.
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| 3. Some of the public comments received felt that the architecture and façade were not ‘in keeping’ with the local character. |
- The facade design to the east and south has been further developed since the public consultation.
- The material palette has been further enriched with glazed and profiled bricks, drawing inspiration from the decorative tile patterns within the porches of the Philbeach Conservation Area.
- The chosen brick on the Eardley Crescent Façade will match very closely that of the existing Eardley Crescent. (The precise brick is no longer manufactured.)
- We have also altered the fenestration on Eardley Crescent to be more in-keeping with the wider terrace, enlarging the windows on the raised ground and lower ground floors.
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| 4. Some consultation responses raised questions about the potential impact the height of the development would have on the level of light that would be received into the homes and gardens on Eardley Crescent (in particular 1,3,5 and 7). |
- The Project Team undertook individual site visits in response to these queries to ensure that we had the most accurate information on the individual properties.
- In order to maximise the amenity and light into these properties, we further reduced the height and mass of the north wing facing the rear of Eardley Crescent. This included the removal of one floor that previously extended a third of the length of the wing in order to improve daylight and sunlight levels to the rooms overlooking the site.
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| 5. A number of the public comments stated that the roof line of the buildings should replicate the roof line at Eardley Crescent to ensure a visual symmetry. |
- The block has been designed to ‘repair’ the urban grain and ‘bookend’ Eardley Crescent to mark its location on the corner with Old Brompton Road. This approach is in keeping with other examples of Georgian streets in the local area.
- We have refined the detail of the façade and the roofline has been simplified.
- The flank elevation facing 1 Eardley Crescent, which is seen in views south along Eardley Crescent, has also been further articulated to create a more sympathetic transition from Eardley Crescent to the new development.
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6. The QRP suggested more active frontages on the ground floor level of the proposals.
7. However, some local stakeholders felt that any ground floor non-residential uses should be located away from the residential character of Eardley Crescent.
8. The public preference was for retail units on the non-residential ground floor units. |
- We have extended the active frontages on ground floor level but only on the west of the development, facing the masterplan site, while retaining a residential character to the east alongside Eardley Crescent as requested by residents and local ward members.
- We are proposing a flexible range of uses for the ground floor units, which will include retail, but also other uses (e.g. cafes, small offices or studios) to reflect local priorities and preferences and enable the spaces to respond to market demand.
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| 9. The QRP felt that there could have been more private amenity space, particularly for the affordable family units within the proposals. |
- We have revised the scheme so that 95% of affordable units and 68% of market units now have private amenity space or are oversized beyond minimum standards.
- The revisions also ensured that all three or more bed family units now have private external amenity space.
- The south façade has been articulated with additional balconies for affordable units.
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| 10. RBKC housing officers and local representatives requested an increase in the number of affordable family units to cater for local need. |
- We have reconfigured the proposals to include an additional two three bed units, increasing the percentage of affordable family units to 35%.
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| 11. Some stakeholders called for a more tenure blind approach to the development. |
- We have committed to a genuinely tenure blind approach to building design from the outset, however sought to further demonstrate this with a tenure blind communal garden and the provision of additional balconies as private amenity space on the Old Brompton Road frontage of the affordable units, mirroring the approach to market units.
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| 12. A significant number of stakeholders and respondents have welcomed the inclusion of greening in the proposals including the communal garden terraces and encouraged the applicant to increase the planting and urban greening where possible. |
- We have sought to maximise the planting and urban greening within the proposals.
- We have included new landscaping for the public realm to the west of the scheme that will provide an attractive new space for residents and the public.
- We are also proposing to provide three new trees in raised planters within the public realm.
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| 13. A wide range of stakeholders have supported the commitment for environmental sustainability to be engrained within the proposals and again encouraged us to amplify these measures. |
- The proposals adopt a ‘fabric first’ approach to sustainability, with well insulated, well-lit and well ventilated spaces, using heating that is all electric to take advantage of the ongoing decarbonisation of the national grid, and minimise fossil fuels and air pollution on site.
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| 14. A number of stakeholders and public comments asked that the proposals incorporate local sustainably sourced materials as much as possible. |
- Materials will be sourced locally wherever possible, such as the brickwork for the facades, which will be selected to match the historic Gault Brick of Eardley Crescent.
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| 15. Some consultees preferred a more delicate lightweight treatment of the balconies. |
- We have responded by changing the balcony material from brick to metal work for a more subtle aesthetic.
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| 16. A small number of local stakeholders raised concerns about the disposal of waste and the potential impact this would have on the Old Brompton Road pavement and bus stop. |
- We are proposing to retain but relocate the two existing communal residential bins on Eardley Crescent. This will also facilitate widening of the pavement on Old Brompton Road, creating additional space within the site boundary for the temporary placement of bins on collection day.
- The site management team would then move the bins from the basement to this location at the back of the pavement on Old Brompton Road for collection and to avoid any inconvenience to residents.
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| 17. Local stakeholders and representatives requested that specific measures were put in place to minimise any potential impacts from construction. |
- The planning application will be accompanied by a Construction Management Plan, detailing the construction process and how the Applicant proposes to mitigate any impact on neighbours.
- This will include measures such as a dust management protocol, restricted hours of operation onsite (avoiding anti-social hours of operation) and all construction partners will be accredited members of the Considerate Constructors programme. We will comply with all RBKC procedures as a minimum standard and will be engaging continually with neighbours throughout the process.
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