Architect
Stock Woolstencroft
Developer
St James Group
Contractor
St James Group
Planning Authority
London Borough of Haringey
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Thames Water's 5.4 hectares of industrial dereliction in Hornsey were always a prime brownfield site to develop. Only St James Group with its joint venture arrangements had the breathing space to consider how. The resulting £70m scheme of 622 homes - studios, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, maisonettes and houses - shows how time benefits design quality.
The approach evolved from dialogue with the planning team at the London Borough of Haringey, arriving at a consensus on issues such as housing density, building massing, conservation and public realm strategy. Space on site has been preserved and enhanced by exploiting existing site levels. For instance, two levels of parking beneath the residential blocks have been hidden within an 8 m fall across the site, helping to maximise open space.
Elevations make use of a palette of contemporary materials, including stainless steel louvres. The development incorporates a number of design initiatives to reduce the use of raw materials such as post-tensioned concrete, which reduces the quantity of concrete and steel reinforcement required from traditional construction methods.
The project takes on a true London-wide significance with the inclusion of a 2 hectare linear park, which opens up to public access and enjoyment 400 metres of New River water frontage. Through the park, wide walkways and cycleways link Hornsey High Street to Wood Green and Alexandra Palace, integrating the development with the existing communities. Designed as a sequence of landscaped and contrasting ‘river rooms’ linked by a spacious boardwalk, the park will become a borough jewel.