Old Kent Road design code Southwark, South London Property News

Old Kent Road design code

10 August 2021

Location: Southwark, London, England, UK

Design: Farrells, Gbolade Design Studio and Exterior Architecture

Old Kent Road design code news

Farrells, Gbolade Design Studio and Exterior Architecture appointed to London-based project under the National Model Design Code pilot scheme

10th of August 2021 – Southwark Council have appointed Farrells, Gbolade Design Studio and Exterior Architecture as the team of multi-disciplinary consultants which will prepare a design code for the area around Hatcham and Ilderton Road on Old Kent Road, Southwark. The project forms part of the government’s National Model Design Code (NMDC) pilot and is the only one of its kind trialled on a site in London. The scheme will also provide an additional level of design guidance for the Old Kent Road Area Action Plan and is intended to be read as part of that plan helping to secure its delivery.

The six-month project enlists 14 councils in England, chosen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), to apply the NMDC in their area, with the aim to test the use of design codes in helping deliver sustainable and well-designed developments.

Working with the team, as well as Momentum Transport Consultancy and Savills who will provide specialist advice, Farrells will produce a guide for the future development of a number of mixed use, residential and industrial schemes that deliver on the principles outlined in the Draft Old Kent Road Area Action Plan and the NMDC, such as ensuring that schemes are locally-led and fit in with local character, through placing more emphasis on community engagement and design elements such as street character, building type and façade, as well as the design fit out and specification of industrial space.

This guide will also address points raised during a recent consultation to provide greater clarity on the design and scale of ground floor frontages, reconcile the mix of industrial and residential uses and establish an approach to creating character in the landscape and public open space.

The team will explore how the NMDC can be applied within an urban context, presenting an opportunity to set a new standard and establish a greater role for local character in the development of new schemes located in the city, that are representative of diversity, richness and individuality of different neighbourhoods.

A key aspect involved in this is ensuring that local residents are able to contribute to what the developments in their area will look like and as part of the process, the project team led by Farrells, will be engaging with the local community through public exhibitions and consultations to ensure that the design code is locally led and informed by those living in the surrounding area.

Vaughn Horsman, Design Director at Farrells, comments: “Being part of the National Model Design Code pilot presents an exciting opportunity to establish the community’s priorities and ambitions for the local area. We are committed to creating people-focused design and our team’s extensive experience in community engagement and understanding of the local area will allow us to create a design code that reflects what residents want to see. We look forward to working closely with the local community and Southwark council in the development of this.”

Public exhibitions and consultations will be held in September.

Further information on the design code can be found, here.

Old Kent Road design code, Southwark, images / information received 100821

Terry Farrell

Terry Farrell Architect

TFP Farrells

Location: Old Kent Road, Southwark, South London, England, United Kingdom

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