06 August 2007

PRESS RELEASE

 

PLANNING APPROVAL FOR SOUTHWARK SCHEME KICKSTARTS

STREETSCAPE DESIGN COMPETITION

 

Planning has been granted this week for a new scheme in Southwark by urban regeneration developer, First Base. The green light for the development, "Printworks", also signals the start of a joint initiative between First Base, local residents and the council to run a design competition for investment in transforming the public realm.

Located on Amelia Street in Elephant & Castle, "Printworks" is a mixed-use development designed by leading architects, Glenn Howells. The site is currently owned by national regeneration agency, English Partnerships. It is being developed by First Base as part of the London Wide Initiative (LWI), a scheme supported by EP, The Housing Corporation, the GLA and the Department of Communities and Local Government to fast-track more quality homes for Key Workers in London.

As part of its pre-planning consultation for the scheme, First Base worked with the Pullens Tenants and Residents Association and local Councillor, Caroline Pidgeon, to look at ways in which the Section 106 funds could be best used at a local level. As a result, the parties involved came up with an innovative idea to launch a design competition to create a fresh look for the public realm, which will fuse together older buildings with new development in the area.

Of the £275,000 allocated for public realm improvement, a significant amount of the Section 106 funds will be spent on the competition, which aims to embrace development and change in the area by creating a public realm which is safer, greener, more attractive, distinctive and more accessible for all its residents both existing and new.

Richard Powell, Director of First Base comments, "We believe this is the first time a developer in London has worked with both residents and the council to specifically direct the use of money from the Section 106 funding, even before planning was submitted. In keeping with First Base's commitment to transforming urban spaces and building communities, we believe engaging with residents and stakeholders at every level will ensure our schemes are properly integrated into their local environment and support longer term regeneration."

It is planned that the competition will be run in conjunction with The Architecture Foundation. Participants will be asked to analyse in detail and respond creatively to the different challenges of the current streetscape around Amelia Street. As well as the street surface itself, the design brief will also include the integration of pedestrian and cycle routes, fences, barriers, waste recycling facilities and lighting.

Local Councillor Caroline Pidgeon, comments, "It is very encouraging to see developers engaging with residents in this unique way.  Meaningful community consultation is key to effective regeneration and will ensure new developments work within the context of the local environment.

"The idea of a public realm competition came from the residents of the neighbouring Pullens estate and I am delighted that we have been able to work together to agree to fund this out of the Section 106 monies.  I hope that the competition will not only help to enhance the local area, but also knit the new "Printworks" development together with the existing landscape around Amelia Street, and set a high standard for other developments."

Printworks will provide 164 homes, of which 42% will be affordable for Key Workers and social for rent.

Steve Oakes, LWI Project Director at English Partnerships adds, "Our aim with the LWI has been to create a unique partnership between the public and private sector which will deliver more affordable homes for key workers and first-time buyers across the capital. It is exciting to see the development at Amelia Street moving ahead now planning has been granted and we look forward to continued community involvement."

 

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:                      

Jessica Gooch / David Lucas

Tel: 020 7908 6447 / 020 7908 6422                                                     

Email:jgooch@lexispr.com/ dlucas@lexispr.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

First Base Limited

Transforming Urban Spaces and building communities.

First Base is the urban regeneration developer that creates stylish homes in great urban spaces.

-     It transforms the way that properties are built - using best practice modern construction methods that keep costs low yet quality high, embracing sustainability and ensuring value for money.

-      It transforms the way that communities are formed - with a mix of tenures, a range of homes, a commitment to high quality management and services that make friends of neighbours.

-      And it transforms the way that style meets function - with attractive designs, inside and out, that do more than simply look good.

Designed by renowned architects, built by skilled craftspeople, managed by experts, First Base homes are quality, sustainable and affordable properties for purchase or rental.

First Base is currently involved in a range of projects that will deliver mixed-tenure housing in London and the South East. These include:

-      Elephant & Castle regeneration, as part of Lend Lease consortium

-     London's first major carbon neutral scheme on the site of the former Greenwich District Hospital

-      Stratford City Olympic Village, as part of the Lend Lease consortium

-     On behalf of the Blackstone Group, the regeneration of a site in Kings Cross to provide affordable accommodation to over 900 students

-      A number of schemes under English Partnerships London Wide Initiative including Adelaide Wharf in Shoreditch and two sites in regeneration hot spot, Elephant and Castle

The company was included in the RIBA "Top 50 Clients" survey for its innovative approach to quality design, using renowned architects including, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, AHMM and Fletcher Priest for a range of projects across the capital.

First Base is also a founding member of the UK Green Building Council. The organisation, launched in the Spring of 2007, aims to provide leadership and cohesion to the UK Green building movement, provide a single, powerful pan-industry voice to Government, facilitate knowledge sharing and spread best practice and raise the international standing of UK industry.

For further information please visit www.firstbase.com

ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS

English  Partnerships  is  the  government's  national  regeneration agency delivering  high  quality,  sustainable  growth  in  England. We do this by developing   our   portfolio of strategic projects  and  acting  as  the government's advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public sector assets  are used to support wider government objectives, especially those  contained  in the Sustainable Communities Plan. English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live. Information on projects and programmes can be found at  www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

English Partnerships  and  the  Housing  Corporation  are working with the Department  for  Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new national housing and regeneration agency, Communities England.

The London-Wide Initiative pilot scheme was launched to fast-track more affordable homes in Greater London. The scheme will focus on a portfolio of sites, selected as a test-bed for introducing a range of new ideas for the delivery of homes. The pilot scheme will deliver up to 4,500 homes over the next five years of which around 1,500 will be affordable homes for key workers. Three development partners have been selected to work in partnership with English Partnerships to deliver homes through the London-Wide Initiative; First Base, Key London Alliance and a consortium led by Countryside Properties plc.

GLENN HOWELLS

Glenn Howells Architects was established in 1990 and has built up a strong reputation as one of the foremost design led architectural practices in the UK.  With offices in Birmingham and London, the work of the practice is based on clarity of vision and innovative use of materials.  Glenn Howells Architects has won numerous national and international design competitions and received over 30 awards for projects ranging from cultural buildings and housing to large scale urban mixed-use developments.  The practice is currently working on schemes throughout the UK, Europe, Dubai and India.

Recent projects include the renovation of Birmingham's iconic  Rotunda for Urban Splash;  the Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth (2007 RIBA Award winners), a masterplanning scheme for Stoke-on-Trent city centre and The Savill Building at Great Windsor Park for the Crown Estate, which is in contention for this year"s Stirling Prize.

Glenn Howells Architects  is team of 92 employees which include architects, landscape architects, urban designers, 3D visualisers, modelmakers and an in-house graphic designer together with administrative support. Underpinning the practice is a strong commitment to achieve high quality projects at low cost with a focus on innovative design and construction  delivering projects that transform and invigorate towns and cities and maximize the potential of public space.  The practice is committed to improve the quality of design regionally, nationally and internationally.

The founding Director, Glenn Howells is the driving force behind the company, he is a committee member of CABE"s (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) Olympic Design Review Panel, a member of the RIBA Awards Group, chair of MADE (Midlands Architecture & the Designed Environment) and chair of the IKON Gallery in Birmingham.  Glenn has advised Advantage West Midlands on a number of projects and is an advisor to Bradford Centre Regeneration.  He has also recently been appointed as a Design Review Panel member for Sheffield City Council.