Residential apartment scheme: GUNN Associates have received planning permission and praise from the committee for their design for a development of nine flats, car-parking, storage, and landscaped gardens in Purley, South London.
The demolition of 1960’s detached house on a quiet cul-de-sac in the heavily sloping, and leafy tree-lined area of Purley, South London was commissioned by Broadwing Homes to produce a design for the development of a residential apartment scheme consisting of nine flats and ancillary uses, such as car-parking, cycle and refuse storage, and landscaped gardens.
The design centred around the multiple contexts of the existing character of the area and streetscape, the adjacent planning permissions, and the wooded back of the property that had distant, southerly views towards the Surrey Hills. The massing of the design used the rhythm of the existing streetscape and utilised the slope of the site to maximum effect, which resulted in three storeys at the front and four storeys at the rear, creating nine outstanding apartments. The shape of the building also responds to its surroundings, with the rear elevation folding itself around the principal, large, mature tree. Balconies look down to the lower garden, which will be landscaped around the children’s playground and varied seating areas.
Duncan Gunn, Founder at GUNN said:
“Our design proposal considered the site’s overall context regarding the local area and the neighbouring buildings, including the full street-scene. We also had to take account of the setting and outlook of the site, the massing and heights of the other buildings on More Close. We knew that two planning permissions had been awarded? for neighbouring properties on the road, for similar developments of nine flats each.”
On a challenging site, the design complied with, or exceeded, Croydon’s planning policies, with accessible design being met with regard to the flats, parking, and access to the gardens; parking standards were met by providing car-stackers and a car-club facility; and the landscape and ecology will be preserved by the use of a green-grid parking system and the planning of the building. The materials were chosen to respond to the context, with the harder brick, glass, and metals facing the street, and the softer, organically-shaped timber battens facing the gardens.
The scheme was very well-received at Planning Committee with ex-chair, Councillor Paul Scott saying that the design was “beautiful” and “exceptional”, and Councillor Ben-Hassel saying that she would be “delighted if a development like this was at the end of her road”. Planning permission was received on 9th July 2020 in the middle of the pandemic.
Team:
Client: Broadwing Homes
Architect: GUNN Associates – Hanelore Dumitrache, Duncan Gunn
Transport: RGP
Arboriculturist: ACD Environmental
Sunlight/Daylight: Waldrams
