Bishop’s Terrace

Generating value and creating social benefit from a residential development for a local charity on a backland site in Lambeth’s Walcot Square Conservation Area.

Client The Walcot Foundation
Sector Homes
Size 734m²
Location Lambeth, London

Following our appointment by the Walcot Foundation, a charity that works to break cycles of financial deprivation in Lambeth, we secured unanimous approval in November 2023 for a development of nine apartments on an infill site in the Walcot Square Conservation area.

Replacing a series of dilapidated garages on a constrained site, the consented scheme adds a contemporary brick building to the rich fabric of the Walcot Estate and reinstates the historic street frontage to Bishop’s Terrace.

Income from the new development will be used to extend The Walcot Foundation’s charitable work in Lambeth, supporting more people and organisations in the borough with access to grants and opportunities.

Existing site

Marcia Asare, Executive Director at the Walcot Foundation
‘Fathom fully understood our purpose and supported our wish for any new building to complement the heritage context of the Walcot Estate. Their design was carefully considered and we’re delighted to get consent and generate new income for our charitable work in Lambeth.’

Shaping development for its heritage context

An L-shaped plan orientates the development around a mature Ailanthus tree, creating an enclosed shared garden for residents.

The four-storey structure is articulated as a series of interlinked volumes relating to their immediate context – a mixture of heritage residential, warehouse and garden spaces.

Brick laid in Flemish bond with expressed white stone cornice details tie the volumes together, with massing reducing on upper floors to limit overlooking.

The main façade is chamfered as the road bends to offer a curved brick frontage and communal entrance to the prominent corner overlooking St Mary’s Gardens.

Window proportions reflect the character of surrounding townhouses, with angled brick lintels adding a contemporary detail.

All homes are dual or triple aspect and have access to a private balcony or terrace, six residences have roof terraces and the two duplex apartments benefit from private on-street entrances.

Internal layouts exceed national space standards and recommended daylight levels to offer generous and enjoyable living areas.

Creating a sustainable addition

The design team worked closely with our ambitious client to ensure sustainability and operational efficiency were at the forefront.

Operational efficiency and a fossil-fuel free future led the design through a collaborative process to ensure every opportunity was taken to reduce the development’s impact.

The consented designs introduce a sustainable drainage strategy (SuDS), heating & hot water from air source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and passive ventilation, combining to achieve an 88% reduction in carbon emissions compared to Part L 2013.

Rainwater runoff rates are reduced by 50% during a typical annual storm through SuDS, relieving pressure on the local drainage network and reducing flood risk.

Biodiversity is protected through orientating the development around an existing mature tree which – along with additional gardens and terraces – improves air quality and reduces urban heat island effects. The development creates a significant uplift in Urban Greening Factor from zero to 0.35.

Credits

Architect Fathom Architects
Planning Consultant SM Planning
Structure Morph Structures
Services Milieu Consult
Heritage Consultant The Heritage Practice
Cost Consultant Jackson Coles

Project Information

Credits