Circus West brings Battersea to life
Circus West, the first phase of the transformation of Battersea Power Station into a place that people call home, completes this summer. It opens up a precious new stretch of Thames riverside on the western side of the Power Station, connecting to Battersea Park. The development includes two major new residences: one made out of glass that is longer than The Shard is tall, juxtaposed against another that is copper clad. These are unified by dramatic new public realm and horticulturally rich gardens.
Hill of Towie Wind Farm extension secures planning
LDA Design has helped renewable energy company RES secure consent for the expansion of the Hill of Towie Wind Farm in Moray.
This decision, released in June, will increase the number of turbines at the wind farm from 21 to 37, generating up to 48 MW of renewable energy – enough to power over 26,000 houses a year. It is expected that during the construction and first year of operation Hill of Towie II will create more than £4.4 million of inward investment.
Together in Glasgow: Practice Day 2017
This June, LDA Design gathered in Glasgow for Cruinn Còmhla ’17, Scots Gaelic for a celebration that brings people together.
And celebrate we did – seizing this chance to reflect on our recent achievements, to focus on the months ahead, to further deepen our understanding of each other and to go dancing!
Consultation begins on UCL East planning application
University College London’s ambition to create a second campus away from its historic Bloomsbury setting is moving closer to realisation, with its planning application submitted for UCL East in Stratford.
The masterplan for UCL East, by LDA Design, moves the needle on higher education design. An open and highly permeable campus is proposed, developed in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation to help secure better education and employment outcomes for the local population.
Double Planning Awards success for Swansea Bay
Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon was a big winner at the 2017 Planning Awards, coming away with the top prize in two categories: Infrastructure Planning and Sustainability.
The proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, a world first, will not only provide carbon-free energy but also act as a catalyst for ongoing urban regeneration, opening up an area of waterfront cut off from the public for over a century. The lagoon will have a net annual power output of over 500GWh per annum; enough to meet the annual electricity requirement of over 155,000 homes, or over 90 per cent of homes in the Swansea area.
Littlehampton wins RTPI Excellence in Planning Award
LDA Design’s public realm scheme for the seaside town of Littlehampton in west Sussex has won a Royal Town Planning Institute’s Excellence in Planning Award for the Innovative Delivery of Infrastructure.
“The RTPI’s awards are the most respected in the UK planning industry, and it’s fantastic to see our transformation of a stretch of Littlehampton’s waterfront come out on top,” commented LDA Design director, Sophie Thompson.
“We wanted to make sure Littlehampton is better defended against flooding but also that its waterfront is better connected to the rest of the town.”
South Kilburn’s ‘Green Streets’ masterplan up for New London Award
A scheme to transform South Kilburn, part of a major regeneration programme, has been shortlisted for this year’s New London Awards 2017.
LDA Design has worked alongside Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) and Brent Council (South Kilburn Estate Regeneration Team) to develop a 2005 masterplan, providing a more sustainable approach to creating a sociable new neighbourhood where people feel like they belong, as well as a community which is fully integrated into the wider area.
Expanded EIA regulations come into force
New EIA regulations which come into force in England on 16 May 2017 will expand their scope and requirements. Developers can now demonstrate that an EIA is not required by describing the features and measures which will avoid or prevent significantly adverse effects on the environment at the screening stage. This could screen out borderline EIA developments but a level of certainty will still be needed that mitigation measures can be delivered.
LPAs will still need to adopt a screening opinion within three weeks, but this can be extended if the developer agrees.
Garden villages – the start of a home-grown revolution
England’s first-ever garden villages have the potential to change the way development is delivered, and even change attitudes to new housing. They promise a distinct kind of place, designed for 21st century living and at a scale where people will feel connected to each other and to their locality.
The danger is the delivery instead of dormitory housing estates in the countryside, isolated but with no heartbeat of their own.
How can the success of the 14 new garden villages be guaranteed?
Designing rooftop garden for Westgate, Oxford
The new 800,000 sq ft (74,300 sq. m) Westgate Oxford development includes the city’s first public roof garden, designed by LDA Design.