Lessons Learnt - Design for London

PTAL level 6A
Blocks ne r the
r ilw y st tion
h ve rem rk ly
low-intensity
l nd-uses.
balham, wandsworth
B lh m is thriving District Centre in the e st of
the London Borough of W ndsworth. Loc ted long
the north-south xis of the A24 from Cl ph m
to Tooting, it consists of mixed ret il front ge
often uilt s extensions
from Georgi n er m nsions,
ut mixed with Victori n
nd more recent shopping
p r des. The town centre is
very ccessi le eing served
oth y Underground nd
overl nd r il. Its ret il profile
is successful, with upm rket
superm rkets nd multiples
supported y independent ret il
nd growing num er of c fés
nd rest ur nts. Recent ye rs
h ve seen m ny residenti l
infill projects, oth high-density
low-rise developments in
inner locks nd st nd- lone
p rtment uildings long the
High Ro d. While some is of
good qu lity, new development
p rticul rly south of the r il vi duct is often less
successful. It is out of context nd seems to
ignore the pl ce’s uilt herit ge which includes the
impressive 1920’s Du C ne Court p rtments. The
new developments h ve dded to the fr gment -
tion of the townsc pe nd pu lic re lm of this
edge of the town centre.
Two locks ne r the r il st tion h ve rem rk ly
low-intensity l nd-uses. Opposite the st tion
is superm rket c r-p rk th t predomin ntly
f ces re r f c des of the High Street, including
superm rket’s lo ding y nd refuse rr ngements.
South of the r il vi duct, l rge lock
which includes the listed Church of St M ry, lso
24 HOUSING INTENSIfICATION IN SEVEN SOUTH LONDON TOWN CENTRES AND THEIR EDGES
ccommod tes low-density offices, singlestorey
prim ry school nd self-stor ge f cility
in former office uilding. If reconfigured, oth
sites could h ve signific nt residenti l c p city
nd enrich the pu lic re lm, which currently l cks
good qu lity pu lic sp ces.
How c n two locks ne r the st tion
ccommod te housing intensific tion whilst
ccommod ting the diverse existing uses nd
respecting the uilt herit ge of the pl ce?
A24
B lh m
A24 B lh m High Ro d
B242
Bedford
Hill
500m
housing
soci l infr str.
shops
offices
industri l