The redevelopment of a listed, 3.2-acre, derelict 1960s school site, one of the earliest in the Brutalist style. It was a very sensitive disposal by Lambeth Council as several community groups had been in, sometimes informal, residence for a number of years. Lambeth had obtained eviction notices. Kate Hoey, the local MP at the time, was very much in support of those community groups. We sat between the local authority and the community groups, and worked closely with Kate Hoey, to ensure that all stakeholders were adequately protected, and public relations properly managed. The reputations of both the local authority and ourselves as developers were protected.

The site was redeveloped into 149 homes, both new build and conversion/ refurbishment, set in spacious landscaped grounds with 10,000 sq.ft of community use (the original Assembly Hall of the school), 40% social housing and a net density of 344 homes per hectare. Working in conjunction with English Heritage and The Twentieth Century Society, we demolished part of the school with lesser architectural merit. By focussing on balancing ‘benefit and harm’, we were able to develop a viable scheme.

Visitors to the estate today will be able to recognise and appreciate its history as a school, as some key elements have been retained as part of the sympathetic conversion. The master planning was undertaken by Conran & Partners, in close liaison with the original architect from ACP, which ensured that the new build elements worked harmoniously with the original architecture. It went on to become multi award-winning.