News 07.10.2021
NLA publishes Resilient London Report
We are delighted to see that four of our projects have been showcased in New London Architecture's (NLA) latest report entitled Resilient London: Confronting Climate Change, published on Wednesday, 6th October 2021. In the lead-up to COP26, this report examines London's role in combating climate change through the built environment and future actions planned across the capital. The report showcases projects from across the city and further afield that are leading the way in climate-resilient design.
Our first featured project is Elephant Park, the revitalisation of Elephant & Castle by Lendlease and Southwark Council. At the centre of Elephant Park, we have delivered a 2-acre inclusive and sustainable community space featuring expansive lawns, colourful rain gardens, the landmark water playscape, Elephant Springs, and walkways nestled within naturalistic planting. The park encourages active and healthy lifestyles, offering unique social and recreational opportunities for those visiting, living and working in Elephant and Castle. The park's rain gardens are a vital part of a SUDS strategy, infiltrating surface water runoff from hard paved areas into the underground aquifer rather than overburdening London's combined sewer system. Furthermore, the retention of 27 mature, existing trees and the planting of 19 new trees has made a huge impact in carbon fixing and storage and improvements to habitats for wildlife. Our designs focused on maximising planting and reducing hard paving, allowing all opportunities where possible for the carbon sequestering properties of soil. Read more about the project here.
Our second featured project is Thames Tideway. This 25km infrastructure project will modernise London's ageing sewage system and dramatically improve the environment by preventing millions of tonnes of sewage from overflowing into the river each year. The super sewer project is about far more than just cleaning up the river; it will also offer an opportunity to create new spaces above the engineering, many of which are on land to be reclaimed from the river foreshore. We are working alongside Hawkins\Brown to deliver eight new public spaces that will interpret the unique history of each site and its relationship to the river, offering attractive and engaging spaces for all those living, working and visiting London. Read more about the project here.
Our third project is 300 Harrow Road, a residential-led mixed-use development for Westminster City Council. The scheme will provide 112 high new homes, community facilities and an enhanced public realm. Our landscape enhancements will activate the area, capitalising on the site's proximity to the Regents Canal, providing residents and the community better access to the canal. At the heart of the landscape is a new children's play space, designed over two levels that will provide an inclusive destination for families in the local community.
Further afield in Manchester, the Mayfield project will transform 24 acres of derelict brownfield land in central Manchester into a distinctive, imaginative and diverse neighbourhood. Mayfield will deliver new homes, market-leading commercial space, retail and leisure facilities and 14 acres of public realm, centred around the city's first new public park in over 100 years. The new park is designed to accommodate multiple users and uses and includes a play area, an urban square, floodable meadows and wetlands and quiet green spaces for those who want to relax and have a break from the city. A key part of the design is to open up the previously culverted river, naturalising the river banks. Working closely with the Mayfield Partnership, a public/private joint venture partnership between LCR, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and regeneration specialist U+I, Gillespies is the delivery landscape architect. Read more about the project here.
Gillespies is the landscape architect on all four projects. Download the full report here.