HARMFUL TO SETTING
Kennington Park & Kennington Conservation Area an intact coherent architecture & townscape protected since 1968
Kennington Conservation Area - ‘Represents one of the most intact and architecturally coherent areas of architecture and townscape within Lambeth dating from late 18th to early 20th Century’ taken from Lambeth’s Kennington Conservation Area Statement.
Kennington Park – One of only four Grade II listed parks in Lambeth.
Grade II listed buildings – Prince Consort Lodge, Lycee School Building, Georgian terraced housing.
Kennington Park Estate – uniform mansion block estate of 12 five storey buildings.
The excessive height of this proposal is a major deviation from the character and charm of the low and medium rise neighbourhood. It harm’s the setting of the protected assets, Kennington Park, Kennington Conservation Area.
At 17 storeys it will be visible from all areas of the Park, most streets within the conservation area and beyond.
Kennington Park Estate – uniform mansion block estate of 12 five storey buildings.
The image below shows the towers high impact (in red). Visible from everywhere in the park, most streets in the conservation area and main road to Elephant and Castle
At 17 storeys it will be visible from all areas of the Park, most streets within the conservation area and beyond. It will be the dominant feature and dwarf the predominantly 2-4 storey buildings and 5 storey mansion blocks characteristic of the neighbourhood (see red on map below which shows highest level of impact at park and street level).
LAMBETH POLICY - to Protect Conservation Area settings & Registered Parks and Gardens (including views in and out of the area)
Here are some of Lambeth’s policies from Lambeth Local Plan
Policy Q22 Conservation areas
A. Development proposals affecting conservation areas will be permitted where they preserve or enhance the character or appearance of conservations areas by:
respecting and reinforcing the established, positive characteristics of the area in terms of the building line, siting, design, height, forms, materials joinery, window detailing etc
protecting the setting (including views in and out of the area).
Policy Q21 Registered parks and gardens
Development proposals affecting parks and gardens on the national register will be supported where they:
preserve the setting (including views in and out).
Lambeth’s designated historic landscapes largely date from the 19th century. The majority are public parks and include some of the largest and most attractive parks in the borough… The special interest of all the designated landscapes lies in their layout, landscape and structures and they often contain heritage assets. The character of their setting can also be important. Proposals involving tall buildings in the setting of registered parks and gardens will also be considered against the criteria in Local Plan policy Q26.
Policy Q20 Statutory listed building
‘…supports proposals that conserve and do not harm the significance of listed buildings and their settings.’ (not verbatim)
Kennington Conservation Area Statement
OPINION - A key argument against the towers is harm to heritage
This objection is a key argument against a tall tower. Lambeth will wish to balance the harm on heritage assets against the economic and housing benefit. We believe the harm of 17 storey tower at the entrance to a heritage park and abutting a conservation area is in now way offset by small economic / housing benefit. Consider the economic and housing benefit of Berkley homes at Oval quarter 3,500+ mixed residents compared to 190 at this site.