Catford Green

This is the kind of site where London’s housing growth is being accommodated: a disused dog track on a long, narrow plot between two railway lines, cut up by a river and a sewer. The site had a number of advantages, too: it is near an existing town centre, beside two rail stations, and borders the extensive network of local parks in the river floodplain. A scheme had been consented before the financial crash, but had not been built. We focused on improving the quality and coherence of the public realm, and on using the buildings to support this shared landscape. Increasing the size of several open spaces made them individually more usable and more varied as a whole. This allows them to play different roles, contributing significantly to the life of this emerging community.

We developed a calm, earthy material palette, and simple repetitive rhythms that are shared by low-rise and medium-rise blocks. The houses and apartments are the background to a varied and verdant public realm – a model recognisable in many successful London areas. Four different bricks provide variety along the 250 metre long site, while the common treatment of plinths and pavements roots the buildings in the public space. Generous south facing balconies on tall, tower-like elevations punctuate the walk along the central main street – in this way, the landscape becomes part of the quality of the flats, and the balconies contribute to the sociability of the street.

Over 80% have been bought by first-time buyers, with many supported by London Help to Buy. Residents Elly ad Tom, who bought off plan, say ‘We really couldn’t be happier with our apartment. It even has a terrace, and we can walk straight out into the park. A lovely community is forming. We have a residents’ Facebook group, which keeps us all up to date on events and we’re getting to know lots of our neighbours.’