The Bittoms

Pringle Richards Sharratt have been working for Surrey County Council (SCC) leading a multi-disciplinary design team to develop architectural proposals for the future use of a substantial 700 space multi storey car park that used to serve their former County Hall in the Royal London Borough of Kingston Upon Thames or RBKuT.

The site is situated directly on College Roundabout which is set out as a ‘Key Landmark’ improvement area within the RBKuT Local Plan. Following extensive Public Consultation and engagement with the GLA, RBKuT, Historic England and various nearby Higher Education providers the proposed scheme is a truly mixed-used development which seeks to release the potential of this site within one of the GLA’s designated key ‘Opportunity Area’.

The proposal looks to demolish the carpark allowing the site to be developed with a commercial 4 storey podium able to contain an active A1 and A2 ground floor with three floors of flexible E or F use space above. The roof of the podium will have a wonderful sky garden above which are two stunning residential tall buildings housing over 150 much needed residential units. The stepping down of the residential massing to the south west allows for expansive views across the Thames to Hampton Court Palace.

The whole development is currently being developed to Passive House standards including installation of a Ground Source Pumps as well as the possibility to connect up to a future District Heating system.

Urban improvements and landscape design have been central to the design especially with regards to allowing the street scape around Kingston College, the Crown Court and the small pedestrian passageway to become places to enjoy. Ultimately the whole development seeks to enhances the setting of this significant local landmark and arrival point into Kingston