The Council Office Complex (excluding the Guildhall building) is made up of several underutilised buildings, where the council’s main offices are currently located, within Kingston Town Centre. This prime site is surrounded by a mix of predominantly commercial uses and is directly next to the new homes and Unilever headquarters currently under construction.
The area could be redeveloped to provide new homes and spaces for business and leisure services as well as new public areas and landscaping to celebrate and respect the Hogsmill River which runs through the site and the neighbouring Grade II listed Guildhall.
Kingston Council is looking to bring forward two of the office buildings for redevelopment and would very much welcome early discussions with potential development partners and occupiers. For further information, please get in touch.
PROJECT OWNER: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
PLANNING STATUS: No approval to date, partially identified in our Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan
EXISTING STATUS: Both buildings have been designated as surplus to requirements at February 2022 Corporate & Resources Committee
The major mixed-use redevelopment of the former Surrey House site known as the ‘Eden Campus’ will deliver global blue chip company Unilever Ltd a new UK & Ireland headquarters. The scheme will provide 25,000 sqm of BREEAM Excellent floorspace and 156 new homes, and will be home to over 2,000 highly skilled marketing, sales and product development professionals. The scheme will generate over 200 construction jobs, contribute over £3m directly into the local economy during its development, and provide new energy to Kingston Town Centre.
PROJECT OWNER: Cube Real Estate
PLANNING STATUS: Resolution to Approve
The 197,000 sqm Cambridge Road Estate (CRE) regeneration programme will deliver 2,170 homes including 767 social rented homes and 100 shared equity/shared ownership homes aimed at existing owner occupiers on the estate. Delivered through a joint venture between the council and Countryside Properties, the project will include major opportunities for employment, training, health and well-being for residents as well as economic opportunities for local businesses.
PROJECT OWNER: The CRE (RBK) LLP (Kingston Council and Countryside Properties)
EXISTING STATUS: PLANNING STATUS: Phase One construction started on site in December 2022.
Cocks Crescent represents a key place-making opportunity with the potential to add significantly to the vitality and viability of New Malden. The Council has adopted an Strategic Planning Document (SPD) for the area (2017) which sets a vision for the future place and contains overarching principles to guide the development of the site. This includes providing a new community leisure facility, new homes and public spaces.
PROJECT OWNER: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
PLANNING STATUS: No approval to date, commitment to delivery of development here at March 2022 Corporate and Resources Committee
Kingston upon Thames’ unique blend of benefits help to ensure its strength as a place to live, invest, visit and work - as underlined by multiple recent major investments from international companies and a strong development pipeline. The borough provides an exceptional quality of life - characterful towns and high streets and attractive neighbourhoods, while 32% of the borough is green space. Kingston town centre - the capital’s third-largest retail area - incorporates its ancient market square and riverside bars and restaurants. Surbiton’s high-quality evening entertainment scene complements New Malden’s unique offer, driven by Europe’s largest Korean community. The borough is known for its top schools at both primary and secondary levels, with many graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, scoring highly in attainment and progress.
The borough sits between the country’s two leading airports and close to major road routes. Characterised by a high level of micro-enterprises, its 9000-strong base of enterprises also benefits from a diverse industrial structure that adds resilience to the local economy. Strong employment in arts, entertainment and recreation, as well as in financial and business services, public administration and wholesale and retail provide the leading sectors. However, professional, scientific and technical activities, and ICT have contributed disproportionately to recent growth, with over 1000 businesses in digital and tech, employing over 3000 people.
Population projections 2021 168,063
Population projections 2050 218,061
London plan new homes (ten-year target) 9,640
Building council homes for Londoners (four-year programme) 713
Sean Gillen, Corporate Head of Employment, Skills and Economy
sean.gillen@kingston.gov.uk
“Kingston is a vibrant and diverse borough with a strong cultural and community heritage. We want to create a place that understands and treasures its history, seeks to build on the best of that past, cares passionately about both its built and natural environment, and is confident of its future.
We have a strong vision to breathe new life into regeneration sites across the borough to diversify and better use the areas to deliver a range of housing choices, new workplaces, public facilities, spaces and landscaping for our communities to benefit from. We want to place Kingston’s unique history and heritage at the heart of any regeneration to provide the communities, economy and homes local people value.
We have pledged to build sustainable homes that are affordable so people can live and work in the borough. We are thinking differently about town centres and High Streets as places to live, work and play. We are committed to being carbon neutral, with sustainable and green principles guiding all we do. Bringing forward major developments and providing a supportive policy environment are vital. We’re investing heavily in the borough and invite you to join us in helping to shape Kingston’s future.”
Cllr Andreas Kirsch, Leader of the Council
Our Economic Development and Growth Strategy 2018-2025 provides a clear direction for the borough, and this will be refreshed during 2022 to ensure we are well-placed to emerge strongly from the pandemic. The emerging themes of this will build on the previous strategy and respond to new opportunities, likely to include: