Firstplan are instructed by Long Harbour to provide planning advice for the redevelopment of The Mall in the heart of Walthamstow. The development will deliver two buildings ranging from 24 and 36 storeys and provide over 500 residential units along with retail and community uses and we have been critical to mobilising enabling works.
Firstplan’s ongoing involvement includes coordinating a consultant team in preparing technical documentation, leading negotiations with the Council officers in the planning, economic development and S106 teams to secure permissions, discharge planning conditions and legal obligations.
Firstplan advise Dominvs Group on a range of planning matters for the redevelopment of the former Hammersmith Magistrates Court. This scheme will deliver a 17-storey building with 713 student accommodation units along with public realm areas and ancillary development.
Firstplan have played a crucial role in leading negotiations with Council officers and have co-ordinated a specialist consultant team in preparing technical details to secure approvals and progress this major scheme to mobilisation.
Firstplan were instructed to advise on planning matters in relation to the redevelopment of 201-207 Kensington High Street for 19 Class C3 residential units, a new Class E gym in the basement, improvements to the ground floor retail frontage, internal reconfiguration and the retention and refreshment of the historical façade. The Art Deco style building was originally constructed in the 1920s for Woolworths as their flagship store, lying in the centre of Kensington High Street and a Conservation Area.
Firstplan’s role as planning consultant included providing planning, strategy and heritage advice, leading pre-application discussions, preparing and submitting a number of planning applications to facilitate the redevelopment, managing teams of consultants, and negotiating with officers through to the grant of permission.
CGI credit: 201-207 Ken Ltd
Firstplan advised on the planning strategy for the extension and upgrading of Mansfield Heights; three blocks of 1950’s flats in Haringey originally designed by the Metropolitan Police Architects Department for use as police housing. Working within the constraints of the original buildings, Firstplan obtained Prior Approval under Part 20 Class A of the amended Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2020 to allow an additional storey to be constructed above both the north and south blocks to provide a total of 11 new one-bed dwellings. A follow-up Prior Approval was then secured to increase the six storey central tower to eight storeys and introduce two additional residential units, for a total of 13 new units across the three buildings.
Firstplan also secured planning permissions for enhancements to the wider estate, which included outbuildings, increased car and cycle parking, refuse storage, hard and soft landscaping, lighting, signage and seating.
The scheme delivers contemporary, high-quality roof additions that adopt a bespoke design approach for each of the three blocks, reflecting their locations within the estate and their relationship with the surrounding buildings. The roof extensions are then successfully unified by using dark zinc cladding to create a harmonious contrast to their host, whilst sitting within an attractive and welcoming setting.
Firstplan successfully secured a resolution to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of this high profile, designated employment site to provide no.197 new Build to Rent residential units.
Following the construction of a new purpose-built facility, IBSA’s printery and factory buildings in Mill Hill, formerly associated with the production and distribution of its ‘Watchtower’ magazine, became redundant and available for redevelopment. Informed by extensive pre-application consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, local residents and statutory consultees, Firstplan prepared a comprehensive planning application to support the demolition of the industrial buildings and the conversion of the existing IBSA office building to deliver much needed new housing.
Firstplan led complex negotiations with Barnet Council and the Greater London Authority to established the acceptability of residential use on the allocated employment site. We also engaged with officers and Members to gain support for a 100% Build to Rent scheme, of which 20% will be Discounted Build to Rent, by demonstrating the role that this relatively new tenure model can play in meeting local housing requirements and advocating the wider benefits of the proposals in supporting the Council’s ambitions for this identified growth area.
Firstplan provided planning consultancy services with respect to the redevelopment of The Unicorn, a public house and long-established live music venue, which is a landmark corner building dating from the 1830’s, situated at the boundary of LB Camden and LB Islington.
Firstplan worked closely with the project architects, to extend, modernise and breathe new life into this historic building. The planning permission allows for the sympathetic extension, refurbishment and reconfiguration to allow the creation of 7no. residential units, a new Class E unit, and an improved public house and live music venue area.
Firstplan’s role as planning consultant included engaging in pre-application discussions with officers, providing planning advice and preparing a Planning and Heritage Statement to support the application, which included a robust justification for the loss of existing pub floorspace at ground level – a key material planning consideration. The scheme was subsequently granted planning permission, subject to a Section 106.
The project architect is Child Graddon Lewis Architects & Designers.
Firstplan successfully led the planning process to secure highly contentious planning and listed building consents for the redevelopment of this prominent, derelict canal-side site in Limehouse, fronting onto Commercial Road.
The proposals involved the restoration and refurbishment of a number of Grade II listed warehouse buildings. Firstplan led complex negotiations regarding the heritage and planning implications of the proposed works for the buildings, making robust arguments in favour of the improved works in order to persuade both Historic England and London Borough of Tower Hamlets listed building officers to allow significant alterations and the loss of some historic fabric.
The proposed development of the adjoining derelict land was of even greater contention, involving the creation of a 134 room shared living development; one of the first of its kind in London. Firstplan successfully led the project team through pre-application discussions and the subsequent application process to secure planning consent at the first attempt.
Firstplan secured planning permission at appeal for a redevelopment of 300-306 West Green Road for the construction of a five-storey (plus basement) building, comprising of a commercial unit on the ground floor and basement, and nineteen residential units above.
This provided a significant increase in the quantity and quality of the commercial and residential floorspace at the site, including a net increase of fifteen additional dwellings and a doubling of the size of commercial unit. The development was designed to be a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the retail parade, which included preparation of an indicative future masterplan for the area.
The scheme will be a ‘Build to Rent’ development and provision has been made for two ‘intermediate’ affordable units, to be let out at ‘London Living Rent’ levels, which is a form of discounted market rent. This allowed our Client to retain sole ownership and management of the building, whilst still contributing towards the Council’s affordable housing supply. The scheme further included a communal children’s play area at first floor level.
Firstplan’s involvement was from scheme inception through to the grant of permission, including management of pre-application discussions, the planning application (securing a recommendation for approval by officers) and the written representations planning appeal.
Firstplan secured planning permission for the erection of two new dwellings to the rear of Jameson Lodge, a 1960s residential apartment block in Highgate. Through an innovative design approach and extensive pre-application discussions, it was possible to overcome officers resistance to the loss of garden space by partially demolishing the existing, unused garages and utilising their footprint.
The development provides a new three bedroom house along with a two bedroom first floor unit above the front garage block. As well as preserving a generous garden area, the new units sit within extensive new planting and incorporate oak cladding suspended and cantilevered over the retained garages ensuring that the proposals are sympathetic to the site’s leafy, urban setting.
The scheme is designed by Lipton Plant Architects.
Firstplan successfully secured planning permission for the demolition of an existing house and its replacement with a new flatted development providing seven high quality residential units.
The site is located within the designated Fulham Regeneration Area, where 7,000 new homes are to be delivered and a number of other regeneration projects are already underway. The scheme achieves a notable uplift in housing numbers and makes more efficient use of this highly accessible, brownfield site. Designed by Bellis Architects, the contemporary part three/part four storey building responds to the evolving context of Fulham town centre and regeneration area and provides light, spacious one and two bed homes, all of which benefit from private amenity space.
