King Street Square short-listed for award
Tuesday December 1, 2009
Draft ideas for Hammersmith’s new £1 million public square have been selected for the Mayor of London’s Great Spaces award.
The initial proposals for the new piazza on King Street were in a group of about 50 schemes, chosen out of more than 120 applications, earmarked for the prestigious London-wide award.
The architects who drafted the plans – Scape Design Associates – were formally appointed last month after their proposals were chosen by a design panel, which included internationally renowned architect John Thompson.
The designs – which are subject to further consultation with local groups – were also the clear winner with residents who attended a three day consultation in October.
Councillor Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, said: “It is fantastic that the draft plans for King Street’s new public square have been earmarked as one of London’s finest.
“We want the final square to be something that future generations will be proud of and the Mayor’s support is very welcome."
The Scape design was a popular choice with residents due to its provision of green space, an original water feature and the treatment of the reinstated steps leading up to the front of the historic town hall. Some people wanted more grass in the designs and the initial proposals will be worked on following further workshops with local groups.
The Great Spaces Awards, which are being run by Design for London on the Mayor’s behalf, aims to reward projects that revitalise the capital’s public spaces and The Mayor of London is now expected to spend around £225 million on up to 50 public spaces over the next three years.
The public square is part of wider council plans to save taxpayers’ cash and regenerate the west end of King Street by replacing the ugly town hall extension with a new building to the side of the original town hall. The move would allow the re-creation of the public square in front of the Grade II listed town hall.
Matthew Bonning-Snook from the council’s development partner, King Street Developments, said: “We’re delighted that the Mayor of London has recognised that the proposed new public square in King Street will be one of London’s great new urban spaces, and has offered his support to the project. Our vision is to create a series of high quality spaces that will link together to provide new, step free, pedestrian access to reconnect King Street to the Thames, replacing the current ugly 1960s extension at the front of the Town Hall.”
Further consultation on the scheme will take place next year and a formal planning application is expected to be submitted to Hammersmith & Fulham Council in the summer.
