DLA Architecture has secured full planning consent, on behalf of its client Freshwater, to deliver a new £40 million residential led development on Sevenoaks High Street in Kent.
Chandlers Place is the proposed redevelopment of a former Tesco store to deliver new homes in the centre of the historic town. The regeneration project will also provide new complementary retail to the high street as well as high quality public realm connecting the town centre to the Cultural Quarter.
Council officers approved the plans commenting that the proposal was a well-designed building which was sustainable and would bring much needed affordable housing into the town centre.
The development aims to transform the current 1-acre derelict site into an integrated public realm environment providing 104 new apartments and three retail units with an underground car park, 122 cycle bays and a broad pedestrian walkway.
Charles Jabre, Project Leader for DLA Architecture said “We are pleased to secure planning consent on behalf of Freshwater which is a long-term client. Our design approach has been contextual, drawing upon the historical architecture of Sevenoaks to create a contemporary, narrative led design response with high quality homes.
“Chandler’s Place is designed to open up the site for the local neighbourhood through the inclusion of a high-quality new public realm along the High Street and a dedicated public pedestrian route linking to the Kaleidoscope Arts centre as part of the town’s cultural quarter.”
Mark Newton of Total Property Solutions, development and project managers on behalf of Freshwater, said, “We are pleased to work in partnership with DLA Architects on this redevelopment. The design team has shown great vision for transforming a prominent but redundant building into much needed new homes in the area. The design interacts well with the public realm with much improved pedestrian links and great consideration to the conservation needs.”
The professional team also included Elliot Wood as Structural Engineer, ESD as MEP consultants, Connect Consultants as transport planners and Freeth’s as planning consultants.
DLA Architecture is an award-winning practice which employs over 80 architects, landscape architects, technologists and graphic designers. Established over 40 years ago the practice has offices in London, Leeds and Manchester. Its expertise covers a broad range of sector including learning, sport, industry, care, workplace, housing, retail, conservation and re-use.
DLA has considerable expertise in designing new community spaces and housing. It recently completed the award-winning Hackney Gardens, a significant new project comprising community space and housing in Hackney. The £21 million scheme was an enabling development between developer, Thornsett, The London Diocesan Fund (LDF) and The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St John at Hackney. It also appointed on Equipment Works in London, the Broadway in Wimbledon and Kelly’s Yard in Hepburn.
