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Unanimous planning approval for the regeneration of Richmond’s Ham Close 

Jubb’s Winchester team is proud to have played a key role in securing planning approval for the redevelopment of Ham Close in Richmond. The project, which has been ten years in the making, will be housing-led – and grow from the roots put down by the existing community.

In place of the 192 homes currently standing in the form of 1960s tower blocks, Ham Close will become an open, greener housing development with 452 high-quality new homes, new community facilities and a range of public spaces.

Close collaboration

Working with award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and London housing provider Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP), Jubb provided Structural and Civil consultancy services for this Pre-Planning application.

One challenge faced by the team involved the sewer systems and surface water drainage. Following close liaison we agreed existing public sewer diversions with Thames Water, worked around the retained sewers, establishing the development requirements and coordination with proposed utilities. Jubb also had to contend with the developments phasing requirements to ensure each phase was able to drain separately, and not rely on future phases. We had extremely limited space to provide surface water storage onsite, and so we proposed a drainage strategy involving an agreed above greenfield discharge rate, and utilising above ground SuDs systems such as blue and green roofs

Sustainability built in

Sustainable drainage systems mimic natural systems, effectively managing surface water while creating key environmental and social benefits. This is just one of the ways we’re helping Hill Group’s Sustainability agenda and achieve required certification – with permeable paving, attenuation tanks, green and blue roofs, rain gardens and swales, all playing their part to make for a climate resilient and beautiful space to live. 

And of course, these affordable and private sale homes are all carefully designed to high standards of energy efficiency, using Photovoltaic solar panels for electricity and Air Source Heat Pumps rather than gas boilers, meaning the new, larger homes will have a lower carbon footprint, and cost less to heat.

The proposal itself follows a whole-life carbon approach and commitment to recycle through the circular economy with a minimum 95% diversion from landfill for construction and demolition waste.

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  1 / 4Ham Close, Richmond, London
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  2 / 4Ham Close, Richmond, London
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  3 / 4Ham Close, Richmond London
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  4 / 4Ham Close, Richmond, London

Community focus

At the heart of the new development is the need to meet current and future local housing needs. The process that led to this moment has seen the local council and Hill Group work closely with the community to create a place where everyone can feel at home. Everyone living in the existing affordable homes will be moving directly into their new home. 

The scheme raises the number of affordable homes in the area by 49%, and includes for rent, London Living Rent and Shared Ownership properties, a basement car park, Community Leisure building and apartment blocks up to six storeys.

Ham Close also includes a £2m social impact fund –£250,000 a year for 8 years – to go towards local projects, decided by the community themselves. 

We couldn’t be prouder to have played our part in making this redevelopment a reality, and look forward to sharing progress over 2023 and beyond.