Director of Place Shaping at Westminster City Council to join 'Science Cities'
300 Harrow Road regeneration for Westminster City Council - with Regent's Canal on right (Child Graddon Lewis)
Director of Place Shaping and Town Planning at Westminster City Council, Deirdra Armsby, will be speaking at our next 'Science Cities' forum on 14th April.
The forum will look at the creation and design of high quality housing, public realm and community amenities in our towns and cities post Covid-19, Access to green space has become a particular focus during the pandemic and as our 'Science Cities' continue to 'over-heat', intelligent planning is required for key worker housing set in landscaped grounds where residents can relax.
Deirdra provides strategic leadership on the form and function of a City for All, She is responsible for integrating Place Shaping principles throughout the Planning decisions process and an eclectic range of programmes including Strand Aldwych, Harrow Road and Victoria.
Previously Deirdra was Director of Regeneration and Planning at Newham, and worked at Hackney & RBKC, gaining experience in strategic and local mixed use development, conservation, neighbourhood advocacy, transport, public health and strategy.
Westminster City Council gave planning permission last November for new affordable housing to be built at 300 Harrow Road next to London's famous Regent's Canal.
Built in 1812, the canal was designed as part of a master plan for the Prince Regent by architect John Nash to redevelop a large area of central North London.
One hundred new homes with a community space and canal-side greenery are to be built with 50% of the homes being affordable, for either social or intermediate rent. The development gives a range of people the chance to live in the heart of London and priority will be given to those who live and work locally.
A canal side cafe and flexible workspace are two features of this development that seeks to improve the surrounding green space, activating the area and giving residents easy access to Regent's Canal.
300 Harrow Road is designed by Child Graddon Lewis and will be delivered by Willmott Dixon Construction, the partners behind Westminster's award-nominated Dudley House, a development of 197 affordable homes which launched in Paddington Basin last year.
The buildings, the council says, will be constructed with the highest environmental standards in mind. Each home will have an air source heat pump, and residents will benefit from solar panels, rainwater collection and living roofs, resulting in reduced carbon emissions and over all lower energy costs.
The development will be amongst the first delivered by Westminster Builds, the council's wholly owned company established to help deliver it says an ambitious regeneration programme.