CMA Planning have secured approval for proposals for the Hexagon studio theatre in Reading.  The Hexagon studio theatre, designed by Haworth Tompkins, will revitalise the brutalist 1977 theatre with the creation of a flexible new hub for arts, performance and community uses.  The extension and refurbishment will create a new 300-seat auditorium, a café, bar, rooftop terrace, and rehearsal and workshop rooms.  A single-storey backstage and performer area will be demolished to allow for the new building to be created, which will include improved dressing rooms, a wardrobe department, and more production and rehearsal spaces.  The proposals focus on improved sustainability as part of the Council’s commitment to working towards a net-zero carbon Reading by 2030.

The application was approved unanimously by Council’s Planning Committee, and described by one of the Councillors as “a visionary and transformative scheme for Reading".

CMA Planning were pleased to have secured approval at the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s Planning Committee for the redevelopment of the St James Health Centre site in Walthamstow.  This scheme, for Your Tribe and designed by CJCT / Studio Bosk, will deliver a PBSA led mixed-use scheme with 224 student bedspaces and 628 sqm of new class E commercial space.

The development is set out across two blocks, one arranged in a horseshoe to form a high quality external courtyard space for the students, with the second infilling an existing gap in the St James Street frontage.  The proposals will help the continued regeneration of the St James Quarter, following on from a range of other schemes, including the recently completed Jazz Yard, which CMA secured permission for in 2020.

CMA secured unanimous approval at Waltham Forest Planning Committee for development at the Priory Court Estate this week, which will deliver 83 new homes across three buildings with at least 52% as affordable housing, with more than 20 homes for social rent.  The new homes offer a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments in blocks ranging from five to six storeys in height.  All homes feature private gardens or balconies and access to the landscaped communal areas and play spaces.  

This infill development includes a range of new facilities across the estate.  A brand new MUGA, built to Sports England standards – complete with pitch markings for football and basketball games – will be provided.  Feedback from community consultation influenced the design and layout of the facility and includes a spectator zone and amenity hut.  A new children’s play area, ‘Play Way’ route, improved landscaping, CCTV, and enhanced street lighting complete the package for this scheme.

CMA secured a committee double bill success last week.  Firstly our proposals for the Percy Ingle site in Leyton by Stockwool architects were approved by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, delivering 213 new homes and over 4000 sqm of commercial space.  Then our Theydon Road application in Clapton by fourth_space architects was approved by the London Borough of Hackney, delivering a further 48 new homes and nearly 2000 sqm of commercial space.  Really proud to help deliver these two great mixed use schemes. 

CMA secured approval at the Waltham Forest Planning Committee this week for Living by Scape’s proposals for Blackhorse Lane.  The scheme, designed by AHMM, will see the creation of a new cultural venue for Waltham Forest providing opportunities for community participation along with a connected bar/cafe and a separate retail unit.  The proposal also includes 272 studio rooms of purpose-built shared housing on the upper floors alongside supporting internal and external amenity space on each floor, which will help meet local housing needs and add to the range of housing options for local people in the Blackhorse Lane area.

CMA Planning were pleased to secure unanimous approval at Haringey’s Planning Committee last night for development on the Broadwater Farm Estate, in Tottenham.  The Karakusevic Carson Architects' scheme for the London Borough of Haringey will deliver 294 new homes (100% affordable), a Wellbeing Hub and enterprise and retail space. Approval was also secured to relocate and restore a Grade II listed mural. This follows a resident ballot in March where 85% backed the council to deliver the most comprehensive and far-reaching improvement programme in the estate’s 50-year history.

CMA are delighted to have secured unanimous approval from Tower Hamlets’ Development Committee for Aitch Group’s proposals for Byron Street last night.  This Dowen Farmer designed scheme will deliver 65 new homes (35% affordable) in a building up to 5 storeys in height, centred around a communal courtyard.  Key issues that were addressed during the course of the application included the loss of the former community use, the relevant affordable housing threshold, and height and massing, especially with regards to the adjoining conservation area and locally listed buildings.  LBTH Officers felt that the scheme would deliver high quality design which would positively contribute to the area, whilst preserving the character and appearance of the Langdon Park Conservation Area, and the heritage buildings which populate the local setting.

CMA were pleased to have secured unanimous approval from LLDC Planning Committee for Notting Hill Genesis and the LLDC’s application for the redevelopment of three key sites located at the centre of Hackney Wick, which form part of the Hackney Wick Masterplan Outline Permission.  The scheme includes four blocks up to 8 storeys in height that will deliver 190 new homes with 50% affordable housing, together with approximately 4,000 sqm of commercial space comprising retail, office, light industrial and community space, including a significant element of low-cost workspace.  The scheme also contains a significant amount of new landscaped public open space, including a new North / South Cut that will enhance local permeability by providing a vital link between the parts of Hackney Wick located to the north and south of the railway line.

The scheme is designed by three award winning architectural practices working in collaboration, namely Hawkins Brown, Delvendahl Martin and Studio Weave.  The consent would not have been possible without the input from an exceptional project team, including Equans, Energist, Sweco, AECOM, SLR, Calfordseaden, IFC, Pell Frischmann, FHP, London Communications Agency and Newman Francis.  Work on-site is due to begin later this year, with the buildings and public realm expected to be completed in 2025.

The RIBA have revealed the six buildings in the running for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2022, the highest accolade in architecture.  CMA secured permission for two of these six, including Hackney New Primary School and 333 Kingsland Road by Henley Halebrown (described as a striking red-brick complex that uniquely combines affordable housing with a new primary school for the growing east London community) and Sands End Arts and Community Centre by Mæ Architects (described as a welcoming, fully accessible single-storey building arranged around a disused lodge comprising flexible activity spaces and a community café).  Congratulations to all the design teams involved. 

CMA were pleased to have secured unanimous approval at London Borough of Southwark's Planning Committee this week for the redevelopment of the Ledbury Estate on the Old Kent Road for the Borough.  This Karakusevic Carson Architects designed scheme will provide 340 new homes, 76% of which will be affordable, along with new commercial space and a TRA Hall in four buildings reaching up to 22 storeys in height. 

The redevelopment of the Estate, which was built in the 1960s, has been done in consultation with existing residents, with a ballot showing 86% in support of the plans.  This as a result of a collaborative effort between Southwark Council, the wider design and consultant team, Calford Seaden, Open Communities and particularly the Ledbury Resident Project Group, which has been fully involved and engaged throughout the design process.  Work is due to start on site later this year. 

Planning approval has been secured for 245 new homes at Pudding Mill, Stratford for Lifestory.  The LLDC gave the green light for phase 2 of the Stratford Mill development, which will be located on Marshgate Lane, at their planning committee meeting earlier this week.  The proposals, designed by Hawkins Brown, will replace a former warehouse with two buildings reaching up to 12 storeys in height, containing a mixture of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, 35% of which will be affordable.  The scheme provides high quality residential accommodation by maximising opportunity for daylight and natural ventilation, with all homes having access to private amenity space whilst the massing has been designed to maximise views to the canal and beyond.  This will be delivered alongside 407sqm of commercial space on the ground floor, and communal spaces for residents.  The scheme includes high quality semi private and public amenity spaces including new public realm designed by Fabrik, opening up access to this part of the Bow Back and City Mill Rivers for the first time.

CMA had a fantastic result at London Borough of Brent's planning committee yesterday evening.  Planning approval was secured for Network Homes proposals just off Wembley High Road, delivering 79 new affordable homes and commercial space, in this 5 and 18 storey building, designed by Levitt Bernstein and described as being elegant and slender by planning officers. 

Approval Alert! CMA secured unanimous approval this week at the London Borough of Hackney’s Planning Committee for Pocket Living’s proposals for Mandeville Street E5 by Waugh Thistleton / Farrer Huxley.  The proposal will deliver 46 new homes, a fantastic communal roof garden for residents and ground level commercial/community space. Of the 46 homes for sale, 43 (93%) will be one-bed Pocket discounted affordable homes, sold at 20% discount to the market rate, remaining affordable in perpetuity.

Two projects CMA worked on have won Civic Trust Awards.  These awards are the longest standing built environment awards scheme in Europe, established in 1959, recognising excellence in architecture, sustainability, accessibility & community.  Taylor Court, Chatto Court and Wilmott Court, Frampton Park Estate won the National Panel Special Award (Selected by panel members as their favourite scheme) whilst Hackney New Primary School & 333 Kingsland Road also won an Award.  Both schemes were designed by Henley Halebrown Architects.

CMA are delighted to have secured approval at committee last week for works to St Michael and All Angels Church in Shoreditch to allow for its use as an office.  The former Victorian Church designed by James Brooks is one of just six Grade I listed buildings in Hackney and recently served as an antiques store and showroom, but has been empty for over a year. 

The proposals designed by Trehearne Architects centre around the revealing of the vast volume of the church’s nave by the removing various temporary structures inserted previously, with a new partial contemporary mezzanine floor added along with other works to breathe life back into the building and give it a viable commercial future. 

In addition, a new five storey office block will be built on the adjoining yard fronting onto Leonard Street to contextually repair the 'gap tooth' in the streetscape.  Together, the two elements will deliver over 30,000 sqft of office floorspace.

Yesterday saw a return to a real life planning committee at Waltham Forest, with our proposals for the former Wood Street Library site approved by Members.  This scheme designed by Haworth Tompkins will see this site transformed with a new building, which will include a ground floor ‘Families and Homes Hub’ for the community and 67 flats above.

The Hub will give Waltham Forest residents access to the Families and Homes teams in a safe and welcoming environment.  It will help the Council better engage with residents most in need of those services, in line with their commitment to building better services and putting Waltham Forest residents at the heart of everything they do.  67 homes will be built as part of the development to help fund the new community facilities, 50% of which will be affordable homes, prioritised for local people.

CMA have been advising Boxpark Shoreditch from the outset, originally securing permission for the scheme in 2011.  A two year extension has been secured for this great pop-up mall from the London Boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, so it can continue having a positive impact on the local economy, drawing visitors and expenditure to the area, as well as creating many jobs.

CMA Planning have secured planning permission from the London Borough of Lambeth for this scheme at the Higgs Industrial Estate in Loughborough Junction, designed by PRP Architects for Peabody.  The proposal includes 134 new homes, some within a 16 storey tower, and 4,150 sqm of commercial floorspace.  50% of the homes would be affordable.

Planning permission was originally secured for this site in 2015 by a speculative developer.  Peabody secured the site, but needed to make changes to deliver a viable scheme which met their high quality standards.  As a result, a new team was instructed, which came up with this scheme, with an increase in the number of homes and level of commercial space, and which saw the maximum height increase from 8 to 16 storeys.  The scheme will also deliver improvements to the public realm with open access to the arches and a courtyard for residents at podium level.

CMA were pleased to have secured approval at the London Borough of Hackney’s virtual Planning Committee last night for the redevelopment of Thoresby House for Arcadia University.  This outstanding dMFK Architects designed 12 storey scheme will deliver 140 student bed spaces together with communal kitchen/dining rooms, living and study spaces, including much needed new community space that will be made available for use by the local community in perpetuity.

CMA Planning have secured approval for a revised planning and listed building consent for a 130,000 sqft masterplan to regenerate a complex of grade-II listed Victorian Mill Buildings on the River Calder in Wakefield for City & Provincial.  Sited next to the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery, Rutland Mills will form a new phase in the Wakefield Waterfront masterplan, expanding the creative, art and cultural programme currently led by the Hepworth.

A total of 32,000 sqft of space will be created in new buildings built in brick alongside the mill buildings.  The vision for the complex includes studio space for artists, designers and musicians; workspace for the digital and tech industries; artisan craft and makers; commercial space; retail; restaurant and hotel offers; event and gallery space and education.  The Hawkins\Brown masterplan will also deliver new public realm, including a central courtyard event space, gateways, and a new route to the River Calder.

CMA secured approval at last night’s Hackney Council's planning committee for the redevelopment of 305 Kingsland Road. The pH+ designed scheme will provide nearly 5000 sqm of employment space and co-living accommodation with 121 rooms to help contribute towards Hackney’s housing offer.  The site also fronts onto Kingsland Basin and features a planted facade to engage with the environment of the Canal basin, creating opportunities for biodiversity to thrive while providing new homes and innovative creative workspaces.

Our Yeo Street scheme was approved unanimously at last night’s Tower Hamlets virtual planning committee.  This great looking pH+ designed scheme for City & Suburban Homes will deliver 92 new homes adjoining the Limehouse Cut along with 2500 sqm of flexible creative workspace.

CMA were pleased to have secured unanimous approval at London Borough of Hackney's virtual Planning Committee this week for the redevelopment of the New Era Estate in Hoxton for Dolphin Living.  This Allies and Morrison designed scheme will provide 199 new affordable rented homes for keyworkers and the existing New Era community, along with 344 sqm of retail space in buildings up to 14 storeys in height.  The redevelopment of the Estate, which was built in the 1930s for local workers, has been done in consultation with existing tenants, with a ballot of residents showing 91% in support of the plans.

CMA secured planning approval at the London Borough of Islington's 1st virtual Planning Committee for these two major developments (designed by Pilbrow & Partners and Emrys) which will create over 150,000 sqft of workspace as part of the Tileyard Studio campus.

CMA have secured two approvals for Peabody this month, which between them will deliver 128 new homes.  The first scheme, designed by Stockwool, is in Rotherhithe in Southwark and will see 62 new homes provided with redevelopment of a former nursing home.  The second scheme, designed by Bell Phillips and pictured here is in Abbey Wood in Bexley, and will see 66 new homes provided as well as 250 sqm of commercial space, within a building raising up to 10 storeys in height.  Both schemes should commence on site later in 2020. 

CMA Planning have secured a hat-trick of approvals at LB Waltham Forest Planning Committee with three separate schemes for Sixty Bricks, the Council’s housing delivery vehicle given the go-ahead.  The proposals, designed by Bell Phillips Architects at Essex Close and South Grove and by On Architecture at Hylands Road will deliver a total of 223 much needed new homes (with 74% affordable provided overall) alongside a new NHS Health Centre.

CMA are pleased to confirm our planning application for Southern Housing for the redevelopment of the Kennaway Estate in Stoke Newington was approved by the London Borough of Hackney’s Planning Committee.  This infill development, designed by Waugh Thistleton and PRP Landscape will provide 61 new homes (61% affordable) along with a workshop space, community hub and wider landscape improvements which represents the culmination of more than two years of work and extensive consultation with the residents and local community.  

CMA secured planning approval at the London Borough of Hackney's Planning Committee this week for two schemes in London Fields.  The first project, for Aitch Group, is at the Laundry Building on Warburton Road.  Pictured here, the pH+ designed scheme will deliver 58 new homes and 2455 sqm of employment space.  The second development is on Bayford Street for Restoration Group and will deliver a further 38 homes and 2247 sqm of employment space.  Overcoming various issues, the two schemes will continue the regeneration of the London Fields area.