Proposed designs for London’s tallest residential buildings have been altered to accommodate a “more efficient energy strategy” and “changes to fire regulations”, including “additional stairwells and fire/evacuation lifts in each building to improve fire safety”.
As reported by Building Magazine, the plans for the tallest residential buildings in the nation’s capital, originally drawn up by architect KPF, have given way to an entire redesign by London architect Apt.
While the existing planning application for the two-tower scheme in West London was approved in 2020, AlDau Development has now scrapped the plans in place of a different design. Under the new proposal, the two towers will be 44 and 58 storeys tall, with 699 homes and a hotel accommodating 90 beds. As reported by The Standard, the proposed plans have been submitted to the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).
The Egyptian developer AlDau confirmed that the redesigned project will now accommodate second staircases and “additional fire/evacuation lifts”, per updated government guidelines, and “highly efficient façades with solar shading”:
“Since the existing planning permission was approved in February 2020 there have been significant events nationally and globally that have affected developments across London. These include: the Covid-19 Pandemic, changes to fire regulations, raw materials shortages, inflationary pressures on build costs, supply issues and rapidly rising energy costs,” the developer said.
“AlDau Development have considered how the scheme can best meet the current environment without losing the significant benefits catered for in the original scheme. Whilst amendments could be made to the extant permission, looking at the plans afresh provided a better scheme that meets the new aspirations and vision set out in the OPDC Local Plan.
“Revisiting the plans has provided the opportunity to improve public spaces and amenities to provide a variety of benefits for the local community and new residents. In addition the scheme reflects new and emerging planning guidance such as 2 fire stairs and an all electric energy strategy.
“The proposed scheme has evolved from a design lead approach with core principles retained throughout.”
It is understood that 35% of the 699 new homes created would be affordable. The full proposal can be viewed here.
In April 2024, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) published new guidance on second staircases for residential buildings 18 metres and more in height, with amendments to Approved Document B (ADB) Volume 1 (dwellings) and Volume 2 (buildings other than dwellings). The FPA previously reported on the news here.