101 Prince of Wales Drive

London, UK

Project details
Client

St William Homes LLP (A joint venture between Berkeley Group and NG)

Architect

Squire and Partners

Duration

2014 – ongoing

Services provided by Buro Happold

Air quality consulting, Environmental consultancy, Ground engineering, Infrastructure, Waste management, Water

With plans to provide over 800 homes alongside commercial, financial and education spaces across 12 buildings ranging from 2 to 26 storeys, 101 Prince of Wales Drive forms part of the wider drive to regenerate former industrial areas within the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area.

Previously known as The Gas Holders Site, the development forms the first site to come forward as part of the St William Homes LLP joint venture between National Grid and the Berkeley Group. St William was set up to redevelop redundant National Grid land in London and the South East.

Buro Happold was appointed to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and prepare the Environmental Statement (ES) for the full planning application for the scheme. This involved effectively aiding collaboration between the various technical specialists and the wider design team throughout the masterplanning process over a seven month period. Our team managed the full EIA process including scoping the EIA with the London Borough of Wandsworth and preparing the final three volumes of the ES and the Non-Technical Summary.

Challenge

The site is complex, with the Victoria Railway Bridge crossing the River Thames to the north, and its position lying between Battersea Park to the west and Battersea Power Station to the east. It is also surrounded by raised railway lines on three sides, and was occupied by four gasholders, which were part of the former Nine Elms Gasworks. The scheme is also located within Flood Zone 3a, which presents a high risk of flooding.

101 PRINCE OF WALES DRIVE Battersea
One of the key challenges for our team was preparing a comprehensive flood risk and drainage strategy in response to the site’s location in a flood risk area. Image: Squire-and-Partners

Solution

One of the factors our team considered was the project’s location within a high flood risk area, combined with its limited sewer capacity. Using our experience of working on projects with difficult conditions, we prepared a flood risk and drainage strategy to future proof the site. This included ensuring flood risk was managed through finished floor levels and a strategy that improved the current rate of surface water discharge entering the combined sewer.

Buro Happold provided the noise and vibration assessment, advising on appropriate design to ensure that the effects of railway noise, with the site surrounded by two railway lines, and barking dogs from the adjacent Battersea Cats and Dogs home were managed sufficiently and to government standards.

mixed use development in London
We also undertoook further technical studies for the project, including noise and vibration, contamination, air quality and ecology assessments. Image: Squire-and-Partners

The site is additionally historically contaminated through the former use and our experts undertook the ground contamination assessment. This involved a review of the site historic information, review of recent works and the provision of advice on the requirements for remediation moving forward as the scheme is transformed from an industrial site to one that supports a residential population.

Further technical studies included a full detailed wind assessment using modelling, an air quality assessment for road and stack emissions and an ecology assessment of the entire scheme impact, including green and brown roof provision. Additionally, we put in place a site waste management plan for construction and an operational waste management plan for the scheme.

mixed use development in London
Render of 101 Prince of Wales, Battersea. Image: Squire and Partners

Value

Buro Happold ensured all disciplines were engaged in influencing the scheme through the design process to ensure no significant adverse environmental effects were reported within the ES on scheme freeze. Subsequently, the planning application was determined without the need for further environmental information and was unanimously approved at Planning Committee. With full planning now in place, the project is set to become a valued new housing development within London’s urban landscape.

101 Prince of Wales render
Regenerating a former industrial site to create over 800 new homes, as well as commercial, financial and education spaces across 12 buildings. Image: Squire and Partners