The council prepared the South Kilburn Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in 2005 to reinforce and formalise the masterplan principles and to elaborate on policy contained in the Unitary Development Plan. The main objective of the SPD is to ensure the long term physical, social and environmental regeneration of the area. The plan looks to re-establish neighbourhood centres organised with more traditional street patterns with improved community facilities, local services and open space. It also looks to improve the quality, number and mix of homes through provision of around 1,500 private homes integrated in and around refurbishments of the best existing housing. The Kilburn Park developments cover a 2.09 hectare site in the London suburb of South Kilburn, replacing two existing isolated estates with 102 new dwellings.
Sitting at the gateway to the historic quarter identified in the overarching South Kilburn Masterplan, the scheme reinstates the urban form and street pattern which characterised the area before post-war development – a traditional model of villas fronting the main road with corresponding mews houses to the rear, and a restored nineteenth century route, Alpha Mews. Running the length of the scheme and linking the new developments, the ‘spine’ route is made up of shared surfaces, play areas, gardens and defined public and private spaces overlooked by balconies and roof gardens. A continuous frontage along Cambridge Avenue adjacent to Kilburn Park Station repairs the historic street pattern, while the modern brick facades reflect the formality of the Victorian villas opposite – the consistency in height and detail punctuated by taller recessed linking elements which act as vertical markers along the street.
The apartments themselves deliver high-quality living space with generously spaced, dual-aspect units. The varying height of the buildings to the rear is typical of mews across London, while articulated entrances, recessed windows and roof gardens add interest and depth to the façades.
