New London tower design steered into planning
A new landmark mixed use tower set for the London borough of Vauxhall has been submitted by Make Architects for planning approval. Located on a brownfield site on Bondway in Vauxhall, The Octave, a 149m tall building supports the planned regeneration of the Vauxhall, Battersea and Nine Elms OAPF area and is within an area allocated for a potential cluster of new tall buildings in Vauxhall.
The scheme will contain 10% employment use and 90% residential accommodation. 376 new homes are drawn into the plans, 30% of which will be classed as affordable. A community floor at level 36 provides recreation, business and function spaces accessible to all residents. The employment area increases the current site provision and incorporates ground level amenity retail outlets along with three floors of subsidised start-up office accommodation.
The building is divided into eight stepping forms that cascade from a central high point, down towards the north and south. Roof terraces incorporating planting boxes are arranged at the top of each building segment and the articulation of the building form provides dual-aspect windows to every apartment. Generous winter gardens to almost all apartments create a flexible private amenity area, provide year-round access to outside space and along with the roof terraces and overall form, maximise the stunning city views available in all directions.
Sustainable measures include biomass boilers which will provide 25% renewable energy consumption and contribute to a 30% overall reduction in carbon use, and a one in one hundred year (plus 30%) sustainable urban drainage system protects the local infrastructure. Located adjacent to the Vauxhall transport interchange, public and green methods of transport are encouraged and 25 car parking spaces, 22 motor cycle spaces and 568 bicycle spaces are provided.
The existing site environment is dominated by rail, underground, and road transport. Proposed public realm improvements acknowledge these vital systems and take measures to enhance the pedestrian experience. New landscaping will connect Bondway to Vauxhall Park, enhancements to adjacent routes through the railway viaduct will provide improved lighting and safety, a separate service route will ensure primary pedestrian areas remain clear and an increase in ground level public spaces allows seating and tree planting at the base of the building.
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