Monthly Borough News July 2025 – our online newsletter
When was the last time you felt real joy in your surroundings? Why do so many places feel soulless and depressing, designed for efficiency, not for us?
Humanise is a ten-year global initiative sparking a public conversation about the buildings around us and how we can make them better for everyone. Grounded in compelling evidence, it exposes the toll boring architecture takes on our health and society and champions a new approach: places that are joyful, engaging, and deeply human.
Now it is your turn to help reclaim the soul of our built world and as the campaign declares: “Enough delay. Reclaim our streets. Reclaim our skylines. Reclaim the soul of our built world.”
This call comes from Thomas Heatherwick, a designer who has long defied categorisation. Part showman, part savant, and always a challenger of architectural orthodoxy, he is neither a conventional architect nor confined to product design. Heatherwick blends sculpture, engineering, and urban storytelling to create work that refuses to be quiet or polite. Instead, it asks a bold question: how can buildings move us?
This ambition is distilled in his Humanise manifesto, a polemic against the emotional flatness of much modern architecture. Heatherwick argues for a design ethos centred on human feelings. Spaces should be not just efficient but lovable, not just practical but joyful. Whether transforming power stations or shaping public spaces, his projects aim to provoke curiosity, delight, and affection.
Come and meet Matt Bell, Director of Strategic Communications, to discover how Humanise is challenging cities to make us feel more, not less, alive.
Wednesday 16th July 7:30 pm at the Judge Lecture Hall, Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6RL (Click here to see a map of the area)
1. PLANNING and RELATED ISSUES
These planning matters have caught our eye:
Regent WIng, Kingston Hospital regeneration – 3rd Consultation
Bywater is proposing to demolish the disused Regent Wing of Kingston Hospital and replace it with a residential development comprising 150 new homes in three separate buildings. The scheme includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, all to be delivered under a build-to-rent model. A proportion of homes may be prioritised for NHS staff and some offered at discounted rents, subject to agreement with Kingston Council.
Key design changes from earlier plans include:
Reduced height and massing: maximum height lowered from 28.5m to 21.3m and buildings set further back from Wolverton Avenue to reduce overlooking and overshadowing.
Improved layout: breaking the mass into three blocks allows for more open space and sunlight between buildings.
Sustainable construction: timber frame design to reduce embodied carbon, with reclaimed brick and stone at ground level and zinc cladding above.
Landscaping: retention of mature trees, 50 new trees, additional planting, and a new play area for children.
Car-free development: no parking spaces except for blue badge holders; 260 cycle parking spaces provided.
Ground floors will include residents’ amenities such as a gym, co-working space, a lounge, and concierge service. Public consultation is ongoing before submission of detailed proposals to Kingston Council.
The company has launched a public consultation to gather feedback before submitting a formal planning application to the Royal Borough of Kingston. The consultation materials include architectural visuals, site plans, and summaries of intended benefits. More information and a feedback form are available here.
Public consultation: St Peter’s Norbiton, 140C London Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6QL, on: Tuesday, July 15th, 4:30pm—7:30pm and Friday, July 18th, 11:00am—2:00pm
(Regent Wing part 2) A hidden chapter of Kingston’s history at risk. The Kingston Society is concerned about the possible loss of two overlooked but significant heritage features: a Tudor water conduit hidden beneath the building and a Victorian bas-relief sculpture on its facade.
(photo courtesy Bywater ©)
The Regent Wing began life in 1868 as the infirmary for Kingston Workhouse. Designed by Charles Lock Luck, a respected Surbiton architect, the building was later absorbed into Kingston Hospital and served the community for more than a century. It stands today as a rare physical reminder of the borough’s social and architectural history.
But the site’s importance runs even deeper – literally. In Tudor times, spring water from Coombe Hill was channelled through a network of conduits to supply Hampton Court Palace. Part of this system, a lead pipe with a drainage channel, was encased in the basement of the workhouse infirmary when it was built. It may now be the last surviving section of the original pipeline. Recognising its historic value, a Planning Inspector in 2022 insisted on strict conditions: before any demolition, the developer must carry out a full archaeological investigation to record and protect what remains.
At street level, another feature deserves attention. A stone bas-relief of the Pool of Bethesda, dating from the building’s original construction, still sits above one of the entrances. Though its artist is unknown and it has not yet been formally recognised as a heritage asset, the Kingston Society believes it is of local significance and should not be lost.
We are calling on the Royal Borough of Kingston to apply the same conditions set by the Planning Inspector in 2022 to any new redevelopment plans. This would mean no demolition until a detailed heritage investigation is completed – both to uncover what lies beneath and to safeguard what we can still see. Losing these features would erase a unique chapter of Kingston’s story, from Tudor engineering to Victorian social care.
The Regent Wing’s quiet presence masks a rich history. With careful planning, we have a chance to ensure it is recorded, remembered, and – where possible – preserved for future generations.
Civic Voice warns streamlining could mute local voices in planning appeals. The government is proposing to “streamline” planning appeals by allowing only the evidence submitted at the original planning application stage to be considered during any appeal. This means no fresh reports, revised plans, or additional objections could be introduced later in the process. While intended to speed up decisions and reduce costs, it raises a serious question: what happens when a developer submits new technical details mid-appeal, or when residents discover additional environmental or design concerns too late for the original application?
On 7 July 2025, Civic Voice responded to these plans with cautious support for efficiency but warned that the changes risk sidelining communities. The group argues that in many appeals, key information surfaces after submission—such as updated traffic assessments or ecological surveys. If third parties are barred from responding to such late-stage material, local voices are effectively silenced.
Civic Voice is calling for safeguards to ensure the new rules don’t apply in cases where a proposal has evolved or where new technical evidence emerges. As they stress, local scrutiny doesn’t just slow things down—it often improves outcomes by making development more responsive to place and community.
Motspur Park Gas Holders. Members of the Planning Sub-committee recently visited the Motspur Park Gas Holders site at the invitation of Berkeley Homes and SGN. The visit wasn’t tied to any formal consultation or decision-making—it was a chance to maintain dialogue, stay informed, and see the site first-hand.
Berkeley outlined plans to demolish the three disused gas holders and replace them with 570 homes in 5–6 blocks, the tallest rising to 16–18 storeys. Access will be from Kingshill Avenue, with minimal parking and an emphasis on walking and public transport. The scheme also proposes new pedestrian links, including a footbridge to Joseph Hood Playing Fields.
This visit comes ahead of a third public consultation planned for the summer, with a view to submitting a formal planning application in the autumn. While the development is still taking shape, the site already shows signs of ecological interest. A peregrine falcon was spotted nesting on one of the towers—a reminder that any redevelopment will need to balance housing delivery with environmental sensitivity.
New London Plan Consultation. Executive summary: Kingston Society response to the London Plan consultation
The Kingston Society has welcomed the opportunity to comment on the emerging London Plan and broadly supports its Good Growth Objectives and ambition to address housing, infrastructure, and environmental challenges. However, we raise several critical concerns about viability, delivery, and the practicalities of meeting ambitious targets within current constraints.
Housing targets and delivery
The Society questions whether London can sustainably accommodate the nationally set housing target of 880,000 homes over 10 years, given transport, infrastructure, and environmental constraints. We emphasise that without significant investment in transport infrastructure, these targets risk becoming unachievable. Importantly, we argue that key quality objectives – such as space standards, open space provision, and biodiversity – must not be sacrificed for the sake of viability.
Kingston Opportunity Area and transport
We strongly oppose the removal of the Kingston Opportunity Area from the Plan, despite delays to Crossrail 2. Instead, we urge a re-evaluation based on alternative transport solutions, such as a TfL takeover of the Waterloo to Chessington line with more frequent services. This would support moderate growth without compromising heritage areas or creating ‘town cramming’.
Green Belt and open space
The Society rejects proposals to alter Greater London’s Green Belt boundaries to meet housing needs. Any review should encompass the entire Metropolitan Green Belt across London and neighbouring counties. Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), given its accessibility and urban integration, must be protected and enhanced as a vital recreational and biodiversity resource.
Economy and employment
We stress the importance of growing a skilled workforce through expanded apprenticeships and accessible cultural spaces for emerging artists. Affordable workspace provision is strongly supported, and we call for flexible use of planning conditions to maintain vibrant town centres and specialist clusters.
Design and quality of development
We oppose rigid, London-wide height policies except in the Central Activities Zone. Boroughs should continue to identify suitable locations for tall buildings. High design standards, including internal space and improved balcony sizes, must be retained to ensure family-friendly, liveable housing. Single-aspect dwellings should be discouraged.
Infrastructure and climate resilience
Alternative transport initiatives are essential given Crossrail 2 delays. Practical support for retrofitting heat pumps and clear guidance on embodied carbon in demolition are needed. The Thames Landscape Strategy should be recognised in the Plan to safeguard South West London’s riverside character.
Fire safety and regulation
In the wake of the Grenfell disaster, robust local regulatory processes are vital to ensure material and design standards in high-rise developments meet the highest safety standards.
Conclusion
The Kingston Society supports the vision of a greener, more inclusive London but stresses that delivery must be rooted in realism. Strategic coordination beyond London’s boundaries, sustained investment in transport and infrastructure, and protection of valued open spaces are critical to the success of the new London Plan.
Fire Brigade House – Appeal
This just in: We hear BMR Epsom Ltd has lodged an appeal against Kingston Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the addition of two extra storeys to Fire Brigade House, 68 Coombe Road, KT2 7AE, to create eight new residential units.
If you’d like to submit comments to the Planning Inspectorate, you can do so via this link by the deadline of 5 August.
2. AROUND THE SOCIETY • AROUND THE BOROUGH
Last month’s meeting Kingston Society talk was given by retired drug regulator and medical historian Anthony Cartwright, who took us on a fascinating journey through the history of vaccine resistance. Beginning with Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine in the early 19th century, he charted the rise of organised opposition, from Britain’s Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League to similar campaigns overseas.
Cartwright highlighted how Kingston itself was a microcosm of these tensions. In 1867 the Kingston Guardians of the Poor recruited an official specifically to prosecute parents refusing smallpox vaccination for their children. By 1872, the Local Government Board was demanding answers for 688 unvaccinated children locally. Albany Hall hosted anti-vaccination society meetings, and parents were regularly fined for non-compliance. One local figure, Lily Loat, head scholar at Tiffin Girls’ School, became a key player in the movement as secretary of the National Anti-Vaccination League, serving from 1898 until her death in 1958.
The talk moved into the 20th and 21st centuries, covering the backlash against Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent 1998 paper on MMR and autism, which led to a resurgence of measles. Finally, Cartwright examined how modern digital platforms supercharged misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting global protests and a renewed struggle between science and scepticism. It was a timely and thought-provoking account of how old fears persist in new forms.
2.2 The Kingston Society Urban Room team is planning to visit the Cambridge Room: The Kingston Society Urban Room team are continuing their visits to other Urban Rooms to learn and be inspired as we work towards establishing our own. Our latest visit will be to Cambridge, where The Cambridge Room offers a compelling model. Run as a partnership between the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Association of Architects, it functions as an independent, charity-supported Urban Room dedicated to enhancing both the built and natural environment through collaboration, public engagement, and shared learning.
Operating through a combination of permanent and pop-up spaces, The Cambridge Room provides a neutral platform for residents, professionals, community groups and local authorities to come together on equal terms. Their work ranges from exhibitions and workshops to research and consultation, all underpinned by a strong commitment to ethical engagement and creative, place-based dialogue. As we continue to shape Kingston’s own Urban Room, the Cambridge approach offers valuable insights into how local voices can be empowered to influence the future of their places.
Coombe Conduit – is reopening after 2 years. English Heritage will be opening the site for 2 days a month from June – October. For 350 years Coombe Conduit formed part of a system which collected water from nearby springs and channelled it to Hampton Court Palace. One of three such conduits that supplied the palace, the remaining structure represents an intriguing survival of the ingenious Tudor waterworks system.
Coombe Conduit will be open for the 2025 season: 11am – 2pm / 26 & 27 July / 23 & 24 August / 27 & 28 September / 25 & 26 October
Kingston 2025 – Athel’s Town encampment and Saxon Fayre. Over two days on the weekend of 26 and 27 July, Kingston will travel back to the year 925 and create Athel’s Town at Canbury Gardens Park (alongside Kingston Bridge and the river Thames) turning the park into a Saxon Encampment.
Each year, London’s Healthy Streets Scorecard ranks boroughs on how well they are creating safer, more sustainable streets. The scorecard, produced by a coalition of transport and environment groups, measures progress on walking, cycling, traffic reduction, air quality, and school‑area initiatives. It uses data on infrastructure, travel behaviour, and car dependency to assess how far councils are delivering streets that are healthier for people and the planet.
This year’s results show Kingston slipping. The borough’s overall score fell from 3.93 to 3.51 – the second‑biggest drop in London – placing it 20th out of 33 boroughs and 6th among 19 Outer London authorities. While Kingston remains in the top half of outer boroughs, the gap to London’s leaders has widened.
The picture is mixed. Weekly walking rates held steady at 36.3%, while weekly cycling rose from 13.7% to 16.7% – one of the highest rates in Outer London. Yet car dependency remains entrenched: four in ten journeys are by car, cars per 100 households stayed at 89, and the proportion of car‑free households rose only slightly to 26.7%.
Kingston maintains 98% 20 mph coverage on borough‑managed roads, among the best in Outer London. But Low Traffic Neighbourhood coverage remains at 12.6%, protected cycle track slipped slightly, and bus priority lengths were unchanged. School‑area measures also stagnated, with Travel for Life participation dropping and School Streets coverage static at 16%.
To regain momentum, Kingston must, the report says, translate its strong 20 mph platform into broader street transformation – expanding LTNs and CPZs, accelerating bus and cycle infrastructure, and revitalising school travel initiatives, although many of these initiatives are not popular with residents. *see here for Kingston’s results
3. UPCOMING EVENTS
Boring Buildings Starve Your Soul. ‘Humanise’ is a growing movement to reclaim beauty, emotion and humanity in our built environment. Launched by Heatherwick Studio, it challenges the soullessness that has crept into modern urban development — where imagination has been replaced by bureaucracy and where the spaces we inhabit no longer stir the senses or invite connection. Humanise calls on architects, planners, policymakers, and everyday citizens to resist the rise of anonymity in our towns and cities, and instead shape places that nourish the spirit.
Join Matt Bell, Communications Director of Humanise, to explore how we can all play a role in restoring delight and dignity to the built world. Whether you’re an architect, campaigner, councillor, or curious citizen, this is a conversation about reclaiming creativity, confronting compromise, and reawakening our civic imagination.
*Matt Bell is a director at the Heatherwick Studio, leading on public engagement with a focus on youth work, community development and arts education. He has delivered major programmes across London’s regeneration sites, co-authored an award-winning national youth toolkit, and published eight studies on social sustainability. He sits on the board of Local Trust and has co-created initiatives including a climate-focused visual arts prize and the Street Elite programme for young adults. His background spans senior roles in NGOs, public bodies and a FTSE 100 property and design firm.
3.2 Public meeting THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER- Who decides what public art we see? Penny Street Gallery, Kingston College, Richmond Road (note change of normal day and venue TBC)
Public art shapes the character of a place – yet the process behind it often goes unseen. Who commissions it, who selects it, and how does the community’s voice feature in these decisions?
In this special Kingston Society event, a panel of artists, curators and civic leaders will reflect on notable examples of public art in Kingston and ask bigger questions about its future. Should there be more community involvement? And is it time for a public art policy to guide decisions in the borough?
The session will include short presentations, a chaired discussion, and an open Q&A with the audience. We will finish with a straw poll on whether Kingston should take a more strategic approach to public art.
The event runs 2–5 pm (subject to change) and is followed by a drinks reception and private view of the Urban Room installation. All are welcome. Free entry.
Public meeting THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER– Who decides what public art we see? Penny Street Gallery, Kingston College, Richmond Road (note change of normal day and venue TBC)
Public art shapes the character of a place – yet the process behind it often goes unseen. Who commissions it, who selects it, and how does the community’s voice feature in these decisions?
In this special Kingston Society event, a panel of artists, curators and civic leaders will reflect on notable examples of public art in Kingston and ask bigger questions about its future. Should there be more community involvement? And is it time for a public art policy to guide decisions in the borough?
The session will include short presentations, a chaired discussion, and an open Q&A with the audience. We will finish with a straw poll on whether Kingston should take a more strategic approach to public art.
The event runs 2–5 pm (subject to change) and is followed by a drinks reception and private view of the Urban Room installation. All are welcome. Free entry.
Bushy House Garden Party (National Physics Laboratory)13 September 2025 | 11:00 – 16:00 (last entry 15:00)
Step back in time for a celebration reminiscent of the garden parties of eras gone by. Pack a picnic at this family friendly event suitable for all ages. Discover the history of NPL by peeking behind the closed doors of Bushy House and its laboratories, meet and interact with icons of the past, explore the picturesque gardens and enjoy music from the NPL band.Register here. Entry is free, but registration is essential.
Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by Kingston Society