I am pleased to report that T2S Architecture has submitted a proposal for a new mixed-use development at 161-163 Eltham High Street, Eltham, London, on behalf of our client. We have  proposed a four-storey + basement building, featuring  223m2 of commercial GIA space and six residential units including a duplex apartment.

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The existing building is two storeys high plus basement, and is built in red brick and stone. Despite our commitment to leveraging embodied carbon, it is apparent that the building isn't suitable for an extension that would realise the site's true development potential.

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As such, our proposals include its demolition but we intend to reclaim the existing bricks and stone for re-use. This will have the dual effect of leveraging the carbon emissions already embodied in the structure, and allowing us to retain some of the character and history of the previous building in the fabric of the new.

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Eltham is a historic centre and was a favoured place of royalty in the 13th-16th centuries; by the early 1930s, it had expanded into a major settlement, before being subsumed into the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 1965. It's well served with public transport and green spaces and boasts several listed and architecturally significant buildings, including Eltham Palace which dates back to the 13th century.

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Eltham High Street, which lies outside any conservation zone, features a mix of styles, materials, finishes and eras. Roof styles and heights vary a great deal, and older buildings stand side-by-side with the new. Recent additions to the High Street include a new multiplex cinema with allied retail and hospitality outlets.

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The new building is designed to sit lightly within Eltham High Street, conceding some height to the row of terraced housing at the rear, and creating a positive contribution to the street scene, without overshadowing or dominating the environment. The top floor holds the duplex apartment bedrooms and is sculpted to minimise its impact, while the window scheme of the whole building ensures a combination of window and Juliet balcony for every apartment's living room and bedroom.

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We believe that our proposal for 161-163 Eltham High Street represents a bright future for the site and a benefit to the area, delivering six desirable residences and a spacious commercial property into this bustling commercial district. By reclaiming bricks and other materials from the demolition, we have maximised the sustainability characteristics of the development while delivering a cost-effective and viable solution to our client's needs.