FORMER TOOTING POLICE STATION

FORMER TOOTING POLICE STATION Telereal Trillium has acquired the former Tooting Police Station and the linked Section House and are looking to protect, restore and enhance the historic site by preserving the key heritage features and making improvements to ensure that its future is secure.

Welcome to this public exhibition on our proposal to regenerate the Former Tooting Police Station with a residential-led and heritage-centred scheme. In this exhibition we outline our key principles and proposals to bring this building back into use.

This scheme will protect, restore and enhance this unused building to provide homes and is seeking to provide some non-residential spaces for both residents and non-residents. As part of this public consultation, we are holding this exhibition to showcase the plans we are looking to submit to the Council early next year.

Once you have had a chance to learn more about our ideas to bring this building back into use, please complete a feedback form to tell us what you think.

PROTECT | RESTORE | ENHANCE

MEET THE TEAM WHO IS TELEREAL TRILLIUM? The site was acquired by Telereal Trillium following its identification as surplus to operational requirements by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime’s (MOPAC) estates Strategy and it has remained vacant since November 2020. Telereal Trillium has established a UK-wide portfolio of more than 12,000 properties.

We understand the importance of our responsibility of making a social and environmental contribution. We are committed to creating a positive legacy from our work, across the whole business, through active engagement and responsible business practices. We seek to make a positive contribution to the local neighbourhoods in which we work and in the wider community.

MEET THE PROJECT TEAM

Teleral Trillium has 10,000 homes in the pipeline over the next five years

THE BUILDING HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE The building was built in the late 1930s and has a complex form and layout attracting both architectural and historical interest. As a result, in May 2021 the Former Tooting Police Station became a Grade II listed building.

Architectural Interest The building is designed to make a striking impression in its outline but is also well detailed with attention to interesting internal design and massing.

The heritage significance of the listed building is principally invested in the distinctive external form, modern style, materiality and robust massing, and its role as a local landmark within this townscape area.

The internal areas or elements of greater heritage significance are those former public areas and main circulation within the centre of the plan of the police station block at raised ground and first floor levels.

Not all of these key spaces are fully original as found today as some have been altered/compromised over time. Some of the key heritage features include: - The entrance hall from Mitcham Road - The sequence of “public area” and “general office” - The historic imperialist staircases - Office corridor on the first floor - Terrazzo floor - Section House Library

THE BUILDING HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE The building was built in the late 1930s and has a complex form and layout attracting both architectural and historical interest. As a result, in May 2021 the Former Tooting Police Station became a Grade II listed building.

Historical Interest

Our Approach

It is a good representative of the advanced police stations built as a result of the General Rebuilding Programme of the late 1930s under the Metropolitan Commissioner Lord Trenchard for which Mackenzie Trench was the principal architect.

We understand how important it is to acknowledge the cultural significance of the building. We have sought to achieve this by working with Merton heritage and Historic England.

The survival of much of the original plan shows that the design anticipated patterns of activity and transitions over the following decades.

Historic England awarded the iconic building Grade II status in May 2021.

The design team has taken careful steps in ensuring that the main heritage features are not only retained but also restored and enhanced.

During this pre-application process we have actively worked with Merton Council and the Design Review Panel (DRP) which has led to the proposals before you today.

THE CHALLENGE CONSIDERING THE EXISTING BUILDING Tasked with bringing this building back into a viable long term use with residential and heritage-led proposals, the team considered the challenges posed by the existing building.

Grade II Listed Building

Existing Context

Former Use / Purpose-Built Structure

Existing Levels

As the former Tooting Police Station Building has been designated as a Grade II Listed Building, any intervention has to be carefully considered. The building will be aesthetically enhanced in such a way that its key original features are retained.

A larger variety of building forms and uses can be found on Mitcham Road- three storey houses, three to four storey residential buildings and some commercial buildings as well.

The building site is mainly surrounded by two-storey terraced houses on Ascot Road and Seely Road.

There are physical and cost challenges in adapting this purpose-built building into a residential-led scheme that needs to comply with current residential space standards, energy performance requirements and building regulations including accessibility and fire safety.

The existing massing comprises two connected buildings, one accessed from Mitcham Road, and the other accessed from Ascot Road. Floor levels across the buildings are not consistent and as such, the layout and levels of the building will present a challenge to adapt to the new use and inclusive design.

THE OPPORTUNITY THE OPPORTUNITIES THE SITE PROVIDES There is a once in a generation opportunity to bring this historic building back into use.

Location

Enhancement of an existing building

Use

Communal and private external amenity

The site has a high PTAL rating which means it is close to the town centre, transport and local services.

This is ideal for the provision of new homes, especially those with a great mix of tenure.

There is an opportunity to make best use of this vacant and prominent building within the local townscape, bringing it back to a ‘new life’ and securing its long-term future.

Large parts of the building were previously used for ancillary residential purposes with many upper floor layouts lending themselves to adaptability. This is an advantage as the building already offers the appropriate type of characteristics that can be easily adapted to a residential-led scheme.

There is an opportunity to provide quality communal amenity for residents through the demolition of less significant elements on the lower ground floor/ground floor levels.

The site is in close proximity to Tooting Railway Station and less than ten minutes walking distance to Tooting Broadway tube. This is in addition to being close to numerous bus stops.

Preserving and enhancing key heritage features and the appearance of the building will benefit the new occupants and the local area.

In addition, flexible non-residential spaces can be provided on lower floors, addressing local needs.

This can improve permeability of the site. There is also potential to make use of existing balconies and roof space for private or communal amenity.

PRESERVE HERITAGE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PROVIDE NEW HOMES

NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES

KEY PRINCIPLES PRESERVE HERITAGE Built in 1939, this is a very large building with a complex form and layout.

The shared basement level across the site would predominately have been for ancillary service uses, also including external courtyard and vehicular access / covered parking.

The original police station and larger cruciform block addresses Mitcham Road, and included public areas, offices and cells at the raised ground and first floor levels.

Our vision is taking the approach to Protect, Restore and Enhance these historical features.

1. Protect: Firstly we have identified the most important external and internal elements in heritage terms, which have now been prioritised for retention, reuse and repair.

Historic imperialist staircases

2. Restore: Secondly we have looked to identify opportunities to authentically reinstate original elements of heritage interest that have been lost or compromised by insensitive later alterations.

3. Enhance: The design team will be looking to explore potential opportunities to improve understanding and appreciation of the heritage significance of the listed building Section House library

Aerial view of the central office

Aerial view of the building’s historic architecture

PRESERVE HERITAGE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PROVIDE NEW HOMES

NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES

KEY PRINCIPLES PRESERVE HERITAGE The site is characterised by its many complexities of the layout and its great history that trigger both architectural interest as well as historic interest These complexities have guided our approach from the beginning, as we have adopted a conservation and heritage-focused approach. One of the first steps for the design team was to undertake significant research to fully understand and appreciate the historical development of this building, its degree of change from original, and its distinctive architectural character.

Our aim is to respect the conservation significance of the building and protect what makes it a Grade II listed building. This is while also looking to enhance the features that exist and incorporate them into the regeneration of the building with its new use. This has included pre-application discussions with both Merton and Historic England.

Side aerial view of the building

The central office will be restored to recreate its top lit design

PRESERVE HERITAGE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PROVIDE NEW HOMES

KEY PRINCIPLES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The second key principle is sustainability: How this building can be both sustainability re-used and how it can support sustainability in its re-purposed use.

Some of the features that will support the sustainability of the building include: As the key basis of this scheme is the re-use of an existing building, there are many benefits to this when comparing a development involving demolition and new build.

We will limit carbon provisions to modernise the design according to current standards where possible.

We are exploring the viability of renewable additions.

We will enhance previously nonrenewable aspects of the building to support sustainable regeneration.

We are exploring low-carbon options, such as, air source heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines.

The sustainability team is working on many proposals that will add to the sustainable element of the scheme.

We are seeking to engage fully with Merton over what can be achieved and our methodology.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES

PRESERVE HERITAGE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PROVIDE NEW HOMES

NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES

KEY PRINCIPLES PROVIDE NEW HOMES A major incentive for this scheme is to provide high quality housing for the residents of the borough New homes are at the centre of the regeneration of the former Tooting Police Station. Our ambition is to include affordable housing in the development: given there are costs associated with refurbishing a listed building and our focus on protecting heritage, it is expected that the proposal will be tested at viability for the acceptable level of affordable housing.

27 X

31 X

10 X

1-bedroom homes

2-bedroom homes

3-bedroom homes to provide housing for larger families

7X

CAREFULLY

FLAT LAYOUT

homes with wheelchair access

designed servicing arrangements

will be protected as much as possible

PRESERVE HERITAGE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PROVIDE NEW HOMES

KEY PRINCIPLES NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES We are exploring the potential for non-residential spaces which will be of use to wider residents, and subject to demand will ensure it provides a positive impact to the local community.

The initial proposals include: 1. Provision of non-residential areas at lower ground in both buildings. It is possible subject to demand, that one of these spaces could become community spaces or commercial space and/or non-residential amenity.

The team is working with agents with regard to marketing of this space to potential occupiers.

2. New pedestrian routes via the service road which will enable local residents to get closer to the site than they have been able to previously.

3. Improvements to the landscaping to the front of the site, enhancing the view for the community and residents.

4. Returning this property back to use preventing further anti-social behaviour and the enhancement of a key local landmark.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACES

OUR INITIAL PROPOSALS

Preserve Heritage

Wheelchair accessible homes

Sustainable Development

Improvements to landscaping and the public realm

Bringing the building back into use

1-2-3-bedroom new homes

Added non-residential space

27 x 1 bedroom homes

Better and more welcoming access

31 x 2 bedroom homes

10 x 3 bedroom homes to cater the needs for housing of larger families

LOOKING AHEAD OUR DESIGN APPROACH External Additions As part of our proposals, we will be adding an additional storey to both the former Police Station and the Section House. We will also be introducing an external access walkway to connect the proposed new spaces between the Police Station and the Section House. Infill extensions are also being proposed to Section House with the design team proposing white brick to integrate the existing façades of the building.

Our design team is following an approach that integrates the original elements of the buildings with any new features, the architects are trying to ensure that any new additions do not overwhelm the original buildings.

New Cores In addition, we are proposing new cores to both buildings, these will be fully compliant with current fire and accessibility regulations. For the Section House we are proposing a new external lift core that falls outside the existing perimeter. For the Police Station, new proposed lifts are located within the building.

The location of new cores has been designed to minimise impacts on existing elements but also to allow for the re-use of original elements of heritage interest.

In the image on the right, you can see an initial illustration of our design approach that presents the additional storey and the external walkaway that minimally affects the outline of the original buildings and will help provide much-needed homes.

Proposed view of the Former Tooting Police Station, highlighting the new storeys and landscaping

LOOKING AHEAD OUR DESIGN APPROACH Safety and Impact Assessment A detailed sunlight impact assessment has been undertaken based on the current proposals including the proposed external walkway, the infill extension to Section House and the roof extension to both Section House and the Police Station Building. This assessment ensures that the impact of any additions will be limited.

Fire and Safety considerations have been a central focus of our design, especially when ensuring that any additional cores are fully compliant with current accessibility and fire regulations. The service access route can accommodate a fire tender for emergency use.

Parking Since sustainability is one of our key principles, it is considered appropriate for the proposed development to be largely car free, except for the provision of disabled parking bays.

Parking and existing local residents’ amenity are important to us; therefore future residents will not have the ability to apply for a parking permit for on-street parking.

Cycle storage Secure and covered cycle parking will be provided, the current proposals suggest: • Residential Long-Stay – 116 Spaces • Residential Short-Stay – 4 spaces • Community Use – 8 spaces In the image on the right, you can see an aerial view of our current proposals with the additional storey on both buildings carefully integrated with the existing features.

You can also see some of the proposed sustainability features and the enhanced links between the former Police Station and the Section House.

Proposed aerial view of the Former Tooting Police Station

LOOKING AHEAD IDEAS FOR LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS

Community courtyards

Garden walkways

Resident walled gardens

Cycle parking for residents

Natural play areas

Public realm and frontage

TIMELINE THE ESTIMATED TIMELINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 Pre-Application Meeting with LB Merton Officers and Historic England

NOVEMBER 2021 Launch public consultation and events

WINTER 2022

SPRING 2022

Update on final proposals

Planning Committee Decision

OCTOBER 2021

DECEMBER 2021

WINTER 2022

SUMMER 2022

Engagement with local political and community stakeholders

Consideration of feedback received during the consultation

Submission of Planning Application to Merton Council

Construction to begin on site

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

HAVE YOUR SAY

We have launched our public consultation to understand the views of the local community on our plans to bring the Former Tooting Police Station back into use.

We are keen to understand your views on our proposal to bring the Former Tooting Police Station back into use.

Have your say by completing a feedback form and leaving it with the team here today or visit formertootingpolicestation.com to complete a form online.

You can also provide your feedback by e-mailing: hello@formertootingpolicestation.com or call us at: 0800 669 6873

DROP-IN EVENT 1st December, 4.30-7.30pm

WEBINAR 2nd December, 6.00pm

DROP-IN EVENT 4th December, 10.00-2.00pm

Please leave your feedback by 5pm on Friday 10th December to ensure it can be fully considered by the team.

Scan to visit the consultation website formertootingpolicestation.com