Plans are afoot to redevelop land around the much-loved Surbiton station, and not everyone is happy.
We recently described Surbiton station as "an art deco masterpiece" and "a modernist take on the pearly gates of heaven". Long may it remain so. But new plans to redevelop land around the station have raised a few concerns.
Let's start with the visuals. Here's how Surbiton's southern entrance looks right now:
The pearly white 1930s building stands proud, dominant in its setting (which, let's face it, doesn't do the building justice). Now, here's an artist's impression of how the site would look after redevelopment (albeit from a slightly different angle):
The developers, Solum, propose many changes, some of which can be seen from the image. These include:
- Removing a huge car park (not pictured) behind the station and replacing it with a cylindrical-fronted multistorey to the side of the station (very much pictured). The number of parking spaces would be cut from 446 to 250, and EV charging points would be introduced.
- The old car park land would be used to build 243 new homes, some of which would be affordable (the proportion is unclear, but local authority Kingston's guidelines ask for 50%). Other units would be built-to-rent, a more secure form of renting.
- Sensitive refurbishment of the Southern ticket hall, which is currently closed.
- Improvements to the station approach, including more planting, better pedestrian access and better cycle storage.
"This will," say the developers, "be a sensitive regeneration that retains and enhances the station's art deco façade, ensuring the architecture remains a famous local landmark for many generations to come."
Now, there's much to like in these plans. Turning parking spaces into new homes, right next to a station is what London should be doing more of. The land in front of the station needs a good kick up the bum, and money towards refurbishing the art deco booking hall is also welcome.
But there are some obvious downside. The tower block will be an issue for some people, as it breaks up the lines of the station. But it's the imposition of the car park ramp, close up against the Grade II-listed station, which is causing most concern. Any sizeable new-build right up against this modernist classic would be contentious. Even more so when it's for housing cars, in a climate emergency. Let's look again with the different levels highlighted:
You can see why this might be unpopular?
Now, Londonist is on potentially shaky ground here, as we've previously declared our undying love for spiral car park ramps. We stand by that. But even we'd admit that plonking one beside a gem like Surbiton station is a difficult pill to swallow. What do you think?
A public consultation over the plans is now open. You can view the proposals in more detail inside the normally closed southern ticket office, or online here, and have your say here.
