Teddington architects Architecture:WK (AWK) - currently shortlisted for a RIBA London Award for its work on Park Lane Stables RDA - has today (Wednesday, 25 March) announced the launch of a "visionary" plan for the former Police Station site at the intersection of Park Lane and Park Road in Teddington.

The proposed design has the working title of "The Precinct" and envisages fully maximising the potential of this brownfield site to offer a local independent outdoor cinema and associated bar, a community café, 21 proposed affordable, self-build or self-finish units/homes and a new health clinic with five consultation rooms.

"The Precinct" is the latest proposal of AWK's pro-bono Social Initiative Projects.

According to AWK, "these are mostly self-generated projects with no client or agenda and aim to positively contribute to the locality and provide socially useful discussion for community decisions".

Recent SIP projects have included the Strawberry Hill Village proposal and the Teddington Cinema.

The latter project was "extremely well received" locally and nationally, says AWK, and was featured in the town's winning write up in The Times' Best Places To Live In London in 2021. 

AWK says this new proposal is the "most ambitious to date".

CGI of AWK's proposals for the site of the former Teddington Police Station (Credit: AWK)

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It is known that the nearby Park Lane NHS Surgery is looking for overspill accommodation and the new clinic with five consultation rooms forms an important part of the proposal. 

The planned new homes include 12 flats above the Copper Bar and the Beat Cafe. Some have balconies and all have access to a retained open space to the north of the site and the new shared 'street' between the buildings.

A further nine smaller Courtyard flats are to the west of the site, a mixture of one and two bedrooms, and include courtyard gardens and roof terraces, all integrating biophilic design (meaning integrated greening of the buildings and spaces) and planting throughout the scheme.

Externally, the proposal is a contextual brick and rusted warm steel development with balconies and terraces to most of the flats. The idea is to make greening each terrace a part of owning the units, to encourage the development to be as 'lush' as possible.

The internal street will convey a sense of community and cosiness, and the outdoor cinema accommodates seating as well as a small stage for impromptu spoken word recitals.

AWK says its vision is that the site can be added to the Community Land Trust for the residential part – with the potential for a new Teddington CLT -  - and a specialist cinema investor for the boutique cinema.

It added: "The site could be offered under a Self-Build proposal with a mix of younger and older residents (25-45 year olds and over 65 year olds ) having primary access to genuinely affordable homes in the heart of Teddington, allowing for a generational mix with opportunities to interact via the on-site co-working café, cinema and bar in addition to the spill-over clinic for Park Road Surgery."

Sam Kamleh, Director at Architecture:WK said: "This brownfield site is in an important area where there is demand for affordable housing as well as alternative social venues for interaction. 

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"It is critical that any development here provides the maximum value for our community.

"Our multiple use proposal addresses that, offering an innovative housing solution together with valuable new community assets. The Self-Build proposal, where owners could potentially buy off-plan and fit out their units would also reduce the risk for any developer, including a CLT."

CGI of AWK's proposals for the site of the former Teddington Police Station (Credit: AWK)

She added: "I can see a mixture of young and older homeowners forging a fantastic and collaborative new community here in Teddington, with the scheme addressing the issues of isolation and loneliness facing "downsizers", and that of affordability facing young people in the area.

"We all know what a wonderful site this is - with easy access to public transport and our fantastic local amenities for young and old alike. It could be very special."

Full details of "The Precinct" proposal are due to be released in the next month and will be posted on AWK's website and its social media platforms. 

It was previously speculated that the site could become a health hub.