Twickenham Gateway
- Client: Solum Regeneration
- Contacts: Charles Graham, Euan MacGillivray
Twickenham Gateway is a mixed-use scheme providing 121 residential units combined with retail facilities and station improvements, positioned around a new public plaza, all constructed over a busy operational rail line. The new significantly larger station building has been configured to provide a modern transport facility befitting the location. The entire development represents a much-needed benefit for the area.
The key intention for the project was to provide a high-quality public realm that offered a transition between the more civic town centre space in around the station ticket hall, and the more intimate environment along the River Crane, creating a new amenity destination on the riverside walk. The scheme delivers highest quality residential around a transport environment.
The whole project adopted regenerative design principles throughout. It has created a new modern and pleasant arrival experience at Twickenham Station. The station’s step-free access provides for all station users and is now a worthy arrival space for the 80,000 visitors that attend each of the England Rugby Internationals at the Twickenham Stadium.
A new riverside pedestrian and cycle walkway connects the station site to Moormead Park via Network Rail land that was previously inaccessible to the public.
The development was designed to respect the transitional nature of the site (from urban to suburban), and the landscaping strategy was to provide generous spaces that supported the site’s gateway location, as well as more intimate spaces that respect the more suburban nature of the residential land to the north. The biodiversity within the area was enhanced to achieve the BREEAM Excellent rating by adding green roofs to all buildings and ensuring minimal intervention to the existing tree and plant life within the area, creating a significant extension to the green public space.
The scheme delivers improved connections and links to other transport modes. A total of 41 car parking spaces are provided at river level discreetly placed underneath the building. In addition, a total of 250 covered cycle spaces will be located for station users, whilst a total of 160 covered cycle spaces have been provided for residents.
The design of the station car park allows for the introduction of an additional rail line that may be constructed at some time in the future to serve Heathrow. This necessitated the location of structural columns to permit the railway tracks, overhead power lines, and necessary clearances to be allowed for within the station commuter car park.
