Gasholder No. 1
- Client: Berkeley Homes
- Architect: Rolfe Judd Architecture
- Contacts: Sean Tickle, Oliver Coleman
- LPA: London Borough of Lambeth
Gasholder No.1 is situated within the Oval Village development being undertaken by Berkeley Homes.
The Gasholder is Grade II listed and is both a local and international icon owing to its prominence from the Kia Oval Cricket Ground.
The Gasholder was built in 1877-9 by Corbet Woodall for the Phoenix Gas Light and Coke Company and enlarged in 1891-2 for the South Metropolitan Gas Company by Frank Livesey. The holder was listed in 2016 on account of its historical, architectural, technical and landscape interest. The holder was the world’s largest when built and is an early example of the use of wrought-iron in the construction of the guide frame, which enabled ever larger and stronger gas holders to be built.
The Oval Village development proposes the construction of a housing block within the gasholder; a homage to the gas tank which would have previously existed. The development includes restoring this icon to its former glory. The original listed building consent for the gasholder envisioned the dismantling of the holder, restoring it off site and re-erecting on site. After further review, Rolfe Judd secured an alternative listed building consent for the restoration of the holder in situ but with the temporary removal of parts of the bracing to facility construction equipment access.
