The Planning Applications Committee of the London Borough of Lambeth has unanimously approved Espalier Ventures’ co-living project at 68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, designed by Hawkins\Brown. This development will repurpose a former vehicle hire center and car park into a mixed-use scheme, blending residential and educational spaces.
The project will provide 134 purpose-built shared living studios, four new homes, and a new further education facility. The shared amenity provision will include a lounge, cooking and dining facilities, cinema room, and music studio, organised around a landscaped courtyard and lower-level sunken garden.
Development Design
The development is located within the St Mark’s Conservation Area and will repair the existing gap in the Clapham Road streetscape. The design will respond to the scale, rhythm, and material character of the surrounding terraces, with new planting, landscaped external spaces, and blue-green roofs introducing substantial greening to the site.
The proposals also include 382sqm of further education space at ground-floor level, extending the benefits of the development beyond its residents and creating opportunities for education and skills provision within the local community.
Reaction to the Development
Greg Moss, Partner at Hawkins\Brown, said: “The consultation process has been a really important part of developing the scheme, so it was particularly encouraging to receive support from local residents as the proposals came forward.”
Patrick Bird, Espalier Ventures, added: “We’re delighted to have secured unanimous consent for Clapham Road and to be bringing forward a scheme that sets a high standard for shared living in London.”
The development is expected to set a new benchmark for the quality of co-living in London, with its shared amenity provision going beyond the GLA’s guidance for Large-Scale Purpose-Built Shared Living in multiple ways.
Architectural Practice
Hawkins\Brown is an internationally renowned practice of architects, designers, and researchers, based in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Toronto. The practice brings a collaborative approach to projects across a range of types and scales in six main sectors: Civic, community & culture; education; workplace; transport & infrastructure; healthcare; and residential.
The development at 68–86 Clapham Road, Oval is one of the latest projects to be undertaken by Hawkins\Brown, and its design reflects the practice’s commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable buildings that respond to their surroundings. They are dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment and the community. The company has a strong track record of delivering successful projects, and this development is expected to be another example of their expertise.
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