On Thursday 25th February Iceni attended a breakfast seminar, at the Tolworth Tower, on the development potential and planned areas of growth in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
The event was organised by Kingston Council and paid particular attention to the development of Cross Rail 2 and the proposed impact that this key infrastructure will have on the Borough. In addition to the terrific views from the 21st floor of the Tolworth Tower, the stellar line up of speakers, which included Councillor Kevin Davis (Leader of Kingston Council), Viv Evans (Head of Planning and Transport at Kingston Council), Chris Curtis (Head of Cross Rail 2) and invitational speakers from two showcase developers (CNM Estates and Whitbred), really brought in the crowds, with approximately 150 professionals from development firms and local businesses attending the event.
The key points that came across during the presentation was that Kingston is fast becoming a hotspot for major development, with a vast number of planning applications for residential, retail and commercial schemes having been approved by the Council in the past 12 months (including approx.. 1,000 new homes and 909 new student rooms). It is expected that the development opportunity in the area is only going to enhance in the coming years thanks to Cross Rail 2, which is expected to support 200K jobs across the south east.
It is intended that a number of stations across the Kingston Borough will be stops on the £27bn Cross Rail 2 route, thus paving the way for major economic growth in the area. It is proposed that all stations in the Borough served by Cross Rail 2 will see an increase in their service level with major reductions in journey times to places such as the West End and the new Tottenham Court Road Station (for example it will take 30 minutes rather than 45 to get into London from Kingston station). It is also intended that over half of the costs of the scheme could be met by London using existing funding mechanisms, including fares revenues, Business Rate Supplement and CIL payment.
Despite the obvious benefits Cross Rail 2 would bring, there were concerns from the floor that the new infrastructure is not only going to benefit Kingston but also improve connection to surrounding boroughs and with it increase competition for development. It was therefore suggested that only the best and ‘most attractive’ form of development be promoted in Kingston to ensure that positive growth is encouraged, enticing the best businesses to the area.
There was also questions regarding the timing of Cross Rail 2, with the new infrastructure not expected to be completed until 2030. This left people wondering about what improvements are being planned to improve the currently slow and overcrowded system. The answer, not much! due to Waterloo and other London stations already being at full capacity.
The second half of the seminar gave the Council leaders more of an opportunity to discuss their regeneration plans for the town centre and major opportunity areas in the Borough, with North Kingston, Station Quarter and the Eden Quarter highlighted as key areas primed for development. Tolworth was also being advertised as a key area for investment with two invitational speakers, from CNM Estates and Whitbred, promoting and explaining how their recently approved schemes will help boost growth in the region. The schemes included the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Tolworth Tower complex (CNM Estates) and a new Premier Inn next to Tolworth Train Station (Whitbred) and with an imminent decision due on the application for Lidl Headquarters, things are looking up for Tolworth.
All in all it was a thoroughly useful event and provided an insight into the minds of some of the most senior figures at Kingston Council. The Council are planning to repeat the event again in six months’ time so book your places early as I’m sure it will be another sell out. Iceni will no doubt be attending again.