Gilda Avenue, Ponders End

The approved scheme is made up of two pavilion buildings which are freestanding within the site and shaped to make the most of the very open aspect which the site enjoys.

The underutilised site on Gilda Avenue is situated in a strategically important location, on the edge of the London Borough of Enfield overlooking the London Borough of Waltham Forest on the other side of the Lea Valley. The two Boroughs are connected by the Lea Valley Road which crosses the King George and William Girling reservoirs, the Gilda Avenue site is at the entry point to the Borough. In developing our proposals for the site, the design team had an opportunity to mark the entrance point with a high quality and distinctive building which is visible from these more distant views. Against this broader context, the design has responded to the awkwardly shaped site and takes into account the immediate context of Gilda Avenue itself, a finer grain residential street.

The approved scheme is made up of two pavilion buildings which are freestanding within the site and shaped to make the most of the very open aspect which the site enjoys. The pentagonal forms vary in height (eight and five storeys), they are multi directional buildings which respond to the form of the setting, the fluid plan form creates five frontages maximising views over the Lea Valley. Both buildings are provided with a well-lit central stair/ lift core encouraging the use of stair access. In addition to the pavilion buildings the Street building and Link house provide continuity with Gilda Avenue and a change in scale to reflect the forms of street itself. The buildings are set into the sunken green space which is surrounded by a bank of existing trees, the landscaping provides indigenous planting to provide an ecologically friendly setting for the new homes.

The development offers a range of benefits:

• total of 49 homes, 49% affordable housing
• landscape improvements around the Brimsdown Ditch and replacement tree planting
• a range of amenity provisions for residents including balconies, terraces and communal gardens
• energy efficient homes with low running costs
• re-provision of the existing accommodation within a new building which makes the most of the location and providing benefits in terms of security and safety

Origin Housing are a well-established housing provider who already own and manage a portfolio of homes in the London Borough of Enfield. Stockwool and the consultant team have worked with the client and the Borough in securing planning approval for the site and during this process the scheme proposals have been refined to ensure that they achieve the highest design standards with a development that contributes to its setting and the ongoing regeneration of this part of Enfield.

Client Origin Housing
Location LB Enfield
Value Construction Cost: £11m