Potters Bar Town Centre

Redevelopment of station car park within a heritage setting.

Potters Bar Town Centre

Redevelopment of station car park within a heritage setting.

Client. W.E. Black and City and County
Location. Potters Bar
Value & Size. £15-20 million / 55 Dwellings
Service. Architecture
Status. On-Going

This project for 55 residential dwellings with a gym and commercial space utilizes a brownfield site adjacent to Potters Bar Station, and replaces surplus surface car parking, regenerating this sustainable town centre and transport hub location. The Grade II Listed ‘Old Manor’ Public House borders the site to the south west and our attitude to this building and its setting were a key considerations in the design of the building and the positive determination of the scheme at Appeal. The Inspector singled out the design for praise and stated his approval for the sensitivity and response in providing a new and relatively large scale landmark for this central location.

The quality of the residential accommodation is a key consideration of the design with the vast majority of the apartments being either south/west facing or dual aspect. Balconies have been considered where appropriate and a communal roof terrace has been provided to facilitate access to semi-private open space for all residents. There is a single main entrance to the building, located beneath the tallest element at the closest point to the town centre and main site entrance. The scheme responds uniquely to this site, and represents a bold, but appropriate, urban response.

The building will make a positive contribution to its immediate and wider environment with an architectural design response that is not only viable and deliverable, but also memorable and visually appealing. The building rises to a maximum of 10 storeys at its main entrance, and this elegant and slender frontage manifest a local landmark and perhaps represents a greater opportunity for the wider station car park site as car parking demands reduce in the future.