PRP takes over Karakusevic Carson’s Broadwater Farm Estate retrofit pilot

Client Haringey Council has appointed the London-based practice to the Tottenham scheme, which aims to explore retrofit options for two 1960s Large Panel System blocks, Martlesham and Rochford, both of which have core structural issues.

Karakusevic Carson, the practice working on the wider estate overhaul, spent more than two years taking the retrofit project up to RIBA stage 3, which culminated in an options appraisal document.

The council then tendered for a lead architect for the pilot. This was won by PRP, which will now hone down the options and deliver the project.

PRP associate director Martyn Francis said: ‘We are excited to be given this fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our depth of in-house services in order to provide a holistic approach to design and regeneration.’

Martlesham and Rochford are two of 12 Large Panel System blocks at Broadwater Farm, and the retrofit pilot aims to test approaches that can then be rolled out across the rest of the estate.

In 2018, Haringey decided to demolish two blocks, Tangmere and Northolt, after structural surveys revealed they were at risk of collapse. Last summer the council also approved the demolition of a third block, Stapleford North which is located close to Northolt tower.

These buildings are being redeveloped as part of a £150 million scheme masterplanned by Karakusevic Carson. The 300-home project was backed earlier this year by residents in a ballot and is currently being considered by the council.

Priority for the new homes will be given to former residents of Tangmere, Northolt and Stapleford. Any additional homes will be offered to other eligible tenants on the estate.

According to Haringey, the homes have been designed with larger floor areas and more storage, with access to a private garden, balcony or terrace for every home.

The scheme will also have new community facilities, including a new park, grocery store, modern health centre and affordable workspaces.

Broadwater Farm estate was built by Taylor Woodrow-Anglian, the same firm behind the construction of Ronan Point, the east London Large Panel System tower block that partially collapsed in 1968 following a gas explosion, killing four people.

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/prp-takes-over-karakusevic-carsons-broadwater-farm-estate-retrofit-pilot

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