Category Archives: Landscaping & Riverside

Annual Awards 2017

Annual Awards 2017 logo. The Richmond Society’s Annual Awards for 2017 were presented on Thursday 21st September by our patron, Baroness van Dedem.  This was the 40th anniversary of the first Richmond Society awards in 1977.

Paul Martin, Chief Executive London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth was the guest of honour.

This year’s brass plaque was given for the renovation and conversion to apartments of the Star and Garter.


Brass Plaque Award – Star & Garter:
Renovation and conversion to apartments

Annual Awards 2017: Star and Garter, Richmond.

Client/Owner
London Square
Mark Lopeman
Mark Smith
Architect
PDP London
Simon Gazzard
Contractor
London Square

Commendation – The Tap Tavern:
Transformation of the street façades

Annual Awards 2017: The Tap Tavern, Richmond.

Owner
Mr Sat Ghuman
Designer
Rosendale Design
Dale Atkinson
Contractor
Thompsons Ltd
Joseph Thompson

Commendation – The Ivy Café:
Transformation of restaurant premises

Annual Awards 2017: The Ivy Café, Richmond.

Client
Pegasus Group
Michael Spurgeon
Architect/Designer
Pump House Designs
Steve Fasey
Contractor
We Make It Happen Design & Build
Lucy Potter
Laura Sadler
Alyssa Kirton

Commendation – Richmond War Memorial:
Cleaning and restoration

Annual Awards 2017: Richmond War Memorial.

Client
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Michael Pike
Contractor
Stonewest Ltd
Carl Nicholas
Toby Moore
Terry Watts

Commendation – Holbrook House:
Renovation of Garden

Annual Awards 2017: Holbrook House, Richmond.

Client
Holbrook House Ltd
Robert Leigh
Designer
Robin Hart Design
Robin Hart

 

With many thanks to Helen Taylor for the photos.

 

Old Deer Park

The Old Deer Park Working Group (ODPG) consists of representatives of The Richmond Society, The Kew Society, The Friends of Richmond Green, The Friends of Old Deer Park and The St Margaret’s Estate Residents Association.

ODPG response to the Council’s Old Deer Park Draft Supplementary Planning Document
(December 2017)

Response thumbnailIn December 2017 Richmond Council issued its Draft Supplementary Planning Document for the Old Deer Park.   The Old Deer Park Working Group’s response can be found here.

ODPG response to the Council’s Old Deer Park Supplementary Planning Consultation
(November 2016)

Response thumbnailIn October 2016 Richmond Council issued its Old Deer Park Supplementary Planning Document.   The Old Deer Park Working Group responded to this.

ODPG response to the Council’s Pre-Publication Consultation on the Local Plan
(August 2016)

Response thumbnailIn July 2016, Richmond Council issued out its Pre-Publication Consultation on the Local Plan. http://www.richmond.gov.uk/local_plan_pre-publication. In its response, the Old Deer Park Working Group highlighted the absence of a draft Proposals Map, uncertainty whether the Old Deer Park has (or does not have) a Village Plan. It also reiterated the need for the Council to resolve the significant anomalies relating to the definition of the Old Deer Park’s boundaries as highlighted in its Boundary Definitions report of February 2013 (see above).

ODPG response to the Council’s Site Allocations Plan Pre-Publication consultation
(July 2014)

In June 2014, Richmond Council issued its Site Allocations Development Plan (Pre-Publication consultation on new additional sites).
Response thumbnailThe Old Deer Park Working Group responded, expressing concern that the Council had failed to address the adjustments that it had highlighted as being necessary in its November 2013 response. This failure went against the clear recognition of the case for adjustments in the definition of the relevant zoning boundaries expressed by the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Members, other Councillors and planning officers at useful and constructive meetings held at York House on the 22nd January and 24th February, 2014. The Group once again urged the Council to effect the necessary adjustments in the definition of the relevant zoning boundaries under the provisions of the Site Allocations Plan.

ODPG response to the Council’s Site Allocations Consultation
(November 2013)

In October 2013, Richmond Council issued its Site Allocations Plan consultation, aimed at meeting “present and future needs for housing, employment, retail, transport, education, health, community facilities, sport and leisure, looking ahead over the next fifteen years”.
Response thumbnailThe Old Deer Park Working Group’s response to this reiterated the principles it had set out in its Boundary Definitions report (see above). The Group’s principal concern was that failure by the Council to remedy the designation anomalies that it had identified would leave the relevant areas of the Old Deer Park at significant risk of proposals for substantial built development damaging the integrity and distinctive character of the Park.

ODPG Boundary Definitions Proposal Proposal
(February 2013)

Proposal thumbnailThe Group’s 2012 report raised concerns regarding significant anomalies regarding the definitions of a number of boundaries relating to the Old Deer Park shown in the Council’s Local Development Framework Proposals Map, Adopted November 2011. So in February 2013 the Group issued a further Boundary Definitions report recommending that the scope of future Old Deer Park plans include:
(1) the Pools on the Park, its grounds and car park
(2) the Old Deer Park car park and the land between that and the railway
(3) the carriageway and footways of the Twickenham Road.

ODPG Framework Proposal
(June 2012)

Framework thumbnailIn June 2012 the Group published the report: The Old Deer Park, Richmond – Re-connecting the Town to its local park – Realising an under-recognised parkland asset – A framework for conservation and enhancement.
The Group’s aim in publishing the report was to provide a positive contribution to discussion and debate in the context of the falling-in and renewal of all but two of the existing leases granted by the Crown Estate for the land comprising the Old Deer Park, Richmond.

Old Deer Park Richmond: The Crown Estate Strategy (Kim Wilkie, 1999)

Report thumbnailThe original proposals for the Old Deer Park were published by Kim Wilkie on behalf of the Crown Estates in 1999:
The Old Deer Park, Richmond – Re-connecting the Town to its local park – Realising an under-recognised parkland asset – A framework for conservation and enhancement.

 

 

Queen’s 90th Birthday tree planting

The Richmond Society recently donated a black poplar tree to the National Trust to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

petersham-meadows-black-poplar-planting

It was planted on Petersham Meadows earlier this week in a ceremony attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Richmond together with representatives of the National Trust and the Richmond Society.

Chair of the Richmond Society, Professor Ian Bruce, commented: “This commemoration marks an important milestone and also helps ensure the addition of a rare native Black Poplar in ideal meadow conditions.”

Richmond Council staff sharing proposal

Richmond and Wandsworth councils have announced proposals for the creation of a shared staffing arrangement.  Details are in a press release issued on Friday 23 January.  The proposals will be considered at future meetings.

Under the proposals, the two councils would continue to be separate bodies with their own elected councillors, cabinets and leaders, retaining the ability to develop policies and priorities appropriate to their local residents.  Initially the focus would be on merging management structures, starting from the top by having just one Chief Executive and one Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources to cover both council areas.

Commenting on the proposals, Professor Ian Bruce, chairman of the Richmond Society, said:
“It is vital that the planned sharing does not reduce the focus on our respective boroughs. People in Richmond expect their Council to concentrate on the locality and its unique needs.”

 

Oak Processionary Moth

Oak Processionary Moth caterpillar nest

Oak Processionary Moth was first identified in this country on imported trees planted at a housing development in Kew in 2006, after residents reported unexplained rashes and breathing problems.

Since then extensive measures have been taken to try to restrict their spread – see the Forestry Commission’s website.

Left uncontrolled, the species could spread across much of Britain, weakening oak trees by repeated defoliation, and presenting a risk to human and animal health. The caterpillars have tiny hairs which can cause the skin rashes, eye and throat irritations and breathing difficulties seen in Kew during the initial outbreak.

Do not attempt to deal with nests yourself. If you see nests or caterpillars in public parks, open spaces, communal gardens, or on golf courses, please report them:

Richmond Council:
Phone 020 8891 1411 or email trees@richmond.gov.uk

The Forestry Commission:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treealert