Woodberry Down
(Picture: Handout via Anna White)A regeneration project that overlooks a nature reserve opened by Sir David Attenborough has been shortlisted as one of the best new places to live in London.
Woodberry Down, previously a poor quality council estate built in the Forties and Fifties near Finsbury Park, is being turned into 5,500 homes by Hackney Council, Berkeley and Notting Hill Genesis housing association.
It sits alongside Woodbury Wetlands, two previously inaccessible reservoirs transformed into a wildlife oasis that was opened by the broadcaster and biologist in 2016.
On Tuesday the second phase of the Woodberry Down redevelopment was named as one of seven projects competing for the title of best new place to live in the Building London Planning Awards.
It is up against Park Central West and East in Elephant and Castle, the Goodluck Hope riverside buildings on the Leamouth peninsula, New Garden Quarter on the edge of the Olympic park in Stratford, Silverdale Hall in Sydenham, Colindale Gardens and St Leonard’s Court in Hackney.
The contenders for the best new place to work are The Post Building in Bloomsbury, which has become home to McKinsey and Nationwide, The Hickman in Whitechapel Road, where Four Communications is based, the “co-working” Scale Space in White City, whose tenants include Imperial College London, and 80 Charlotte Street, the London office of Arup.
The annual awards, run by London First in partnership with Mayor Sadiq Khan, aim to highlight the capital’s standout developments.
This year’s best workplace category highlights the changing face of offices as developers adapt to post-pandemic “hybrid” working, creating a community environment in high-tech, modern spaces.
Battersea power station has been shortlisted in the best mixed use scheme and best heritage or culture project categories.
The £1m Lea Bridge Library extension in Walthamstow has been shortlisted for best borough led-project. The winners will be announced in June.
The shortlisted contenders in each category are:
Best New Place to Live
Park Central West and East
Woodberry Down Phase 2
Goodluck Hope
New Garden Quarter
Silverdale Hall
Colindale Gardens
St Leonard’s Court
Best New Place to Work
The Post Building
The Hickman
Scale Space
80 Charlotte Street
Best Mixed-Use Scheme
Hawley Wharf
72 Broadwick Street
Battersea Power Station
Elephant Park
80 Charlotte Street
Dudley House
Dalston Lane Terrace
Best Heritage or Culture Project
Fellowship Square Phase 1
Olympic Way, Wembley Park
Battersea Power Station
The National Youth Theatre
Best Project for Sustainable Planning
Holbein Gardens
Elephant Park
City of London Thermal Comfort Guidelines
Best Community Engagement Outcomes
Lancaster West Future Neighbourhood Vision
Cambridge Road Estate
Acton Gardens
Best Borough-led Project
Lea Bridge Library Extension
City of London Thermal Comfort Guidelines
Lewisham Gateway
Mayow Road
St Leonard’s Court
Dalston Lane Terrace
John Dickie, chief executive at London First, said: “The shortlisted organisations are paving the way to building a better and more robust London.”
Jules Pipe, Mr Khan’s deputy mayor for planning, said: “The shortlisted schemes have shown innovation and creativity, responding to the changing needs of Londoners with the design and flair that a world class city deserves.”
