Policy information sourced from the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy

HV1 Hogsmill Valley Key Area of Change

The Hogsmill Valley area defined on Figure 12 and the Proposals Map shows the existing MOL designation and opportunities for change. The boundaries shown on Figure 12 are not prescriptive, but intended as a guide for future DPD consideration.

The Proposals Map shows the Hogsmill Valley area of search, which is defined as a Broad Location Designation with a specific strategic site allocation for student housing on the Kingston University existing open recreation/amenity land within the Clayhill Campus (proposal to include replacement open informal recreation/amenity space within the Clayhill Campus) and the preferred site for new Kingston University ancillary sport and recreation. The Council will work with stakeholders and local strategic partners to prepare a Hogsmill Site Specific Allocation of Land development plan document (including a comprehensive Masterplan) that brings forward a range of viable improvements and new facilities/infrastructure to the area that achieves the vision for the area and meets its key challenges.

HV1A Strategic Allocation

The Council will:

  • designate approximately 1ha of Metropolitan Open Land within the Kingston University Clayhill Campus for around 300 managed student bedspaces and support upgrades to the quality of the external spaces on the existing campus for ancillary amenity and social meeting spaces
  • negotiate with Thames Water the use of part or all of the former Surbiton Sewage Treatment Works (STW) for sport and recreational uses to serve the expanded Kingston University Clayhill Campus together with additional areas of nature conservation. If this cannot be achieved, the Council will alternatively seek to provide facilities for shared University/community use north of the Hogsmill or another suitable location.
  • designate the development envelope of the Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works as a Major Developed Site in Metropolitan Open Land
  • support the provision of circa 300 new managed student bedspaces on the site of the existing open amenity land within the Clayhill Campus. This is dependent on the provision of replacement informal recreation/amenity space, and on it being available prior to first occupation of the student bedspaces. The replacement open space may be provided in phases with each opening phase of the student accommodation. Such open space must be provided within close and easy reach of the students living at the Clayhill Campus and be of an overall size that serves the needs of the whole campus. The removal of non-operational vehicle parking within the existing Clayhill Campus will provide opportunity for new informal recreation/amenity space, and upgrades to the quality of the existing external spaces will be supported.

HV1B Broad Location

(The following also applies, where relevant, to the Strategic Site Allocation uses notably a and b)

The Council will:

a. Climate Change and Sustainability:

  • ensure all new development is carbon neutral
  • ensure the proposed new student halls of residence and the existing Clayhill Campus are car free (except for essential operational, emergency and disabled vehicles)
  • promote energy from waste/decentralised energy as part of development proposals
  • explore opportunities for Combined Cooling and Heating Plant and setting up a District Heat Network with connections e.g. into the Cambridge Estate and new student housing development
  • enabling development should be a Kingston exemplar for low/zero carbon or carbon neutral development

b. Managing and Reducing Flood Risk:

  • seek improved drainage infrastructure in the area to ensure land is capable of productive and beneficial use
  • reduce flooding by creating a floodplain and ‘naturalising’ the river corridor with additional wetland areas either side

c. Natural and Green Environment:

  • assess the potential for an expanded AFC Wimbledon stadium and/or new sporting hub centred on the stadium, limiting any new developments to the edge of the built up urban fringe:
    • increase the amount of publicly accessible Metropolitan Open Land and public pedestrian and cycle access routes through and across it
    • promote the use of unused Thames Water Metropolitan Open Land for open leisure/sporting uses (for use by Kingston University and the local community), additional allotments, and parkland compatible with its Metropolitan Open Land designation
    • seek environmental/biodiversity improvements in addition to those permitted in 2007 (the Surbiton Lagoon, the eastern Mound/Hogsmill River corridor and western lagoons) and secure greater public access to them subject always to giving priority to protecting local wildlife interests
    • retain cemeteries and include 0.5ha of unused land to the rear of Addison Gardens for planned expansion of Surbiton cemetery. This 0.5ha will be added to the area of Metropolitan Open Land.
    • retain the Addison Gardens allotments

d. Sustainable Travel:

  • create a permeable and legible network of high quality, safe footpaths, and cycle ways, i.e. to, from and through the area, including north-south links to areas either side of the Hogsmill River between Berrylands Station and Kingston Road. Enabling development will be expected to fund these.
  • increase public access to sporting facilities north of Hogsmill by providing north-south cycle and walking links from Berrylands Station
  • fulfil a long-held ambition of the Council to progress/complete the Hogsmill Valley Walk (4) between Kingston Cemetery and recreation grounds to the south of the railway line to deliver a linear riverside walk through the Hogsmill/Bonesgate Valley
  • upgrade/improve security of pedestrian/cycle route between Lower Marsh Lane and Berrylands Station seek improvements to Berrylands Station and its use as a transport hub for the local area. Explore opportunities with South West Trains for increasing the frequency of stopping trains at Berrylands Station, and the possible use of Surbiton Station car park for Park and Ride, e.g. to serve the football stadium on match days.

e. Character, Design, and Heritage:

  • transform the area’s poor quality environment and develop the area’s character by introducing new recreation and leisure facilities and pedestrian and cycle routes
  • ensure the Hogsmill River, that bisects the area, is utilised to establish a character for the area, balancing opportunities for access with the needs of habitat protection

f. Housing and Affordability:

  • support the principle of some limited enabling residential development in Lower Marsh Lane and industrial land at the southern end of Hampden Road subject to suitable alternative land being identified for existing businesses to relocate

g. Economy and Employment:

  • assess the opportunities to improve employment opportunities in the Hogsmill Valley area and to relocate existing businesses to sites elsewhere in the general area which more closely meet their aspirations to expand or upgrade their premises

h. Local Centres:

  • support initiatives which improve the economic viability and vitality of the Chiltern Drive shopping centre

i. Healthy and Safer Communities:

Promote the principle of:

  • a new leisure/sporting hub on the land to the north of the Hogsmill River focused on an expanded Kingsmeadow Stadium (home of AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian) for 10,000 spectators (incorporating leisure-related uses)
  • the provision of access to recreation and sporting facilities for all, but especially those in the neighbouring areas of high deprivation
  • connections for pedestrians and cyclists across the area to encourage trips by non-motorised transport
  • partnership working with Thames Water to bring unused operational land into viable open leisure and recreation use, compatible with the Sewage Treatment Works’ MOL designation and to improve odour management at the Sewage Treatment Works

j. Education:

  • support a primary school (up to 4 form entry) with playing fields (including floodlit and multi-use games areas)

k. Community Facilities:

Support:

  • replacement youth club/community facilities for displaced clubs located closer to the Cambridge Road Estate with access off Hampden Road and Gladstone Road
  • opportunity for other community facilities to be co-located in the new sports hub

l. Waste:

  • safeguard the Villiers Road waste site for waste management purposes in accordance with guidance in the South London Waste Plan

For more information please see the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy