Tasked with extending a home in a south London conservation area
ROAR resisted the temptation to mirror the existing architecture and opted for sustainable oak and a green roof
Can you briefly describe ROAR's Newton Park Place project
It is a sustainable and natural material-led extension that reconnects a historic Victorian house with the garden
framing views and creating pockets of space beneath exposed oak joists both internally and externally
The Grade II-listed house, which is located in the Chislehurst Conservation Area
was designed by architect Ernest Newton and is characterised by its Vernacular Revival style
asymmetrical plan and irregular fenestration
The proposed works included a timber-framed rear and side extension, wildflower green roof, spiral wine cellar, solar panels, upgrading the thermal performance of the historic fabric, and a new garden oasis by award-winning landscape architect Lilly Gomm
Homeowner Kelly Johnson approached ROAR after seeing our work via Don’t Move, Improve! – and felt we had the experience and skills to design something that would be contemporary
Initially she was looking for the usual brick extension with Crittall windows
But we wanted to do something bolder and greener
Kelly asked us to readdress the house’s relationship with the garden
while creating a warm and minimal interior palette with separate pockets of space for her and her teenage children to live in
Were there any significant factors at Newton Park Place that influenced ROAR's design
Rather than imitate the traditional Victorian architecture
as had been done previously with alterations in 2007
we designed the new timber-framed extension to be purposefully different
In plan the extension respects the historic plan form with a stepped layout and a set-back side extension housing the dining area
This approach to a Grade II-listed property
was supported and complemented by Bromley’s conservation officer
Can you explain the external treatment of the project
Oak and a green roof were selected from the first-concept design images
for their sustainable qualities and to purposefully contrast with the existing red brickwork and tiles
The composition of the rear elevations responds to the internal functions and views/access to the garden
The extension steps along the rear facade in response to the original footprint
pushing the kitchen further into the garden and stepping the living area back to create a covered external dining area.
Lilly Gomm's garden design extends directly from the architecture of the house
defining the planting beds and framing the view back to the extension
Can you explain how the interiors have been designed
Rather than the typical ‘super room’ open-plan layout
The ground floor is designed as four separate areas connected by sliding timber doors
Each room feels appropriate to the scale of the original house.
The garden reveals itself as you move through the plan and the stepped rear extension pulls the outside in
Full-width 4m-wide bi-folding windows with an integrated window seat complete the new living area
Oak joists extend past the building line forming a pergola for outside dining and planters to climb
During summer the bi-folding doors can be fully opened
maximising the connection between inside and out
An underground spiral wine cellar sits partly underneath the kitchen island
The interlocking limestone concrete module houses 2,000 bottles of wine and is naturally ventilated.
What approach to sustainability did ROAR take on the Newton Park Place project
Oak was selected for its low embodied carbon and longevity, along with the specification of wood fibre insulation. We worked in partnership with specialist joiner Tim Gaudin
with the frame was fabricated in the firm's workshop in Devon
dismantled and reassembled on site in London
Solar panels were incorporated on the roof of the main house
The extension is topped by a wildflower green roof
softening the extension and creating an amazing view from the master bedroom – akin to having your own wild meadow
A key challenge at Newton Park Place was the co-ordination and sequencing of specialist suppliers (timber-frame joiner
green roof and kitchen) that were directly appointed by the client and sat outside the contract
This led to a hands-on approach to the construction and programming on site
What is your favourite moment in the project
There are arguably several favourite moments such as the internal and external timber detailing
the framing of the garden from the kitchen
it is the unexpected moment of the dining ‘nook’ that wins out
The rooflight captures the natural light beautifully
revealing all the lovely warm timber tones
and the single picture window overlooks its own loose planting bed creating a different moment from the rest of the house
Are there lessons from this project that might be applied elsewhere
The technical detailing of the oak to create a minimal and simple interior
incorporating the wildflower green roof and tying into the historic fabric
This process of continuously refining details and working with specialists to deliver the original concept (or as close to it as possible) will be applied across all our projects
Discover more house extensions and renovations
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have received an EMBRACE Dementia Accreditation for outstanding support
care and attention dedicated to residents living with dementia and their loved ones
The accreditation was revealed by The Mayor of Bromley
He says: “Securing Dementia accreditation for the Home is a great achievement and it was most impressive to see what this means to both the staff and to the residents
He added: “It was a privilege to talk with the residents and to hear from the wonderful staff their initiatives and plans to further improve the care they are offering
how they are driving care forward and sharing innovations with other care homes and providers in Bromley and beyond
This visit was yet another example of how Bromley is leading in the development of care for the elderly and especially those living alongside dementia.”
Prince George Duke of Kent Court is the second Home to receive the dementia accreditation
with Zetland Court in Bournemouth as the first Home to receive it last year; and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court
in Berkshire as the third Home to receive it recently
Prince George Duke of Kent Court’s Home Manager
says: “We are delighted to be awarded with the dementia accreditation
We wouldn’t have obtained this accreditation without the continuous support from our team of staff
They run our dementia house with absolute dedication
making sure that our residents have meaningful experiences at every stage of life.”
The Dementia Accreditation has been created by Anne Child
RMBI Care Co.’s Pharmacy and Dementia Specialist Lead
Anne has received an MBE for her services to dementia and is a special advisor to the Care Quality Commission
RMBI Care Co.’s Assistant Director of Quality and Governance
they aim to raise and maintain high standards of dementia care using a suite of dementia modules to support care staff
Some of the modules have also been externally accredited by the CPD Certification Service
Anne mentions: “We have seen our residents find a new lease of life during this culture and environment change and we have created strong emotional connections with them.”
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Published on 29th January 2025 by ianVisits in Architecture
A manor house near Bromley in southeast London could get a bit of the Thunderbirds effect
as the owner wants to build an underground helicopter lair with its own lift
Cookham Dene manor house in Chislehurst was built in 1882 and is surrounded by a large manoral-sized estate and woodlands
The owner now wants to build two underground facilities
for the sort of thing being discussed — in that it’s for the owner’s collection of cars
what elevates it is the request to also built an underground base for their helicopter
the proposals would see a subterranean lift with a grass-covered lid
the structure will blend into the existing landscape and then fold open to let the helicopter take off
although I’d wager Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Tracy family never worried about planning applications when creating Tracy Island for their International Rescue headquarters
Not so much with the underground lair as with the noise and pollution from the helicopter when it takes off and lands next to their homes
it seems that the previous owners had occasionally landed helicopters in their back garden
They supported the application for an underground base as they noted the difficulty of dealing with a helicopter parked on the lawn for long periods of time
Amusingly for a planning application to allow for an executive helicopter to be parked in a subterranean lair — it has to list the local transport links as part of the local area assessment and says the manor house “boasts both strong links to the city with several bus routes as well as direct rail into London and Kent
Chislehurst is only a fifteen-minute drive away from the London Orbital
and so therefore well connected to the rest of the UK.”
the planning application for the underground helicopter base explains clearly why a helicopter isn’t needed
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Not really happy living in a country where some are sleeping on the streets and others are requesting permission to build underground helicopter storage
I think you’ll find that every country in the world has the very rich and the very poor
This makes me think of Colin Furze on YouTube
who having built an underground bunker in his back garden
is currently building a garage under his front garden with a car lift and tunnels into his house
And he doesn’t have a mansion but a typical semi somewhere in middle England
They’re fun videos to watch if it’s your kind of thing
I cannot understand how he would even get planning permission for this
let alone pxxx off the neighbours with noise
I also wonder what he does for a real job that generates the cash to do this sort of thing
though I note he has a huge YT following so I guess that generates some money
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Conservative Councillors Matt Hartley and Roger Tester have shared an update for residents of Mottingham
Coldharbour and New Eltham ward about concerns over the future of Coldharbour Adventure Play Centre
The review has been included - without much detail - in the Labour administration's Budget proposals for 2025/26 and beyond
which will be voted on in late Februrary or early March
The Budget proposals include a "review" of all Adventure Play Centres across the borough
but also a £600k reduction in operating costs - leaving parents in the dark about what is being planned
Five years ago the Council attempted to "co-locate" Coldharbour Adventure Play Centre (on The Course) with Coldharbour Library in the Leisure Centre - a move which was successfully stopped by two community petitions and campaigning from then-councillors Roger Tester
include a clear statement that no libraries will close as a result of this Budget (although library opening hours could be curtailed)
The Budget will come under scrutiny from councillors
including Matt Hartley as Leader of the Opposition
on Thursday 30th January at an 'Overview & Scrutiny' meeting at the Town Hall
said: "Five years ago we worked with local parents to fight the Council's attempt to move the Adventure Play Centre
We don't yet know what these latest proposals from the Council will mean for Coldharbour Adventure Play Centre specifically - as soon as we have more information we will let residents know
Matt and I will fight ANY attempt to close
move or cut the Play Centre - which plays an absolutely crucial role on the estate."
Ward residents can follow Matt and Roger on Facebook for further updates at www.facebook.com/MCNwardteam
Help us take action on local issues and build a better Britain
Evening Standard analysis of key seats in London for the July 4 General Election
News | Politics
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Millions of voters across London went to the polls on July 4 to elect the new Government
The Standard looked at key battleground seats in the capital
and published an interactive map of the results
ELTHAM AND CHISLEHURST
WINNER: CLIVE EFFORD
Top five candidates (in alphabetical order):
Ulysse Lucien Abbate - Liberal Democrats (2,423 votes)
Charlie Davis - Conservatives (11,640 votes)
Clive Efford - Labour (20,069 votes)
Mark George Simpson - Reform UK (7,428 votes)
Area: This constituency includes six Greenwich wards of Coldharbour and New Eltham, Eltham North, Eltham South, Eltham West, Kidbrooke with Hornfair, and Middle Park and Sutcliffe, as well as two from Bromley; Chislehurst
I’m not sure if I’m in this constituency: Here’s how you can check
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128,644 residents have had their say at the polls as three MPs have been elected to represent areas in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Clive Efford (Labour) was elected to represent the new Eltham & Chislehurst seat
Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour) and Matthew Pennycook (Labour) retained their seats for Erith and Thamesmead and Greenwich and Woolwich respectively
Ballots were cast across the three constituencies in what was the first General Election following the boundary review in 2023
which resulted in the creation of the new Eltham and Chislehurst constituency and minor changes to the boundaries of the other two constituencies
Thank you to over 340 members of staff who worked through the night to count ballots at the Waterfront Leisure Centre before results were declared at 4.55am
with all candidates listed in alphabetical order are below:
The full results can be found online at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/electionresults24
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spanning over 22 miles is concealed beneath a car park in one of the world's busiest cities
These caves are not natural formations but were astonishingly carved out by humans over centuries
with origins dating back to the Romans and Saxons around 500AD
and possibly even earlier according to local folklore
When the Luftwaffe began their bombing campaign
thousands sought refuge in their nearest Underground station or made their way to Chislehurst
an enormous effort had been made to clean the caves
the caves would open to the public at 7pm each evening
Adults were charged sixpence a week and children thruppence to stay in what was affectionately referred to as the Chislehurst Hotel
Occasional visitors had to find any available space
the Caves in London served as a shelter for tens of thousands of residents
A girl was even born within these walls and was named Cavena Wakeman
The issue of managing waste from the nightly influx of people overwhelmed the available toilets
leading to guests having to bring their own containers for after-dark emergencies
"Thousands of buckets in the pitch black
Historical records dating back to the 13th century mention the caves being used for mining lime-burning chalk and flint
The discovery of a prehistoric skeleton in the ceiling suggests that the caves date back to 10,000 BC
when they were used as a refuge during the Ice Age
tourism in the area increased as rumours spread about the ancient history of the caves - a theory promoted by William Nichols
vice president of the British Archaeological Association at the time
our guide keenly counted everyone in and out of the tunnels
having handed each of us an oil lantern in case we managed to wander off the path
Over the years dogs have been taken down to find those lost in the caverns."
During their more recent use post-war as a rock and rave venue
the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix performed
it wasn't unusual for party-goers to wake up deep within the caves after having one too many drinks
who would emerge onto residential streets at 3am after a night underground
led to Chislehurst Caves being shut down as a music hall in the early 80s
guides found wall lamps missing from the tunnels
Further investigation revealed that a group of teenage dirt bikers had broken in overnight and used the lights to create a track through the darkness
as I walked deeper and deeper into the network
the warmth of an early September day replaced by a damp chill
that you would have to be an adrenaline fuelled teenager to venture into the caves alone at night"
He added: "At one point our guide struck a huge gong
causing a horrifying cacophony to bounce round and round the tunnels
perhaps ghoulishly shaped misty vapour has a habit of appearing to lone adventurers."
These caves were not just a playground for adventurous teens
but also served as a sanctuary for families during the Blitz
The entire cave system was plunged into darkness at 10pm each night
if you're curious about how children managed their fear
bear in mind that in London during the Blitz
sleep was as precious as any other commodity
Securing a spot in the Chislehurst Caves would have ensured your safety throughout the night
You would be protected from the 30,000 tonnes of explosives that fell on Britain over an eight-month span
finally allowing you to sleep peacefully after numerous nights of fear and uncertainty
wondering if a bomb was about to pierce your roof
Tickets for the Chislehurst Caves can be bought at the entrance
with discounts for children and seniors at £6
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There will be plenty of pre-loved items available for shoppers to buy
By NOTICEBOARD · 31 October 2024
BARGAINS GALORE: A previous Bromley Mum2mum market
The Bromley Mum2mum market event is returning to Coopers School in Chislehurst next month for another baby and children's nearly new sale
Families from across the borough have booked tables at the sale to sell on all the baby
children's and maternity items they have outgrown
Shoppers coming along will have thousands of pre-loved items at a fraction of original prices to browse and shop from
nursery items and so much more will be on sale at the event
November 16 from 10am to noon at Coopers School
There will be free parking at the school and on the surrounding roads
Admission is just £2 on the door for adults and free entry for children
This is a cash only sale and if you are one of the first 100 shoppers you will also receive a free goody bag
Enquiries to: lucy@mum2mummarket.co.uk
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Buster Price has slammed Thames Water’s ‘pathetic’ response
News | London
A couple has been left “homeless” after their £1 million south-east London home was flooded with raw sewage
Buster and Patricia Price have been forced to move in with their youngest son following the incident, which they believe was caused by work carried out along their street by Thames Water
they say the water company is still “refusing” to take responsibility for what happened and have slammed its “pathetic” response
returned home from the shops around 10.30am on May 15
to find the downstairs of his house destroyed
“I opened the front door and found the entire ground floor covered in a lake of sewage,” he told the Standard
A builder who was fixing Mr Price’s garden fence outside said Thames Water was carrying out work up the road
“He dragged in two Thames Water people who were working up the street,” said Mr Price
Mr Price said Thames Water had “just cleaned out a sewer and it's backed up into my house”
“The conservatory was three inches deep in a sea of brown
“The entire kitchen floor was covered in excrement
There were huge lumps of faeces....the bathroom - the toilet was overflowing with brown water
He said an office-come-spare bedroom was “awash” with sewage
including a sofa bed which was “covered with excrement”
“Chislehurst is quite a leafy
affluent suburb...and my house was worth about a million pounds,” he added
“I'm trying to make light of it because I'm on the brink of tears most of the time.”
Thames Water sent cleaners to clear up the mess
but the entire ground floor needs to be “gutted”
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He said raw sewage is still beneath the range cooker and in its vents
“We’re going to have to have the entire ground floor gutted
Mr and Mrs Price have lived in their home for 16 years
but have been forced to move in with their youngest son
“There's a second bedroom which my wife is using - it's only a single bed,” said Mr Price
We're going to be homeless at Christmas I suspect
because by the time we've sorted this out financially and get the work which is necessary
then I suspect we will not be [home] at Christmas.”
Mr Price says he estimates the remedial works will cost “minimum £100,000” for the building work alone
while they will also have to throw out “valuable antiques” and other belongings”
He branded Thames Water’s response “pathetic”
He said the water firm has not taken responsibility for the damage
and instead told him to contact his insurers to foot the bill
“Having taken retirement to avoid the stress which kills so many headteachers early
I didn't realise I was going to come up against Thames Water,” he said
“Every day it goes on I get more and more stressed
and my wife gets more and more upset,” he said
“Thames Water should hold their hands up and take full responsibility for what's happened
But Thames Water are a law unto themselves.”
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry that Mr Price has experienced internal sewer flooding at his home
“We know just how unpleasant and distressing this can be and have been working with him to resolve this matter
“Our specialist contractors have completed an in-depth clean up at Mr Price’s home
and he is being supported by one of dedicated Customer Representatives as we continue to review this incident."
Greenwich Council has announced a u-turn on its rejection of a proposal from Opposition Conservative councillors to extend the ‘no-fine’ period for the Greenwich and Blackheath Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
No fines will now be issued until 2nd January 2025
after a “shambolic” implemention of the scheme that has seen signage not installed on time
and a widespread lack of clarity on confusion on the rules residents are expected to follow.Conservative Opposition Leader Matt Hartley proposed an extension of the 3-week ‘familiarisation’ period (during which no Penalty Charge Notices would be issued) at the Town Hall on Wednesday - with the idea rejected by the Cabinet Member for Transport
48 hours later the Council hurriedly announced that the no-fine period would be extended until 2nd January 2025.Councillor Matt Hartley told The Greenwich Wire: “I’m glad the Council administration has u-turned so quickly on this
after initially rejecting my proposal to extend the no-fine period at the Town Hall
It was completely absurd for the Council to be fining residents for confusion they themselves have caused thanks to their botched implementation of these changes
“This troubled start for the Council’s latest traffic scheme imposed on Greenwich and Blackheath hardly bodes well for the next 18 months
And this will only add to the sense of history repeating itself
Just across the Kent border with Greater London
one of the UK's most unique locations is hidden - Chislehurst Caves
This remarkable place in historic Kent is nestled in the town of Chislehurst
The caves are an intricate network of over 22 miles of manmade tunnels
concealed deep beneath a leafy and unsuspecting slice of suburbia
Kent's rich history and culture have been significantly impacted by urban sprawl
and Chislehurst Caves is a prime example of this
Although technically the town and tunnels now fall under London
much of the caves' history unfolded when the area was part of Kent
making them an integral part of the county's past
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Despite the fact that this piece of history has been absorbed by the capital's expansion
we're not letting it dampen our spirits
let's delve into the history of these mysterious
a site dedicated to exploring archaeological discoveries
when the caves first opened to the public in 1900
visitors were informed that parts of the system had been inhabited between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago
Legend has it that the initial phase of the caves was carved out by druids
before being expanded upon by the Romans and then the Saxons around 500 AD
Ancient Origins reports that one of the earliest historical records of Chislehurst Caves is a 13th-century charter
which mentions their use for mining lime-burning chalk and flint
There's also speculation that a prehistoric skeleton discovered in the ceiling could suggest the caves date back to 10,000 BC
when people sought refuge during the end of the Ice Age
the earliest evidence of anyone working or residing in the caves dates back to a 9th-century Saxon charter
which documents mines and lime-burning kilns in the area
it's believed the mines were last worked in the 1830s
The Heritage Trail states that a 'Limeburner and Flintmaker' named Soper conducted work in the Saxon section of the mine
But it was in 1865 that the area underwent a significant transformation
the Chislehurst and Bickley Park railway station opened
making the area much more accessible to the public
As we move into the turn of the 20th century
tourism reportedly surged in the area after suggestions that the caves were mined by the Druids
This theory was allegedly promoted by William Nichols in 1903
who was the vice president of the British Archaeological Association at the time
Dogs were reportedly also brought in to assist in locating members of the public who had become lost in the labyrinthine cave system
It is reported that at the onset of the First World War in 1914
they became part of the Woolwich Arsenal and a railway was installed to transport the munitions through the tunnels
the mines were utilised by the Kent Mushroom Company
with the humidity and darkness providing ideal conditions for mushroom cultivation
During the peak of the Blitz in the Second World War
the caves were converted into an underground city
They became the largest air raid shelter in Britain
housing 15,000 people with a pitch costing one old penny per night
The chapel space and hospital area are still present today for visitors to explore
along with a fully functioning electric lighting network - making living in the caves less daunting than it might initially appear
The caves evolved into a self-contained community complete with its own cinema
A girl was even born within the caves and was christened Cavena Wakeman - though she opted to change her first name to Rose when she turned 18
relegating the unique Cavena to a middle name
the caves became an unexpected venue for some of the biggest stars in music
The caverns have been graced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix
Pink Floyd and reportedly also the Rolling Stones
One can only imagine how well the psychedelic influences matched with the echoing
it's a popular filming location for shows like Dr Who and is a major tourist attraction
visitors are drawn in by reports of supernatural activity
These reports often focus on poltergeist activity such as locks being thrown around
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