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  Latest articlesRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar20 May 2025SpecRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar Baillie Baillie Architects used contemporary techniques while drawing inspiration from local traditions What does neuroscience tell us about what to promote or avoid in facade design Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com 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.” along with highlights of the latest sector news and more from The Carer delivered directly to your inbox twice a week The Carer is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised Never see this message again. Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city 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 This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here 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 and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits 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 Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice 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 Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints 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  Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters 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 Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Sign up to our What's On newsletter for a weekly email covering the best of Kent's food 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 LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} 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” Committee will consider Scottish memorial project for late Queen Woman who escaped east London flats fire tells of homelessness fears an intriguing new perfume from Penhaligon’s 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 READ MORE: Spectacular Kent model railway weekend with real ale train and tasty fish and chip suppers READ MORE: The fantastic multi-pool centre in Kent with water rapids, splash zone, jacuzzi and cafe 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 Find out more about things to do in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE. 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