A member of a local planning organisation has slammed a property group for refusing to listen to residents about proposals to redevelop the old Unilever building in Kingston.

Cube Real Estate has proposed to replace the existing Lever House in Kingston town centre, which stands at 11 storeys, with two 19-storey high towers, despite previously approved plans for a 16-storey building.

But the plans have faced strong local opposition over concerns they will damage the historic character of the town centre, block out sunlight, and negatively affect the Fairfield and Knights Park conservation areas.

Stephen Coates, Architect Advisor to the Kingston Society, claimed the developers showed "no genuine attempt to consider other views" during a webinar about the plans on 24 February.

He said: "When you're proposing a building in a sensitive environment you have a duty of care to show you've considered other options.

"Even if you think there's only one thing you want to do, you have to at least demonstrate you've shown some willingness to consider less harmful options when you're making a proposal in a sensitive environment. Which the town centre of Kingston is deemed to be."

Coates' wife Andrea, a lawyer of over 30 years, echoed her husband's views. She said: "They [Cube] weren't really wanting to listen, they were just ticking the box.

"They already know what their scheme is, they were ready to submit it in March.

advertisement

"I don't expect them to change things, but I have put in some comments to the council on serious pre-application things they should be considering.

"If you're going to take feedback you need to actually reflect on that feedback."

Andrea also alleged Cube has been unclear regarding the nature of the project and misled the public regarding its potential impact.

She said: "They showed the singular view from which one could say it doesn't look too bad, but they didn't show how it would impact the heritage assets and conservation area.

"They had the temerity to show the shadows it would cast in March and not the shadows it would cast in June, when it would completely overshadow the conservation.

"It feels very self-serving and indifferent to people's legitimate concerns." Cube's plans risk reopening old wounds for many Kingstonians, following the previous rejection of the 25-storey Kingsgate development in 2020."

That proposal was modified over fears the structure would be too tall, but Andrea argued that approving the Lever House plans could set a precedent which would allow the greenlighting of similar schemes.

She said: "If you allow 19, 20 storeys, with increased incremental harm to the heritage assets, the council has absolutely no defence to developers seeking to go for 20-plus storey towers on other sites."

Andrea also criticised the 12-day consultation deadline as being too short, describing the decision to extend it by two days - from 26 February to 28 February - as "purely performative."

Coates, who has been an architect for 35 years, added that Cube is prioritising financial gain over the wishes of residents.

He said: "Making profit is not a bad thing, but you should not make it by doing something egregious or nasty.

"There's nothing wrong with seeking to make a profit but if you do not do something which has good intentions people will just reject your offer."

He further claimed the development, if approved, could cause considerable mental discomfort to residents due to size imbalances.

He said: "If we were in London and one side of the street has got 20 storey buildings and the other side has got 20 storey buildings, we feel okay, because proportionally it feels natural.

"It's quite another thing when it's a co-living development towering over two-storey buildings.

"There's nothing natural about this gross balance of scale."

Nub News has contacted Cube Real Estate for comment.