Notley Green

Notley Green is a large social housing estate in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, built in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a major urban renewal project. It replaced a slum area and was designed on the principles of pedestrianized housing, with residential blocks arranged around a central green space. The estate features a mix of low-rise and high-rise blocks, with a distinctive brutalist and late-modernist architectural character.

Origins and Urban Renewal

In the early 1950s, the area was a densely populated slum with poor housing conditions. The London County Council (LCC) launched a massive urban renewal scheme to demolish the old buildings and rebuild a modern residential estate. The plan was influenced by the new towns and the Garden City movement, aiming to provide a healthier and more orderly living environment for working-class families.

The demolition and rebuilding took several years, and the estate was occupied from the late 1950s. The pedestrianized layout, with cars kept to the periphery, was a key feature of the design, intended to create a safe and friendly space for children and residents.

Architectural Character

The estate's architecture is a mix of low-rise and high-rise blocks, reflecting the prevailing housing trends of the era. The low-rise blocks are often three storeys high and built with a combination of brick and concrete, while the high-rise blocks are taller and more overtly brutalist in style. The use of raw concrete, deep recesses, and geometric forms gives the estate a strong sense of place.

The pedestrianized layout is still a defining feature of Notley Green. The residential blocks are arranged around a large central green, which is accessible only on foot, and the estate is served by a network of walkways and pedestrian plazas. This layout was intended to create a sense of community and a safe space for residents, and it continues to define the estate's character today.

The Green and Community Space

The central green is the heart of the estate and is still used by residents today. It provides a large open space for children to play and for community events. The green is flanked by the estate's residential blocks, and the pedestrianized layout means that cars are kept to the periphery, making the area feel safer and more community-focused.

The estate also has several other pedestrian spaces, including the pedestrian plazas between the blocks. These areas were designed as communal spaces for residents to meet and socialise, and some are still used today for community activities.

Modern Context and Regeneration

Notley Green remains a significant social housing estate, and it has been the subject of various regeneration initiatives in recent years. One of the major projects is the Notley Green Regeneration Project, which aims to improve the estate's facilities and housing stock. This includes the demolition of some of the older blocks and the construction of new, more energy-efficient homes, as well as the upgrading of the estate's pedestrian spaces and community facilities.

The regeneration project is also aimed at improving the estate's connectivity to the wider borough. This includes new pedestrian and cycle routes that link the estate to nearby shops, schools, and transport links. The project also seeks to improve the estate's public realm, including new landscaping and public art.

Key features of Notley Green:

Pedestrianized estate layout with blocks arranged around a central green
Mix of low-rise and high-rise blocks with brutalist and late-modernist character
Large central green used by residents today
Pedestrian plazas and walkways between the blocks
Subject of ongoing regeneration initiatives to improve housing stock and public realm
New pedestrian and cycle routes linking the estate to the wider borough