Charter Quay

This development fulfills many of the criteria of an excellent development. It provides high-density, mixed-use accommodation adjacent to an existing centre of activity. It has created new jobs, and provides accommodation for both those working locally and further away. New shops and several restaurants bring life right down to the edge of the river. The absence of traffic, clutch of decent venues, and public art has made the pedestrian square a high quality environment and turned Charter Quay into a new destination in Kingston. With the river on one side and the town centre on the other, this site has beautiful frontage although some would argue the development somewhat detracts from it. However, feedback has been very positive, with dwellings being sold as they become available.

Reinforced concrete rafts are supported on piles, with load-bearing masonry walls and pre-cast concrete plank flooring. External finishes range through brick, render and curtain walling, with steel balconies. Roofs are tiled, mansard, or flat and include terraces and a communal roof garden.

The developers aim was to preserve and enhance the special nature of the river location. This included moorings for boats and wetlands for waterfowl. These aims were very carefully considered, although they are not entirely successful. There are few moorings, bridges are basic, and planting both by the water and in the Piazza could have been more inspired.

The design of the houses is unexceptional, and some of the internal planning lacks quality, for example where working kitchens are separated from living rooms by bedrooms and bathrooms. The brickwork facades - with their business-like balconies - work reasonably, but the rendered facades are less successful. The strong red colouring is somewhat out of place and strident, particularly in the tall element over the theatre, where flats have replaced the theatre fly tower of the original design.