Poplar Court, Twickenham

Peacock + Smith secured planning permission for the conversion of a ground-floor commercial unit into four residential units at Poplar Court, a prominent corner site within the Richmond Road Conservation Area. Approval was granted through Class MA prior approval for the change of use from commercial to residential, alongside full planning permission for associated alterations to the shopfront.

A key challenge in securing prior approval was demonstrating that the proposed change of use would preserve the character and sustainability of the Conservation Area. Peacock + Smith successfully made the case that the building reads as a distinct commercial element from the adjoining Richmond Road Parade, with its own architectural identity and relationship to the street scene, rather than forming part of the active retail frontage in the same way as the wider high street. This approach established that the proposal would not undermine the character or vitality of the Conservation Area, allowing prior approval to be secured.

Full planning permission was also required for alterations to the existing shopfront to accommodate the new residential units. To support the application, Peacock + Smith recommended appointing HCUK Group as heritage consultant to help inform a design response rooted in the site’s historic context. Metashape Architects then developed proposals to reinstate a traditional shopfront, replacing the later fully glazed frontage with a design that preserves and enhances the character of the conservation area.

The proposed changes enabled approval from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for the residential conversion of a highly prominent corner site within a conservation area.