Masterplanning a high quality mixed tenure community


Matrix Partnership was appointed to work as part of a team to prepare a detailed masterplan for Orbit Housing Association, working in close conjunction with the London Borough of Bexley. The existing site comprised seven tower blocks and other medium-rise buildings constructed in the 1960s in a former chalk quarry.

The site’s extraordinary topography exacerbates the sense of isolation from surrounding neighbourhoods. With major intrinsic physical design problems (such as the towers being placed on a now redundant concrete parking podium), it is clear to Orbit that “do nothing” was simply not an option given the extent of ongoing management and maintenance costs.

The team worked closely with local residents and other key organisations to develop designs based on complete redevelopment to support an application for HCA funding support for a high quality new mixed use tenure community. The spatial masterplan was accompanied by a phased delivery strategy and cost plan. The redevelopment is now nearing completion.