We hope you all had a lovely Easter break. An update from our various teams will be coming up shortly. In the mean time, please enjoy this image, sourced from FFFFOUND – one of our favourite websites for inspirational artwork and imagery.

This image was originally posted on Dribble – a place to show and tell, promote, discover, and explore design. Find out more here. The illustrator is Doublenaut.

We are very excited to be working on a project with community benefits at the root of its purpose. Oasis support the community through a diverse range of services and activities for children, families and adults. They seek to build community and include everyone and are motivated by their Christian faith, but work with those of all faiths and none.

The economic climate means capital grant funding will be very difficult to secure in the coming years. Therefore, Oasis has explored mixed use enabling development options. Through a competitive process Oasis has partnered with United House to help realise this opportunity.

We are currently at the very first stages of this process and are holding one-to-one interviews with local stakeholders. We hope to be launching an extensive public consultation process in the near future.

For more information please visit www.oasiscentrefutures.com

Through this iterative design process, the design team (JMP and Tonkin Liu) have been responding to Town Centre needs, local priorities and values. Fine-tuning concept proposals for the whole Ancient Market Area, plus outline designs for the Market Place. This has set the foundations of a substantial project that will continue to develop over the years to come.

Good news! Things are looking good for Kingston Town Centre and the Ancient Market Area. Kingston has received over £2 million for Town Centre improvements from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund, the largest round two single award!

Thanks from Soundings to everyone who has been involved and contributed your valuable time and ideas.

You can find out more on the project web page at www.kingston.gov.uk/ancient_market_area

Latest news: Masterplanner Michael Squire of Squire + Partners will be introduced to local groups and individuals at the Concept Masterplan exhibition and workshops on 13th and 15th March 2012. Local residents, community and business representatives and visitors can attend at the following times:

Where?
2 York Road, London SE1 7NA .

When?
13 March 2012
Drop-in Exhibition 3.00-6.00pm
Workshop (RSVP) 6.30-9.00pm

14 March 2012
Drop-in Exhibition 4.00-7.00pm

15 March 2012
Drop-in Exhibition 11.00am-6.00pm
Workshop (RSVP) 6.30-9.00pm

Please RSVP for workshops at your earliest convenience as seating is limited. You may contact us by email at shellcenterdialogue@soundingsoffice.com or by phone at 0800 285 1580. Exhibitions are on a drop-in basis and do not require RSVP.

Riccardo and Martyn finishing in around an impressive hour… Amanda in (ahem…) slightly longer!

The RunKingston event took us in a loop from Kingston Town centre to Hampton Court, then 2/3 of the way to Esher, finally returning on the home stretch to Kingston.

Thank you to all who supported us and KCIL.

There is still time to donate!
www.justgiving.com/teamkingston

The Kingston Trio are Riccardo from JMP, Martyn from Kingston Council and Amanda from Soundings. Look out for the green t-shirts… designed by our very own Neil from Tonkin Liu!

Thanks to all who have supported so far, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/teamkingston and donate to KCIL, a worthy cause, helping adults with learning and physical disability to lead independent lives.

Go Team Kingston!!!

This is a place which has a proud and active community and we were fortunate enough to be able to spend a long time working with the people of North Deptford between 2008 and 2010.

It’s a place that has previously been fractured by exclusive development, and guided by the long-standing community, we were able to significantly influence the proposals to ‘open up’ and create clear links with the surroundings area to become a resource for both existing and new communities.

Section 106 agreements will contribute to a Community Development Trust, a vehicle for local aspirations to deliver a number of viable community benefits.

The ‘Wharves Deptford’ is a mixed-use development that will provide new homes, business / trade space and local retail. A waterbody following the line of the disused Grand Union canal runs through the site, the disused Victoria Pub will be reinstated and Ascot Cabs flagship site will be expanded to become a major on-site employer.

The Ancient Market Area is at the heart of the town’s historical centre. Today, the ‘once was’ riverside industry has all but disappeared, leaving a riverside and Ancient Market Area fragmented from its town, not given the prominence and opportunity of an alternative offer that many feel Kingston would benefit from.

The area is one of the Mayor’s Great Spaces and identified as a metropolitan centre in the London Plan. JMP and Tonkin Liu have been appointed to develop proposals for the area.

Before the plans are developed we are understanding how people would like to see the area improve, uncovering local stories and understanding what Kingston means to people. Our findings have informed the initial design proposals for the Ancient Market Area.

From September 17^th to October 1^st we will be displaying the design ideas for the Ancient Market Area and asking for feedback and ideas.

Thursday 7th July 2011, 8.30 to 5.15pm followed by Evening Drinks Reception
Royal Society of Medicine, No.1 Wimpole Street, London W1

The future of planning, design and development is changing, creating challenges and opportunities for everyone involved in shaping the capital. Communities are being empowered to shape and direct the future of their neighbourhoods. How will property and built environment professionals and local authorities work with communities to achieve the best outcomes?

This one-day conference brings together the market, community groups and government to create opportunities for debate and discussion about how communities and professionals can engage collaboratively with neighbourhood planning, to create new Neighbourhood Plans.

***New Speakers announced***

Speakers include;

• Joanna Averley, Interim Chief Executive, Centre for Cities
• Trevor Beatie, Chair, Land and Society Commission
• Chris Brown, Chief Executive, Igloo Regeneration
• Dave Chapman, Head of Social Action, Locality
• Cllr Michael Chater, Chairman, National Association of Local Councils
• John B. Corey Jr., Chair, Bermondsey Neighbourhood Forum
• Ros Dunn, Chief Executive, Thames Gateway London partnership
• Robert Evans, Executive Director, Argent Group PLC
• Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader, LB Hammersmith & Fulham
• James Hulme, Director of Policy and Research, The Prince’s Foundation for The Built Environment
• Indy Johar, Co-founder 00:/
• Rebecca Maguire, Senior Projects Manager, Glass-House,
• Seema Manchanda, Borough Planner, LB Wandsworth
• Steve McAdam, Director, Soundings
• Alastair Moss, Chairman, City of Westminster Planning and Development Committee
• Liz Peace, Chief Executive, British Property Federation
• Michael Pyner, Chair, The Development Trust Association and Shoreditch Trust
• John Rhodes, Director, Quod and Member of the National Planning Policy Framework
• Jonathan Robinson, The Hub Kings Cross
• Juliet Rose, Community Projects Manager, Eden Project,
• Sophia de Sousa, Chief Executive, The Glass-House Community Led Design
• Nick Wates, communityplanning.net
• Gary Yardley, Investment Director, Capital & Counties Properties PLC (Capco)
• Lee Mallett, Editorial Director, Planning in London (Chair)

Areas covered throughout the day will include;

• Putting communities in charge of planning
• The National Planning Policy Framework – the relationship with neighboorhood planning, local development frameworks
• The Land and Society Commission  – a Vision of Localism
• What’s happening on the ground  – The emergence of Local Groups
• Uniting business and communities to drive growth – The Business neighbourhood Frontrunners
• Presentations from the Four Neighbourhood Planning Support Groups
• How it’s going to work in the Neighbourhood
• Enabling communities to help plan their own neighbourhoods
• Providing the tools for Communities to take charge
• The positive role that local and neighbourhood planning can play in bringing about appropriate development
• Localism Question Time – a unique opportunity for the three main groups to hear and debate each others’ hopes and fears for Localism in action

Join us on Thursday July 7th to debate the key issues with developers,architects, planners, local government authorities, politicians and community organisations.

Booking details:

FULL DAY DELEGATE  PLACE PRICE  £199.00 + VAT

To secure your place please CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE