Canal Terrace

2020
Queens Park, Queens Park Estate
Public

SITE

The site of Canal Terrace was originally a strip of open land located to the north of Kensal New Town. The strip was bounded to the south by the Grand Union Canal and and to the north by Harrow Road, beyond which lay open fields in an area known as the parish of St Luke Chelsea.

In 1874 the area was developed to house railway workers by Artizans, Labourers & General Dwellings Company, a rich mixture of over 2,000 gothic revival cottages became home to the diverse community of labourers. Canal Terrace was built at this time to accommodate shops serving this new community.

The western end of Canal Terrace and part of the Queen’s Park Estate were demolished in the 1970s as part of a redevelopment of Harrow Road, which included the large scale provision of new social housing. The cleared portion of Canal Terrace once again opened Harrow Road to the Grand Union canal, and the clearing was converted into a narrow canal-side park known as Harrow Road Open Space.

Canal Terrace is an unusual undulating plot defined by the two technologies of road and canal, one an ancient track dated back at least to Iron age Britain and the other a breakthrough turn of 19th-c cargo thoroughfare, both routes formed of smooth expedience. The remaining buildings of canal terrace fill this bound plot to both limits so that the properties vary in depth along the street and the rear walls are built up to the waters edge.

CLIENT

As local architects and authors of the design guide our clients were Westminster Council, the local community, and Queen’s Park Community Council. The brief was refined and formalised through various community meeting.

CONCEPT

Early observations and engagement identified four key points of intervention; the remaining properties of canal terrace, the blank end-wall meeting of terrace and park, Harrow Road Open Space as a park itself and its connections, and a desire for a new access across the canal to connect two communities flanking the canal. These points were brought forwards to The Queen’s Park Community Council and each became a project in its own right.

Syte Architects remain active in these separate projects taking the foremost, the remaining properties of canal terrace, and developing a Design Guide to support and enable development. This guide coalesces a common identity through independent development and provides a clear framework for future alterations.

The now published Canal Terrace Conservation Area Design Guide prioritises a clear rhythm along Harrow Road with white pilasters bounding revitalised painted timber frontages. A conceptual thrust of the guide is to maintain a connection between Harrow Road and The Grand Union Canal through the ground floor retail units, emphasizing the special and unique character of the terrace in a new way for local residents to enjoy and an identity to build.

At ground floor open layouts and large canal-side windows are thus promoted. Considerate development along The Grand Union Canal aspect to the terrace is encouraged to increase the connections from interior to water way, this is despite the property being retail or residential, and guidance is provided so that development likely to be permitted is clear. Large waterside windows, first floor terraces, and loft conversions are all outlined to give confidence to future development and ensure that a communal and vibrant waterway is maintained.

CHALLENGE

Although enjoyable the complex task of producing a design guide to represent the mixed aspirations of the local community whilst adhering to local planning and conservation guidance brought about challenges. A patient and thorough approach was taken which allowed broad engagement and consensus at each stage, this approach built confidence in the process and eventually the Canal Terrace Conservation Area Design Guide was published in April 2020.