TP Bennett Secures Planning Permission For New Student Residential Development In Egham Town Centre

Runnymede Borough Council has granted planning permission for a new student residential development on Egham High Street in Surrey. Designed by tp bennett, the scheme will provide high quality student accommodation in two separate buildings. Situated within the town centre it will supplement the variety of accommodation available for the expansion of the local university over the next few years.

The design of the development is a contemporary interpretation of Eghams unique architectural character that reflects the materiality, scale and detail of the town centre and its immediate neighbours. A heritage study was carried out to fully understand the local surroundings and how this architecture would be reflected in the design of the new building. Situated within the conservation area, tp bennett’s design response is a careful balance between acknowledging its prominent location at the end of the high street and its sensitive context.

The scheme will comprise 107 studio rooms across two buildings within ground and a two upper floors and pitched roof accommodation, including amenity space on the ground floor, with a a cinema room, social space and gym. In addition to this, the plans include the creation of two flexible retail units that breathe new life at this end of the High Street. The scheme also incorporates a thermally efficient external envelope, natural ventilation and photovoltaic panels with sustainability in mind.

Sam Watkins, Director at tp bennett, commented: “We thoroughly examined the character of Egham to produce a contemporary design which is an interpretation of the area’s vernacular architecture. This will provide a new gateway to the high street on this long vacant site.”Rachel Pengilley, Student Property partner at Knight Frank, commented: “Purpose built student accommodation is rare in Egham town centre, especially given the area’s growth in student numbers. We are excited to be bringing this best in class asset and development opportunity to the market later this month. The opportunity to deliver a centrally located, high quality private sector scheme, within easy reach of Royal Holloway University, will be well received by the market.”