Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Appendix B - 26
Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
14 Moderation Planned estates of high architectural quality
A variety of estates of 20th Century flats can be found throughout the City of Westminster, but particularly
towards the southern and northern edges. They range from a variety of periods from the earliest local authority
housing, such as the Millbank Estate, to late twentieth century private flats, such as those on the Grosvenor
Road.
Churchill Gardens
Churchill Gardens estate was designed in 1945 by architects Powell and Moya in response to a local Council
competition. It was built between 1946 – 1962 and received a Festival of Britain merit award, was recognised
by RIBA with a design award and twice by the Civic Trust with the 40 year award of awards. The modernist
blocks in concrete, steel and glass marked a step change with the prevailing 'cottage' style of social housing
provision which was prevalent before 1939. The buildings are skilfully arranged to allow a light and open
landscape, despite a high residential density. Although the detailing of the blocks varies from phase to phase,
the Estate achieves an overall integrity of design, which is enhanced by the sympathetic planting.
Tree planting on site should be (and is) ordered and formal, to complement the clean lines and uncluttered
spaces of the modernist design. While the arrangement of buildings could in principle accommodate large
trees, the character of the estate is dominated by the listed blocks which command views into and across the
estate. Planting in this area should aim to be subservient to the architectural form.
Lillington Gardens
Lillington Gardens is a high density, medium rise residential development which was commenced in 1961,
and completed in 1971 to award winning designs by Darbourne and Darke. Most of the buildings are listed,
both the surviving Victorian elements, and the twentieth century housing. The estate is characterised by red
brick and concrete, with each large block broken down into smaller units with a broken skyline, a variety of
openings, balconies stepping forward and back.
Similarly, planting in the open spaces within Lillington Gardens is informal and lively. Around the landscaped
lawns are a variety of species, including colourful ornamental trees and shrubs. Species represented include
hornbeam, silver birch, rowan and cherry. Planting in these courtyards is relatively dense, creating green
oases away from the hard townscapes of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Tachbrook Street.
The gardens have been well managed to suit modern day needs and have been successful in gaining an
annual Green Flag Award in recent years, demonstrating the high standard of design and management.
Page Street
The Page Street estate by Edwin Lutyens dates from 1928-30, and is listed grade II. The white rendered
chequerboard elevations of these large tenement blocks form a familiar landmark in this otherwise low-rise
part of south Westminster.
The courtyards within the blocks, opening onto Page Street are planted with a mixture of trees and shrubs,
behind dwarf walls or railings. These planting schemes offer neither the formal arrangement of trees that would
complement the rectilinear designs of the blocks, nor an informal landscaped space.