Development on the Deck London, UK
‘Development on the Deck’ is a hypothetical study which seeks to unlock the development potential of air space above railway lines, primarily for the purpose of building new homes.
Written in support of the Buildoffsite Linear Infrastructure Overbuild Guide, the study envisions the creation of green streets which run above an encapsulation structure over a railway, both creating new communities and providing opportunities for connection. This approach creates an inviting inward position for residential properties, as outer boundary conditions do not always offer an attractive outlook for high quality new developments.
Buildings atop the encapsulation structure are constructed using standardised volumetric modular components to create both low and high-rise building typologies. When compared with traditional construction methodologies, the particular benefits of modular construction on such sites include reduced weight of construction, enhanced acoustic performance and vibration isolation, a shorter on-site construction programme, fewer on-site construction personal, and fewer, larger components needing to be lifted by crane.
The Buildoffsite Linear Infrastructure Overbuild Guide examines overbuild sites as an opportunity for delivering a quarter of a million homes for London, exploring strategies to: make potential sites viable, creating homes and offsite project opportunities; enable stakeholders to consider how to unlock more of this potential; and help more developers and suppliers to be involved with infrastructure overbuild.
The publication covers both civil engineering and residential matters relating to overbuild sites, with lead authors from Sheppard Robson as well as WSP, Hawkins\Brown, IFPI, Meinhardt and Mace, and is supported by numerous Buildoffsite members, TfL, HS2 and Network Rail, and other specialists, creating an informative and challenging guide.