Roof Terrace Plan for Growing Putney Company

Architects are expanding their site overlooking Wandsworth Park

A visualisation of the proposed roof terrace from planning documents

May 31, 2024

The Putney office housing the London branch of an international architecture company is applying for planning permission to modernise its own premises.

Populous, which has offices in Deodar Road, is behind projects in London including the new Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Wembley and Olympic stadiums. More locally, it has designed the Riverside Stand being planned for Fulham FC.

Now it has applied to Wandsworth Council for improvements to its Blades Court offices, including creating a roof terrace for "staff recreation and exercise classes".

Populous says in its application that it has more than 400 staff working at Blades Court, which was built in the 1990s and is next to Grade II-listed Wandsworth Park.

As the company has expanded, it has outgrown its existing office space and has been renting temporary spaces elsewhere in Putney.

But it has acquired office space at neighbouring Carlson Court, recently completed and marketed as 'Parklife'. The planning application also seeks a connection between Blades Court and its new space in Carlson Court.

In a report submitted alongside its planning application, Populous says connecting Carlson Court and Blades Court would enable the company to "remain local and keep their current postal address".

The proposed roof terrace would have views over the park, but views over the courtyard and residential properties would be limited, the report claims. "The visibility of the roof terrace would be limited by the presence of mature trees along the western boundary of Wandsworth Park," it says.

"The roof terrace would be enjoyed by the staff for recreational activities such as yoga, relaxation, and informal meetings", the report adds.

Populous also plans to carry out an internal refurbishment, and is seeking planning permission for an extension of its staircase enclosure which would extend beyond the existing roof level.

The report submitted by Populous concludes: "The application demonstrates a high quality design to create a reinvigorated building that fits comfortably within its Putney setting, with only a very modest increase in height to accommodate an extension of the existing staircase.

"The proposals make a positive contribution to the ongoing development of the area and allow a much-needed expansion of workspace for one of the borough’s growing employment success stories."

Wandsworth Council is seeking comments on the proposed scheme before 11 June. You can find out more by searching for planning application 2024/1673 on the council's Planning Explorer.