Area Guidance 5

Maldens and Coombe

Key Facts

Area: covers over one-third of the borough Population: 30% of borough's residents Age: highest proportion of aged 40+ residents in the borough (34%) Ethnicity: the South Korean population in is estimated to be the largest in Europe Kingsnympton Park Estate and Sheephouse Way have some of the highest levels of worklessness and associated deprivation in the Borough 25 AREA HIGHLIGHTS AND INSERT PICTURES

New Malden District Centre - one of three District Centres in the borough The only District Centre to have it's own department store; Tudor Williams established in 1913 Diverse ethnic population Diverse residential character from low residential density and large plot sizes to flatted developments Malden Fortnight Festival held annually demonstrating the vibrant community Concentration of private roads in the Coombe Hill area Three private golf courses - the largest concentration of golf courses in the Borough Served by five railway stations - services to Waterloo and out to Hampton Court, Kingston, Richmond and Shepperton; , Epsom, and Dorking.

INSERT AREA APPRAISAL MAP

Characteristics map from Borough Character Study Area requiring enhancement to reinforce identity from Borough Character Study assessment map shown as hatching Add any features from Preferred Strategy maps

Vision for the Area

New Malden District Centre will be a thriving and attractive shopping destination with a good range of walk-to retail provision to meet the needs of the diverse local community. Redevelopment at Cocks Crescent and around New Malden train station will enhance the vitality of the District Centre. Local residents in the more suburban parts of the area will benefit from access to shops and services at Local Centres.

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The diverse residential character of the Maldens and Coombe area will be maintained and enhanced, especially in the ten Conservation Areas. The large residential plots in Coombe Hill will continue to be a unique characteristic of the area.

Sustainable methods of travel will be promoted in order to facilitate movement through the area, and reduce traffic congestion, especially around the High Street, Burlington Road and Malden Road. Improved pedestrian and cycle networks will allow easy access to the area's key services, especially at the District Centre, Kingston Hospital and University. The local community at will be better integrated with the rest of the area through safer and improved crossings of the A3.

The growth of employment opportunities will be supported at large organisations like Kingston Hospital and Kingston University, while the District Centre will provide local employment. St Johns industrial area will benefit from redevelopment and strengthen as an employment location.

Education provision will meet the future needs of infant, primary and secondary level, through the expansion and remodelling of schools, while facilities at Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus will also expand. 26

Local Strategy for Delivery

Climate This part of the Borough has been identified as having the potential to link Change and District Heat Networks to existing facilities. The existing Combined Heat Sustainability and Power facility at Kingston Hospital has been recognised as an opportunity to link to a District Heat Network.

Managing Properties at risk of flooding in this area are situated between Malden Golf and Reducing Course and , a small number within and Flood Risk Malden Green due to their proximity to Beverley Brook and properties next to River Hogsmill which have experienced localised flooding.

The Council will:

protect open spaces adjoining the Beverley Brook and River Hogsmill Corridor from future development ensure proposed redevelopment addresses the flood risk associated with Beverley Brook and River Hogsmill and include flood risk mitigation measures

Natural and There is a variety of public and private open spaces in Maldens and Green Coombe, while residential gardens play an active role in providing amenity Environment green space. The Council will maintain and improve access to open spaces through: Implementing its Green Spaces Strategy and associated Annual Implementation Plans; specifically at Manor Park, which is to be submitted for Green Flag status by 2011, and Beverley Park. Community Play Areas will be developed at Blagdon Road Recreation

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Ground, Land at Bramley House, Cumberland House and Kingston Road and possibly in Kingston Vale and Georgia Road areas exploring increased access to private open spaces, e.g. Golf clubs seeking to retain large gardens and plot sizes, particularly in Coombe, where not only do they hold amenity value but also contribute towards meeting environmental needs, e.g. Encouraging biodiversity, acting as natural drainage to reduce surface water run-off and flood risk, and supplementing allotments by providing land to grow food Targeting the deficiency in allotment provision across the area by improving/expanding allotments facilities in line with the RBK Allotment Strategy

Sustainable The Maldens and Coombe area benefits from being served by three railways Travel stations in zone 4 with services into London; a night service into London and a bus service to Heathrow airport. New Malden District Centre has one of the best levels of transport accessibility in the Borough, but other areas such as Kingston Hill have poor public transport. There are road transport and congestion issues around , Burlington Road and the Malden Road approach to Worcester Park and the A3 creates a significant separation barrier that can make local cycling and walking trips 27 more challenging. To promote sustainable travel the Council will: Improve the local network of pedestrian and cycle routes particularly to New Malden, Local Centres, schools and other key facilities Work with London Borough’s of and Sutton to improve cross boundary links particularly to Worcester Park Station and District Centre from the surrounding residential areas Work with partners to provide fully secure cycle parking facilities at New Malden and Worcester Park Stations Work with partners to manage congestion whilst improving road safety, bus priority and pedestrian crossing opportunities on the A3, Burlington Road and Malden Road Better manage parking spaces in New Malden District Centre, especially at Blagdon Road Multi-Storey Car Park work with Kingston Hospital, Kingston University and other large employers and trip generators to facilitate accessibility by sustainable transport to their sites, e.g. through the development of Travel Plans

Character, The Maldens and Coombe area has ten Conservation Areas. There is a Design and diverse range of residential character including Edwardian and mid-Victorian, Heritage mixed with 1930s styles. A unique characteristic of the area is the exceptionally large plot sizes and low residential density in Coombe Hill. In order to reinforce the character and identity of Maldens and Coombe and to enhance its attractiveness as a place to live, work and enjoy the Council will:

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work with public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders and promote and manage development opportunities, particularly in the Cocks Crescent area apply its high quality design principles to protect and enhance the features that contribute positively to the character of the area. In particular it will: Support designation of a gateway to the Borough from Worcester Park at Malden Green/Worcester Park Station Seek to retain the characteristic of large residential plot sizes in Coombe Hill and encourage development in line with existing local character Support the identification of CI and Apex Towers as landmarks Support public realm improvements as follows: in New Malden District Centre to promote the village feel at The Triangle Local Centre at Burlington Road Local Centre around the Robin Hood Roundabout and the approach to the Robin Hood Gate entry to 28 Housing and The Maldens and Coombe area has a wide range of housing types from Affordability low density areas in Coombe Hill with large plot sizes, to flatted developments in more accessible areas, e.g. around railway stations. There is an abundance of family housing across the area and a feeling of residential suburbia.

The Council will welcome affordable housing across the area and work with developers and landowners to provide a range of new homes, including family housing with gardens outside New Malden District Centre and higher density flats within the District Centre

Economy and There is one Locally Significant Industrial Site (LSIS), St John's industrial Employment area, and two major employers in the area; Kingston Hospital and Kingston University. The Council will encourage employment opportunities in the area by: continuing to protect St John's industrial area through improvements and redevelopments to meet the needs of small and medium sized enterprises. Improvement of the layout and access will be a requirement in any redevelopment of the site. supporting a partnership approach to promote improvements to Kingston Hospital and Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus focusing additional opportunities in New Malden District Centre, recognising the important role it plays in the economy through expansion and redevelopment of existing retail and business locations and opportunity sites such as Cocks Crescent Working with the University and other partners to create economic opportunities to retain talent it develops

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Retail and New Malden District Centre has a unique abundance of ethnic food stores Town and restaurants. There are also ten Local Centres offering retail provision Centres away from the District Centre. The Council will: support in-principle additional food stores of an appropriate scale, within New Malden District Centre, to attract shoppers and help retain a greater proportion of local retail expenditure welcome proposals for appropriate development on opportunity sites. For example the Cocks Crescent area of the District Centre has potential for a comprehensive mixed use redevelopment, including leisure and community uses, to enhance the vitality and viability of the District Centre. Proposals for other sites in the District Centre are welcomed, in particular around the railway station, e.g. at Coombe Road, Dukes Avenue and Grafton Road favour proposals for new or changes of use to A1 convenience shops in areas with poor access to Local Centres improve Local Centres where necessary, in particular: Burlington Road - public realm improvements and diversification of uses needed Kingston Road East - a limited amount of short-term parking needed 29 Kingston Vale - expansion

Healthy and There is a need to improve healthcare provision in Maldens and Coombe, Safer therefore, the Council will: Communities work in partnership with local health providers, The New Victoria Hospital and Kingston Hospital Trust to support the expansion of the hospitals for operational reasons where necessary and to improve accessibility to Kingston Hospital work with local health providers to upgrade, expand and redevelop new GP surgeries (in accessible locations) within Coombe Hill and Old Malden, where surgeries are at capacity, and encourage shared accommodation where practical

In terms of safer communities the Council will:

work with the , property owners and developers to secure the provision of a modern base for the Coombe Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team within or closer to its policing area

Education The area has a full range of educational facilities from primary and secondary schools to university level. The Council has identified a need for school place expansion at each primary school in the area while Kingston University has its own plans. The Council will facilitate the provision of education by: working in partnership with Kingston University to continue to improve facilities at the Kingston Hill campus to meet operational requirements. The needs of the University should be balanced with ensuring that

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development is sensitive to the character and environment of the campus and the surrounding area, which is a Conservation Area. expanding and remodelling borough schools to provide sufficient school places to meet the increasing demand and changing needs as follows: The potential co-location of Christchurch New Malden infant and junior schools onto a single site The potential remodelling of Coombe Boys, Coombe Girls, Holy Cross and Richard Challoner Schools

Community The Crescent and Causeway Resource Centres, located within Cocks Facilities Crescent in New Malden District Centre, are well used community facilities for residents with physical and learning disabilities. The Council will continue to support the delivery of these central community facilities, in line with local requirements.

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