Newcross Gate
Site History and Context
207 New Cross Road is a distinguished Grade II listed terrace located on the north side of New Cross Road, within the Hatcham Conservation Area and adjacent to the Telegraph Hill Conservation Area. The four-storey property, including a basement, is oriented north–south and benefits from a private north-facing rear garden. The site lies within an Area of Archaeological Priority and includes a protected tree along the rear boundary.
Constructed in the early to mid-19th century, the house is built from yellow stock brick with stucco detailing, including a frieze, cornice, and blocking course. The façade features three windows per storey with gauged brick arches, and a first-floor balcony with cast iron railings and brackets. The entrance is recessed within a two-storey extension, accessed via four steps leading to a small terrace with stuccoed walls and area railings. Original sash windows, glazing bars, and decorative stucco architraves remain, reflecting the property’s historic craftsmanship.
Originally an end-terrace residence, the property was later converted into offices and had fallen into a dilapidated state. The rear garden, anchored by a mature tree, had seen a series of ad-hoc developments over time. Acquired by a commercial developer, the site was initially explored through a feasibility study for four apartments and two mews houses. Following pre-application discussions and consideration of the building’s heritage status, the scheme was refined to remodel the house into two duplex apartments while introducing two contemporary three-bedroom mews houses to the rear. This strategy balances heritage sensitivities with the opportunity to deliver high-quality new homes that enhance the site and its context.
Design Response
The project delivers two three-bedroom mews houses to the rear of the Georgian terrace, designed to respond sensitively to the immediate context. Floor plates are carefully stepped to reduce overall height, ensuring the new buildings remain subordinate to the host structure.
Living spaces are positioned on the first floor, providing direct access to the rear garden. At the front, external terraces are screened by metal fins set within a structural steel frame, offering privacy while allowing daylight to penetrate the open-plan kitchens and living areas. A large rooflight defines the circulation space, bringing natural light deep into the interior.
The material palette is restrained yet considered, creating a rich interplay of textures and tones. Polished concrete floors are softened by coloured velvet curtains and voiles, while black-stained timber courtyards provide contrast against the vibrant greenery of the surrounding garden. The scheme carefully balances contemporary interventions with the heritage of the listed terrace, producing homes that are both modern and contextually respectful.
