Projects

Transforming higher education facilities and community spaces within historic campus and World Heritage Site

Our role

• Our Planning,Heritage, Townscape and Landscape, Strategic Communications and EIA teams are supporting the University of Greenwich on a landmark project at their historic campus. Devonport House will be refurbished and connected to a new contemporary extension via a shared atrium. Public realm improvements will enhance spaces for the community, students and visitors. The project will use renewable energy.
• The site is within the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site and includes several heritage assets. Our team ensures the design respects the site’s history.
• Collaboration with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Historic England and other stakeholders has been key. Public consultation involved the local community and university staff and students.
• Given the importance of this project, and also the sensitivities of the site, our specialist teams have provided best practice advice and guided the scheme through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, as well as the tandem process of Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the World Heritage Site as informed by the most recent toolkit from UNESCO.

Results

• We have submitted a comprehensive application for planning permission and listed building consent on behalf of the university. The project team includes experts in architecture, landscape design, engineering, construction, sustainability and archaeology.
• Our Heritage, Townscape and Landscape team prepared a full Heritage, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (HTVIA), describing the site’s history, heritage significance and design evolution. This is complemented by a Built Heritage Chapter to the EIA and HIA for the World Heritage Site, following national best practice and key stakeholder advice.
• During the determination period, the team has liaised closely with key stakeholders, including RBG officers, and received positive feedback from Historic England, GLAAS and GLA on the application quality and development principles. The application was recommended for approval and subsequently passed unanimously by Planning Committee in March 2025.