MICA appointed to work on 729-733 Old Kent Road

Southwark Council has appointed MICA architects to work on proposals to bring 729-733 Old Kent Road back into use.

729-733 Old Kent Road is a row of Victorian shops owned by Southwark Council which has stood empty for many years. It was bricked-up in 2019 and is currently scaffolded.

The council has appointed MICA architects (via its new and extended Architects Design Services Framework) who will work with engineersHRW to draw-up plans to refurbish the buildings and give them a new lease of life.

Currently, the proposals include retail on the ground floor and possibly a new community cafe or pub. The three, upper storeys could be used for training and education.

The shops are part of a larger development site, bounded by Old Kent Road and Devon Street, known as the Folgate Estates site. It includes a number of separate buildings and a large yard. The council estimates that more than 200 flats could be built on the site overall, as well as more than 16,500 sq ft of commercial space.

However, the parade of shops fronting Old Kent Road will be retained and refurbished as part of the council’s commitment to preserve local heritage throughout the regeneration area.

MICA is an award-winning architecture practice with an impressive track-record in regenerating existing buildings. Its recent projects include the retrofit offices at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn in Holborn; the regeneration of the Horniman Museum and the refurbishment and extension of Croydon’s iconic Fairfield Halls.

Southwark has been awarded £2.6m of Future High Streets funding to help pay for the project and hopes to submit a planning application next year. In the meantime there will be a period of consultation to get the public’s feedback on how the space might be used and how it should look.

Read more about the benefits of regenerating Old Kent Road