68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, Lambeth property

68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, Lambeth, London

5 October 2026

Architecture Design: Hawkins\Brown

Location: 68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, Borough of Lambeth, South London, southeast England, UK – in the St Mark’s Conservation Area

Unanimous Consent Granted For Hawkins\brown Co-living Scheme In Oval

images courtesy of architects practice

2nd of October 2026, London, England – Last week, the London Borough of Lambeth’s Planning Applications Committee unanimously resolved to grant consent to Espalier Ventures’ new co-living development at 68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, designed by Hawkins\Brown.

The proposals will transform a site formerly occupied by a vehicle hire centre and car park into a mixed-use development providing 134 purpose-built shared living studios, four new homes and a new further education facility.

The project sets a new benchmark for the quality of co-living in London, with shared amenity provision that goes beyond the GLA’s guidance for Large-Scale Purpose-Built Shared Living in multiple ways. Shared spaces, including a lounge, generous cooking and dining facilities, cinema room, and music studio, are organised around a landscaped courtyard and lower-level sunken garden, creating a generous communal heart to the scheme.

Located within the St Mark’s Conservation Area, the development will repair the existing gap in the Clapham Road streetscape and respond to the scale, rhythm and material character of the surrounding terraces. New planting, landscaped external spaces and blue-green roofs will also introduce substantial greening to what is currently a predominantly hard-surfaced site.

The proposals also include 382sqm of further education space at ground-floor level, extending the benefits of the development beyond its residents and creating opportunities for education and skills provision within the local community.

Greg Moss, Partner at Hawkins\Brown, said: “The consultation process has been a really important part of developing the scheme, so it was particularly encouraging to receive support from local residents as the proposals came forward.

“We’ve worked hard to create a building that responds carefully to its setting while being ambitious about the quality of shared living it provides. The courtyard and sunken garden are central to that idea, creating a generous shared environment that we hope will set a new benchmark for co-living in London.”

Patrick Bird, Espalier Ventures, added: “We’re delighted to have secured unanimous consent for Clapham Road and to be bringing forward a scheme that sets a high standard for shared living in London. The proposals combine high-quality homes and shared spaces with new education provision and a sensitive response to this important part of Oval.”

68–86 Clapham Road, Oval, Lambeth, London – Building Information

Location: St Mark’s Conservation Area, London Borough of Lambeth, England, United Kingdom
Architect: Hawkins\Brown
Developer: Espalier Ventures
Services, energy and sustainability: XCO2
Structural engineer: Engenuiti
Daylight & sunlight consultant: eb7
Planning consultant: DP9
Heritage, planning and placemaking: Donald Insall Associates
Fire consultant: Jensen Hughes

Hawkins\Brown

Hawkins\Brown is an internationally renowned practice of architects, designers and researchers, based in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin and Toronto. The architectural practice brings a collaborative approach to projects across a range of types and scales in six main sectors: Civic, community & culture; education; workplace; transport & infrastructure; healthcare and residential.

Hawkins\Brown

68–86 Clapham Road, St Mark’s Conservation Area, Oval, Lambeth, South London images / information received 051026 from Hawkins\Brown architects studio

Location: 68–86 Clapham Rd, Oval, Borough of Lambeth, south London, England, UK.