Birchanger Edge
Croydon, London
Birchanger Edge is a compact infill project on a constrained site in South Norwood, at the end of a Victorian terrace. Despite the unusual depth of the plot, the site posed significant planning and design challenges.
Initially intended for HMO conversion, the scheme faced local authority resistance due to overdevelopment and amenity concerns. We were brought in to revise the approach. Through detailed site analysis and development modelling, we refined the HMO to a smaller, compliant footprint and introduced a new three-bedroom house in the side garden.
The site’s irregular, overlooked layout required a sensitive response. The new house, composed of brick and precast concrete, offers civic presence and spatial clarity, easing the transition from the terrace with a stepped ground floor. Inside, a central staircase organises circulation and defines open living spaces.
Planning approval was granted at first submission. This success stemmed from early collaboration with the council and a well-resolved architectural strategy balancing density with quality.
The final HMO accommodates eight residents in a carefully planned, high-quality layout. The project is currently on site,with Unagru overseeing architectural and technical matters.
Architect
Unagru Architecture Urbanism​​
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Project year
2025
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