Latimer Road Design Code

The Latimer Road Design Code provides a strategic framework to guide the future of Units 1–14 at the Latimer Road Industrial Estate, located on the western side of Latimer Road between 343–453. Developed for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), the code responds to local planning policy and community aspirations by setting out principles for the sensitive transformation of this part of North Kensington.

The St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Plan (StQWNP) identified the potential of these underused industrial units for mixed-use development, including new housing. In line with this vision—and RBKC’s housing trajectory—the design code explores how the site could accommodate up to 75 new homes alongside employment space. The existing low-rise industrial buildings, currently only 1.5 storeys, present a rare opportunity to reimagine the site in a way that makes more efficient use of its footprint while integrating successfully into the wider urban context.

Produced in close collaboration with the StQW Neighbourhood Forum and the Latimer Road Preservation Group, the design code establishes clear guidance on height, scale, massing, materiality, and amenity. It ensures that future redevelopment will deliver an uplift in floorspace and design quality while respecting neighbouring character and enhancing the vitality of Latimer Road.

The project exemplifies Ibrahim Buhari Architects’ approach to place-led design: combining rigorous spatial analysis with community engagement to create frameworks that enable growth while safeguarding identity. The Latimer Road Design Code is both a technical tool and a shared vision for the incremental renewal of one of West London’s most dynamic streets.

Client: Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Location: Latimer Road, London

Status: Completed 2021

Photography: Wing-Shun Tang