Residents in South London are mounting a fierce campaign against plans for a towering new university building they say threatens the very fabric of their neighbourhood.
‘Losing something precious’: The heart of the community at risk
Locals living around Kingston University’s Knights Park campus have voiced strong opposition to proposals for a 29-metre high education block. The building, planned for the Middle Mill site, would replace existing student accommodation and include a lecture theatre, gallery, studios, and a café.
At the centre of the dispute is Mill Street Green, a cherished village green that residents successfully fought to have officially registered in 2006. Chris Park, a neighbour, published an open letter to Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier, warning the tower would steal light from the green for hours each day. He described the potential loss as "losing something precious that can never be replaced".
"The green holds the heart of the neighbourhood," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), highlighting its role in community events. The idea that this space could become "darker, colder, less inviting" was, he said, heartbreaking.
Wider impacts on environment and daily life
Opponents argue the scale of the development is wholly inappropriate for the constrained site, which borders homes, schools, a conservation area, and the Hogsmill River – a rare chalk stream. They fear it would overshadow not only the green but also the outdoor-based Kingston Forest School and people's homes.
Chris Park also raised practical concerns, stating families would face years of disruptive, noisy construction traffic clogging narrow streets. The campaign group asserts that while they do not oppose development in principle, this plan would permanently and negatively alter the character of their tight-knit community.
University defends ‘sympathetic’ and sustainable design
In response, a Kingston University spokesperson said the institution was committed to a positive relationship with neighbours and had conducted extensive consultation, including public exhibitions. The design by award-winning Grafton Architects aims to be "sympathetic to the surrounding environment" and pays tribute to the area’s industrial heritage.
The university stated that comprehensive modelling ensures the building meets all daylight requirements and highlighted plans for a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain, enhancements to the public realm, and a construction logistics plan to minimise disruption. They believe the proposals will create a "vibrant creative quarter" with new spaces for the community to enjoy.
However, residents like Chris Park feel their feedback was ignored, claiming the university was not transparent about the building's height initially and that their specific concerns remain unaddressed. Kingston Council will make the final decision on the planning application in due course.
