Matrix Partnership was appointed to work as part of a team to prepare
a detailed masterplan for Orbit Housing Association, working in
close conjunction with the London Borough of Bexley. The existing
site comprises seven tower blocks and other medium-rise buildings
constructed in the 1960s in a former chalk quarry.

The site’s extraordinary topography exacerbates the sense of isolation
from surrounding neighbourhoods. With major intrinsic physical
design problems (such as the towers being placed on a now redundant
concrete parking podium), it is clear to Orbit that “do nothing” is
simply not an option given the extent of ongoing management and
maintenance costs.

The team worked closely with local residents and other key
organisations to develop designs based on complete redevelopment
to support an application for HCA funding support for a high quality
new mixed use tenure community. The spatial masterplan was
accompanied by a phased delivery strategy and cost plan.