6 minute read
The Big Interview
the big interview County Hall, Kingston:
Where History Meets Innovation
The Trampery is a purpose-led enterprise dedicated to making business a positive force in society. Join them in celebrating Kingston’s business community at the County Hall this summer, where you can meet local business owners and share your vision for the future of business.
The History of County Hall, Kingston
County Hall has a long history. Designed by Charles Henry Howell and built by Higgs and Hill, the building was completed in 1893 and remained in use by the county council until its relocation to Reigate in 2020.
The original 1893 building, along with the 1930s Vincent Harris wing and the central courtyard will be placed at the heart of this new mixed-use development. Historic England, which prepared a detailed Heritage Impact Statement, supports the project which includes the demolition of two dilapidated buildings erected in the middle of the 20th century.
Sensitive design and appropriate sustainable uses will protect the listed building. The intention is not to alter it, internally or externally, but rather to transform the interiors through careful cleaning and redecoration.
The beautiful terrazzo flooring, historic signage, decorative detailing and bespoke fixtures and fittings will enhance the workspaces. This type of distinctive and characterful workplace is proving highly attractive to businesses, particularly those within the creative industries that, over the last decade, have been some of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy.
A Vision for the Future
The restoration of the Grade II* listed building at County Hall and the creation of flexible workspaces for up to 600 people, along with podcast rooms, studios, an events hub and a café, will safeguard one of Kingston’s most significant buildings. In addition to conserving, preserving and protecting County Hall’s heritage for future generations, the scheme will also bring immediate, significant, benefits to Kingston’s business community and the local economy. This will be an outstanding new business destination for the town.
The events space, set within the impressive Court Room and Council Chamber, will be available for community use – for meetings, talks or lectures. These former civic spaces will also be available to local community organisations and charities at an affordable rate. Many of the areas within the listed building and the landscaped setting will be publicly accessible on a regular basis for the first time in the building’s history. From Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey to Top Boy and The Bill, County Hall has been the set of an impressive range of TV and film productions. Bringing it back as a film location offers fantastic opportunities for the local economy with £3.25 million per annum generated across hotels and catering as well as the potential for local employment and apprenticeships in the film industry.
Where History Meets Innovation
Introducing The Trampery
The Trampery, a highly acclaimed enterprise with a strong social and environmental conscience has joined the partnership at County Hall. Founded in 2009, the organisation currently operates six workspaces in London and, in addition to winning Best Workspace Provider in the UK Business Awards, it is one of only nine operators to receive The Mayor Of London’s Open Workspace accreditation.
The Trampery is excited to have County Hall as its first venue in the west of London. At the forefront of changing working practices in London, The Trampery is committed to providing a succession of unique projects, each of which presents an opportunity to develop innovative solutions that address changing needs.
It delivers accelerator programmes for entrepreneurs, both start-ups and scale-ups and has developed successful solutions for an impressively broad range of contexts from large-scale new developments to heritage refurbishments, from affordable workspace to high-spec event facilities and meeting rooms for community groups. Often, as in the case of County Hall, it will bring together developers, local authorities, universities, corporate partners and cultural institutions.
“London is going through seismic changes in working patterns. Commuting is in decline, entrepreneurship is growing, and people are prioritising work-life balance and seeking locations where they are able to experience a natural environment every day. All these trends present new opportunities for Kingston’s business community. The Trampery is excited to be part of this project to transform County Hall and create a vibrant new business campus for Kingston’s future.” Charles Armstrong, Founder and CEO, The Trampery.
Opportunities for Business
There is no doubt that the establishment of a new creative cluster for Kingston within this heritage location will generate local employment opportunities and create a need for local products, services and resources. Indeed, it is estimated that the redevelopment of the County Hall site will attract in the region of £160 million in direct capital investment into Kingston.
The project will also create up to 540 new jobs over the period of construction and, in total, site preparation and construction are expected to add a gross value in the region of £22.3 million to the county’s economy. The new residential and commercial communities at County Hall will also increase trade for local retail outlets, for Kingston’s leisure and hospitality industries and for the town’s night-time culture.
A Sustainable Future for Kingston
This is sustainable development at its best with energy-efficient heating systems, solar panels. the highest sustainable drainage system, cycle storage and a car club, The new setting has been landscaped in a way that will promote post-Covid well-being, both physical and mental. With sensory planting, soft landscaping promoting biodiversity, seating areas and play areas, this is a place for people of all ages to meet, socialise and spend time outdoors.
With close proximity to the town centre and excellent transport links on hand, it is likely that those who work – or live – at County Hall will choose to use sustainable modes of transport when travelling – whether that’s cycling, walking or taking the bus or train. A recent assessment has indicated that more than 75% of travel on the part of people working or living at County Hall will be sustainable.
“There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant effect on the local economy which will be felt for years – and this has presented new challenges. With The Trampery’s arrival in Kingston, the creation of jobs, the provision of space to work and hold meetings and events and even peaceful places to take a break from the computer, will help boost the local economy,” says local resident and business owner Eric Holding.
“Business is at the heart of Kingston’s community. In addition to a thriving and supportive business community and a popular university, Kingston has a business school offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a variety of disciplines. It would be highly satisfying to keep this talent pool within Kingston, ensuring that those who want to start their own businesses have the space and support to help them flourish.” “In its community plan, Kingston Borough set out its vision that the Royal Borough will continue to be one of the very best places to live and work, a place where people are happy, healthy and enjoy a good quality of life in a clean safe and tolerant environment where business is prosperous. We hope County Hall Kingston will have a part to play in the realisation of this vision, help to maintain the town’s position as a successful Metropolitan Centre, and improve the vitality and viability of the district.”
The plans for the redevelopment of Surrey County Hall are currently in the formal process of being evaluated and reviewed by Kingston Council.
Join us for a series of business events at County Hall, Kingston this summer and help shape the future of business for Kingston. For further information on the events and the County Hall vision, please visit the website on
