Plans Submitted For 18 Storey Towers Near Unilever Headquarters, Kingston 2026

Key Points

• Developer Cube Real Estate has submitted updated planning applications to construct two new residential towers in Kingston town centre.
• The updated proposal features two buildings—one rising to 18 storeys and a second reaching eight storeys.
• The revised submission replaces a previously approved single 16-storey residential block on the Surrey House Island site.
• The overall scheme will deliver 282 new residential units, comprising 255 co-living studios and 27 social rented affordable homes.
• The development site sits adjacent to Unilever’s new corporate UK headquarters at the Eden Campus development.
• Design amendments by architectural firm Darling Associates aim to split the building volume, improving visual impact, townscape alignment, and sunlight access.
• Environmental features include a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain and restoration work along the adjacent Hogsmill River.
• Public amenity enhancements include ground-floor co-working space, a community café, and improved pedestrian connections to Kingston town centre.

Kingston (South London News) September 23, 2026 — Cube Real Estate has officially submitted revised planning documentation to Kingston Council proposing the construction of two residential buildings, reaching up to 18 storeys high, directly adjacent to Unilever’s newly developed corporate campus in Kingston town centre.

What Are The Details Of The Revised Kingston Development Scheme?

The newly submitted plans represent a major modification to the previously approved masterplan for the Surrey House Island site, situated on the southern fringe of Kingston town centre. Under the original permissions granted by the Royal Borough of Kingston Council, the developer held consent to build a single 16-storey apartment building. However, following a comprehensive design review, Cube Real Estate and its architectural partner, Darling Associates, submitted revised plans seeking permission to replace the single tower with two distinct buildings measuring 18 storeys and eight storeys respectively.

According to technical planning documents submitted to local planning officers, the updated masterplan increases the total volume of residential accommodation provided on the site to 282 homes. This total is comprised of 255 modern co-living studio apartments designed for individual occupancy alongside 27 social rented affordable homes. The project team highlighted that 41 per cent of the designated social rented housing units will feature multi-bedroom family configurations to assist in addressing local housing queue demand.

As detailed in project documentation released by Cube Real Estate, the redesign from a single block into two slender structures is intended to reduce overall visual massing across the skyline. The project team stated that splitting the built footprint creates a cleaner townscape, improves daylight penetration for surrounding properties, and respects the historical context of the adjacent urban landscape while fulfilling high-density housing targets.

How Does The Development Integrate With Unilever’s Eden Campus?

The residential scheme forms the final structural piece of the wider Eden Campus masterplan, a major multi-million-pound regeneration initiative occupying a key town centre position. The adjacent commercial development includes two major office facilities—known as the Honey and Hive buildings—which cover approximately 363,000 square feet of floor area. These office spaces were built specifically to serve as the consolidated UK corporate headquarters for global consumer goods giant Unilever, bringing together around 2,000 corporate staff under one roof.

As stated by the development team at Cube Real Estate, the co-living residential element has been tailored specifically to complement the operational presence of the Eden Campus commercial zone. The 255 co-living units are intended to offer flexible, managed accommodation suitable for young professionals, corporate employees working at the site, and town centre workers seeking centrally located living options.

Alongside the primary housing structures, the scheme integrates public realm enhancements designed to open the site to the wider community. Ground-floor plans feature dedicated publicly accessible co-working areas, a neighbourhood café, and new pedestrian access routes linking the riverside directly to Kingston town centre. The architectural layout also integrates public access improvements alongside the Hogsmill River, including environmental enhancement works designed to achieve a 10 per cent net gain in local ecological biodiversity.

What Statements Have Been Made By The Project Partners?

The project development partners have outlined the underlying rationale for the altered planning application through public consultation materials and statutory planning statements.

As stated in project materials published by Jonathan Lawes, Director of Cube Real Estate, the corporate move by Unilever and the associated site redevelopment represent an immense economic boost for Kingston. Lawes noted that establishing a major corporate headquarters alongside high-quality housing creates long-term value for the local economy while rejuvenating a critical brownfield site.

Architectural firm Darling Associates confirmed that the structural modifications were designed to refine the visual impact of the development compared to the earlier single-tower application. The architecture practice outlined that the twin-building configuration provides a far more balanced setting adjacent to the Hogsmill River, ensuring that the visual bulk of the high-rise structure is scaled back at lower tier levels to maintain sightlines across the borough.

During the public consultation phase carried out prior to formal submission, project representatives for Cascade Communications—acting on behalf of the developer—stated that the revised proposals directly reflect local policy requirements for affordable housing while introducing modern co-living layouts to address evolving residential demographics in Outer London.

Background Of The Particular Development

The masterplanning of the Surrey House Island site has undergone multiple iterations since initial redevelopment proposals were first presented to local authorities. The site was historically occupied by outdated commercial office space and light industrial land situated between Brook Street and the Hogsmill River.

In October 2020, Cube Real Estate and Unilever formally revealed joint plans to redevelop the parcel of land into a state-of-the-art corporate and residential hub. The overarching strategy sought to consolidate Unilever’s corporate operations from five distinct sites across London and Surrey into a single, high-sustainability campus location in Kingston upon Thames. Kingston Council subsequently granted full planning consent for the commercial offices, a multi-storey electric-vehicle-ready car park, and an initial 16-storey residential block intended to yield 115 standard apartments.

Following the initial planning approvals and commencement of commercial construction on the Unilever office blocks, the developer re-evaluated the residential component of the site masterplan. Citing changes in macroeconomic conditions, shifting urban housing demands, and a local deficit in flexible single-occupancy living, Cube Real Estate elected to revise the residential phase. By transitioning from traditional multi-room private purchase apartments to a hybrid model featuring 255 co-living units and dedicated social housing, the developer sought to maximize residential capacity within a similar overall development footprint.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Communities and Businesses

The submission and potential approval of the 18-storey and eight-storey towers are expected to bring significant structural, economic, and social impacts to several key stakeholder groups across the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Impact On Local Businesses And The Retail Economy

The introduction of 282 new residential units immediately adjacent to a major corporate office employing 2,000 workers will provide a direct footfall boost to Kingston town centre. Local retail outlets, food and beverage establishments, and service industries are likely to experience sustained daily demand generated by several hundred new full-time residents and corporate commuters. This influx of high-density living in a commercial zone aligns with broader municipal goals to revitalise town centre retail environments following structural shifts in high-street shopping habits.

Impact On Local Housing Availability And Urban Planning

For local residents seeking affordable or flexible housing, the delivery of 27 social rented homes—specifically with a 41 per cent allocation for family-sized units—will help alleviate pressing municipal waiting lists for social housing. Simultaneously, the 255 co-living studios introduce a relatively new high-density residential model to Kingston. While co-living provides flexible rental accommodation for early-career professionals and single workers, it may also set a planning precedent for similar high-density, small-unit developments across South West London.

Impact On Local Transport Infrastructure And Skyline

From an urban infrastructure perspective, the project’s car-free operational strategy places heavy reliance on public transport routes, including nearby Kingston railway station and local bus networks. While this reduces parking friction and vehicular emissions within the town centre, it will increase passenger density on peak-time commuter transit lines. Additionally, the alteration of the building height to 18 storeys will permanently reshape the visual townscape along the southern edge of Kingston, establishing a prominent high-rise architectural benchmark adjacent to the historic riverside environment.