I appears that building work has now started at the DST building. I was hoping that the recession might delay this, but apparently not.
For those that don't know, permission has somehow been granted for a large extension to what is already the most over-bearing building in Surbiton town centre.
It is disappointing that they cannot take advantage of the fact that most of the ground floor of this building (St Marks Tavern and the car accessory shop) is now vacant and extend downwards. I am sure that the compensation costs that they would have to pay to move Ladbrokes and the dry cleaners would be a lot less than building this extension.
It would also mean that two of the ever expanding number of empty shops in Surbiton would be filled, and we would be saved from this massive extension.
Comments
Here's what they do in there:
http://www.dstinternational.com/aboutus/officelocations.cfm?widCall1=cus...
I'm a fan of big buildings but this one's naff and going to get naffer.
Just come across this website after living in Surbiton for 14 years! Been trying to find out whats going on with the scaffolding above St Marks tavern and this tells me! All I can say is that I can't believe this was agreed. It completely overshadows the wonderful station and also the sunshine is now blocked. A real shame! How did this get through? Who are DST anyway ? Whats happening to all the empty places beneath it?
I'm still lamenting the loss of B & Q!
On another matter who can recommend a good NHS dentist in the area for doing a good crown ? Just been quoted £800 + from private dentist!
I would trade Waitrose for the B&Q any day. It looked well pikey before it closed.
I agree, that B&Q was symptomatic of just how run down parts of Surbiton had become by the last recession. Waitrose was a real improvement, and I hope that some of the other run down parts of the town centre are improved after this recession.
I normally hate to see the traditional Victorian architecture replaced, but it is better to have something modern and reasonable well designed than old buildings that have been allowed to fall into disrepair. It would be even better if people would restore the original ones.
There's that new place opposite the Total petrol station on Brighton Road who are advertising as offering NHS places.
likely to last 2 years? talk about making things up. it will all be done by the end of the year. stop moaning about things like this. there is more important things going on.
I did not mean that the building work would last 2 years, just that DST may outgrow the expanded building again and move on within a couple of years.
This would leave another large building vacant in Surbiton, and the Nuffield HO show that these are hard to rent out in this area.
It takes away the one concession that was made to the look of the building in the first place - the pitched roof. This addition will make it much more imposing than it already is.
The main problem is that this is likely to last a couple of years and then the company will expand and move out to larger premises elsewhere. This will leave a very large building empty and very difficult to let - just like we are seeing with the Nuffield Building at the moment.
With it's proximity to London, there is no reason why Surbiton should not be an attractive location for corporate head offices, but there seem to be a limited amount who want to move here.
Just 10 miles further out in Walton, a similar building to DST House next to the station has just been demolished after years of not being let. It is not so bad there, because the station is not right in the centre of town.
God that building is ugly as it is, where is the extension going?
A sort of loft extension. Fourth and fifth floor replacing the roof apparently: http://maps.kingston.gov.uk/planning/Planning_DETAIL_ISIS.aspx?strCASENO...
The extention will not really have an impact. The impact it will have is that a lot more workers will be coming and that will support the ever increasing coffee shops in Victoria AVE and rent market. I say - bring it on - we need these professional workers to bring in more quality shops rather than the charity shops that are allowed to pay no business rates.
I am surprised that the Hampton Court estate did not try to block this like they did with the original (taller) Surbiton Plaza plans.
I was right by Hampton Court Palace the other day, and the new height of this building make it the MOST visible by far, even more than the residential mini-tower blocks on the riverside.
well said. 100% agree. people bring money.
Maybe, but it is long term pain for short term gain.
This building will overshadow everything on St Marks Hill and Claremont Road. If this company grow further they are likely to move out in a few years and leave another empty building that is difficult to let.
It would be good to see a better mix of businesses on Victoria Road, but the problem for Surbiton is that it is too close to Kingston for most retailers to be interested. I can't see that a few hundred extra office workers is going to change that too much. There may be one more chain coffee shop to cope with the demand, but that is about it.