Dunster and PRP reunite for zero-carbon London project

The design team behind one of London mayor Ken Livingstone’s favourite green schemes will reunite to bid for the capital’s first big zero-carbon project.

Bill Dunster and PRP Architects are to reunite to bid for a 200-home project in the Albert Docks in east London. The two formerly worked together on the St Matthew’s Estate energy-efficient housing scheme in Brixton, south London. They are in talks with a developer to take the scheme forward.

The team is likely to go head to head with Bioregional Development Group, which was Dunster’s partner on the BedZed zero-carbon housing scheme in Sutton, south London. Dunster and Bioregional’s work on BedZed was much lauded but the two have since fallen out.

Pooran Desai, co-founder of Bioregional, said it had not yet found an architect with which to work. He said: “We are going through the process of looking at the scheme. We are interested but we have not yet approached any architects about it.” Designers understood to be throwing their hat into the ring include Broadway Malyan, Jestico + Whiles and Edward Cullinan Architects.

However, many architects claim that clients have been reluctant to take on the project, which will be developer-led. A source from a leading architect said offers had been scarce.

The source said: “I think clients are still weighing up whether it is a good deal or not.”

Three housebuilders are thought to be considering taking the project on, but have so far been reluctant to commit to it.

However, a spokesperson from the Greater London Authority said there had been a high level of interest. She said: “We have had about 900 requests for documents so far.”