New US embassy designs unveiled

The US Government has unveiled more detailed plans for its new embassy complex at the heart of London’s Nine Elms regeneration area.

The scheme was awarded outline planning consent in 2010 and the new plans provide more detail on the proposed appearance of the buildings, site layout, landscaping and access arrangements.

In April Building revealed that contractor Sir Robert McAlpine in partnership with US firm B.L Harbert - had won the £650m job to build the new embassy.

The Kieran Timberlake designed scheme is centred around ‘the Chancery’ - an 11 storey cube shaped building.

The north facing elevation is largely glazed, while the other three sides of the building have a distinctive outer shell made from a transparent material called ethylene tetraffluoroethylene (ETFE), with integrated photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.

Three single storey entrance pavilions would be located on the perimeter of the site to control access to the main building.

Photovoltaic panels would be installed on the roof and the main vehicle access to the site would be from Ponton Road which is currently being realigned.

The scheme would provide new public open space including landscaped gardens, walkways and a large pond designed by Olin landscape architects.

There would also be space set aside for a new Barclay cycle hire docking station. The area immediately south of the site is set to become a new public plaza. This new open space would form a key link in a linear park which will run all the way through Nine Elms from Vauxhall Cross to Battersea Powers Station.

Wandsworth council has written to local stakeholders and residents to ask for their views on the proposals.