Oval Village: Reviving Industrial Heritage into a Thriving Urban Community

The Oval is a historic cricket ground.

The Oval Village site was once a closed-off industrial zone, dominated by four gasholders and a patchwork of commercial uses. Despite its central location near the Kia Oval cricket ground and key transport hubs like Vauxhall and Kennington, the site was underutilised and inaccessible.

The regeneration vision was bold: to unlock the site’s potential while preserving its industrial heritage. The centrepiece of this transformation is the Grade II Listed No. 1 Gasholder, the largest of its kind in the world. Rather than demolish it, the project team chose to restore and integrate it into the new neighbourhood — a powerful symbol of continuity and reinvention.

Oval Village will deliver 1,360 high-quality homes. The homes are designed to meet a range of needs, from young professionals to families, and are built to high environmental and architectural standards.

The development also includes:

• A new Tesco supermarket, delivered early to unlock the site
• Oval Works, a flexible workspace supporting Lambeth’s SME community
• A mix of cafés, shops, and community spaces
• Landscaped courtyards and biodiverse rooftop gardens

This mix of uses ensures that Oval Village is not just a place to live, but a place to work, shop, and connect.

Sustainability is embedded in every aspect of Oval Village’s design and delivery. The project targets a 54% reduction in CO₂ emissions over Part L standards, achieved through a combination of energy-efficient design and low-carbon technologies.

Key sustainability features include:

• Air source heat pump energy strategy across the site
• Energy-efficient building fabric to reduce heat loss
• Communal heat and power network
• Electric car charging points and a local car club
• Car-free streets and new pedestrian and cycle routes
• 2.5 acres of public open space, including tree-lined squares and gardens
• Biodiverse rooftop gardens to support pollinators and reduce urban heat

The site’s proximity to multiple transport hubs also supports sustainable travel and reduces car dependency.

Oval Village has been shaped by a deep commitment to community engagement.

Engagement Highlights:

• Partnerships with 49 local community groups
  
• 600 hours of volunteer time contributed by the project team
  
• £175,000 raised for Triangle Adventure Playground
  
• 24+ community events hosted, including street parties and workshops
  
• 20 work experience placements and 30+ apprenticeships supported
  
• BeLambeth ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awarded to a site apprentice
  
• Highly Commended in Lambeth’s ‘Employer of the Year’ awards

These initiatives ensure that regeneration is not just physical, but social — building relationships, skills, and local pride.

One of the most distinctive features of Oval Village is the restoration of the Grade II Listed No. 1 Gasholder, built in 1879. This iconic structure — once a symbol of Victorian engineering — is being carefully preserved and repurposed as the architectural heart of the development.

The gasholder:

• Is the largest of its kind in the world
• Overlooks the Kia Oval cricket ground, maintaining a world-famous backdrop
• Will house 199 new homes within its restored frame
• Serves as a visual anchor and cultural landmark

This sensitive approach to heritage has earned widespread acclaim and demonstrates how industrial relics can be reimagined for contemporary life.