A planning application for landscaping enhancements at the iconic Mountbatten House in Basingstoke has been approved.

The building, renowned for its hanging gardens and Grade II listing, is set to undergo a revitalisation of its historic roof gardens and surrounding areas.

Submitted by MFP Babylon, the proposal includes necessary updates to the original gardens, which have deteriorated due to the failure of the irrigation system.

The gardens, including the Winter Garden, Japanese Garden, and Vine Terrace, are set for rejuvenation as part of the plans.

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The refurbishment also seeks to address environmental performance issues, particularly in terms of thermal comfort, while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity.

Mountbatten House, in Basing View - Basingstoke’s central business district - is a prominent landmark, visible from key locations such as the A3010 Churchill Way East and Eastrop Park.

The building originally functioned as a company headquarters building for paper manufacturer Wiggins Teape.

More recently it has been used as office accommodation, but much of the building is now unoccupied.

The building, constructed between 1974 and 1976 and designed by Peter Foggo’s Group 2 at Arup Associates, is highly regarded for its integration of architecture and landscape.

The roof gardens, initially designed by James Russell with contributions from Charles Funke, were meant to provide a dynamic and flexible modern working environment.

The newly approved landscaping scheme, prepared by Studio Knight Stokoe on behalf of Longstock Capital, builds on previous renovation permissions granted in 2019.

Recent surveys, including structural and ecological studies conducted in 2022, revealed the need for amendments to the original plans, ensuring that the roof gardens’ character is preserved while addressing modern ecological and environmental concerns.

The informality and romantic qualities of the original planting scheme within the landscaped areas ‘with great masses of plants tumbling over the terrace edges’ was intended to contrast with the formality of the building design.

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But, according to the planning documents, the environmental performance of the building falls short of current standards as there are particular issues relating to thermal comfort for building users.

While the exterior of the building is largely intact, the interior of the building has considerably changed.

Additions such as later partitioning and suspended ceilings are at odds with the original design concept, according to the applicant.