Tetra Tech supported the redevelopment of the former Tooting Police Station into residential-led mixed-use, delivering design and consultancy services to transform the heritage building and site.
Our client is redeveloping the former police station in Tooting and The Section House, proposing new flats and non-residential units for sale. They appointed us to deliver an energy strategy and statement for the proposed change of use of Tooting Police Station to support their planning application to Merton Council.
Challenge
As the client proposed a mixed-use scheme with new and existing/refurbished parts, the development required three different types of assessment and two different software packages.
To ensure that the client’s plan met both the energy and overheating requirements, each energy related measure considered both.
We supported the client with careful considerations of upgrading buidling fabrics. However, as the property was a Grade II listed building, this posed a challenge as any improvements needed to be agreed and confirmed for their suitability before they could be proposed. The current poor efficiency windows system also had to be tested against the overheating risk assessment requirements.
Solution
As the sustainability and ecology targets for the building have dictated that the roofs should be designed for biodiversity, green roofs have been incorporated into the design, meaning no space was available to install photovoltaics (PVs). The required Greater London Authority (GLA) carbon savings were achieved by incorporating an ambient loop fed via centralised Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) to provide heating and domestic hot water. The ambient loop feeds water source heat pumps provided locally within the flats. The central water loop temperature is maintained by the ASHPs. We calculated that by installing 426 kW of communal Air Source Heat Pumps, the development can reduce its CO2 emissions by 72% for the existing-refurbished part and 65% for the new part.
By carrying out dynamic simulation modelling, we confirmed that the existing part can mitigate overheating by replacing the existing windows with new ones of lower heat transmittance, using natural ventilation through windows opening while the new part located on the top floor would require mechanical ventilation (with heat recovery).
The energy and overheating assessments demonstrated that the scheme complies with National Planning Policy Framework, Part L Building Regulations, Regional and Local policies, and The London Plan Energy Hierarchy. Our client therefore was able to proceed with the development and submit their proposal for planning permission.
We also provided lift engineering consultancy services from lift traffic analysis and project design through to witness testing and handover.
At a glance
Client
Confidential
Location
Tooting, London
Services
Energy strategy, lift engineering, overheating assessment, sustainability statement
The project featured in this article was undertaken by RPS, A Tetra Tech Company and originally published on RPSgroup.com. In March 2026 RPS rebranded to Tetra Tech.