HNCP transforms a former drill hall in Camden into 41 affordable homes for refugees and over 2,000sqm of flexible community space. The scheme delivers an inclusive, community-led development

In 2013, Highgate Newtown Community Centre was identified as a vital local asset in urgent need of investment. Despite its longstanding role providing essential services, years of underfunding had left the building in poor condition and no longer suitable for community use. RCKa was appointed to lead its transformation, working closely with Highgate Newtown Community Partners to ensure the site could continue to support a wide range of activities for disadvantaged groups.


Located in the Dartmouth Park Conservation Area near Highgate Cemetery, the project reconfigures a complex site that includes the Highgate Newtown Community Centre (HNCC), Fresh Youth Academy (FYA), the People’s Gospel Mission Hall, a caretaker’s cottage, and two flats. Final planning approval in 2019 enabled the creation of 2,000 sqm of new community facilities (Use Class D1), 41- 100% affordable residential units (Use Class C3), and improvements to the public realm with a new pathway through the scheme.


Originally planned for private sale, all 41 homes were reallocated by Camden Council to house Afghan refugees displaced in 2021. The design’s flexibility meant the scheme could be adapted during construction to accommodate the specific needs of these families, ensuring privacy, dignity, and a strong sense of home.


The design is playful and cohesive, blending a vibrant, organic interior with an exterior that respects its surroundings and neighbours. Transitional spaces, including residential staircases, blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, encouraging engagement with the outside environment.


The homes offer varied spaces for both privacy and connection. Loggias, winter gardens, and balconies provide opportunities to connect with the surroundings or offer privacy in more exposed areas. Generous windows maximise daylight while preventing overlooking within the dense development. The result is a socially driven, future-proof development that integrates housing and community infrastructure to encourage resilience, inclusion, and long-term value.

“RCKa listened closely to our residents. They took a tailor-made approach to their engagement and used high quality visuals to effectively communicate the development of proposals. This resulted in stakeholders having far greater confidence in the project.”
- Louise Trewavas, Project and Stakeholder Engagement
Officer, Camden Council

“This is a place that allows for several futures...if you’re looking for design that humanises, here it is.”
- Rowan Moore, The Observer, 9 February 2025