An exciting development in Kingston Upon Thames, New Malden High Street is a nine-storey mixed-use building comprising of 49 residential units and ground floor commercial space.
SRE completed Microclimate – Pedestrian Wind Comfort Analysis for the proposed space to ascertain the impact on pedestrian comfort with respect to wind velocity. A transient Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) wind study was performed analysing wind directions for different seasons throughout the year to provide a thorough comparison against the Lawson Comfort Criteria. Mitigation measures such as soft landscaping and localised solid panels were recommended to improve wind conditions.
Read more about New Malden High Street
SRE’s building physics specialists assessed 12 wind directions to provide a robust study of the microclimate conditions generated by the proposed development. Two scenarios were assessed:
- The existing site with existing surrounding buildings
- The proposed development with existing surrounding buildings
Both scenarios were analysed against normalised hourly weather data during winter and summer seasons to provide a thorough comparison against the LCC – the UK’s industry standard tool to determine which wind speeds are suitable for different pedestrian activities.
In both scenarios, the results indicated the wind conditions at ground level were suitable for all activities such as pedestrian walking, sitting and cycling. However, when modelled, it became apparent that the wind conditions in localised spaces, such as the roof terraces and balconies, would require mitigation measures if they were to meet the LCC requirements. SRE worked with the client and recommended a number of solutions including shrubs, small trees in planters and localised solid panels to ensure comfort for the users of these spaces. Although summer winds are likely to be considerably lower in speed than those during windier and colder times of the year, seasonal variation must be considered as pedestrians are more likely to frequent outdoor seating areas during warmer months.
SRE’s dataset was based on historic weather data calculated using hourly averages from a nearby weather station. This enabled SRE to calculate a suitable approximation of the prevailing wind conditions, the frequency and average wind speed in each direction.
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