South London Islamic Centre
London SW16
Client
South London Islamic Centre
Architects
JM Architects
Consultants
Squire Heritage Consulting
Visualisation Scope
Level 3 (Photorealistic Representation)
Project Overview
The South London Islamic Centre (SLIC), also known as Streatham Mosque, is located at 8 Mitcham Lane within the London Borough of Lambeth. The project formed part of a Section 73 (S73) application relating to Planning Permission reference 18/01093/FUL, proposing a purpose-built, multi-storey mosque and community facility on a constrained high street site.
Designed by JM Architects to replace an existing complex of buildings, the £12 million development provides a range of community facilities, including main and sisters' prayer halls, an exhibition space, a public café and bookshop, classrooms, a fitness centre and a flexible multi-purpose hall.
The building is orientated to align its street frontage towards Mecca, balancing public accessibility with the capacity to accommodate large congregations during peak periods of worship. High-capacity circulation routes and integrated indoor parking facilities support the efficient movement of visitors throughout the building.
Given the prominence of the proposal within the surrounding streetscape, a series of Accurate Visual Representations (AVRs) was commissioned to support the accompanying Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (TVIA) and Townscape and Heritage Visual Impact Assessment (THVIA) prepared in conjunction with Squire Heritage Consulting. Verified views were produced to assess the proposal's scale, architectural materiality and relationship with the surrounding urban environment and nearby heritage assets.
Planning and Heritage Context
The site occupies a sensitive urban location adjacent to key transport corridors, local heritage assets and public open spaces, including Streatham Green and St Leonard's Church. To support the TVIA and THVIA submitted as part of the Section 73 pre-application process, Lambeth Borough Council required verified visual representations from a number of strategically selected viewpoints.
Particular emphasis was placed on views from the junction of Gleneldon Road and Streatham High Road, together with visual corridors across Streatham Green and Mitcham Lane. The verified views provided the objective visual information required to assess the proposal's relationship with the surrounding streetscape, heritage assets and public realm.
Eye-kon' s Involvement
Eye-kon was commissioned to produce three AVR Level 3 photorealistic Accurate Visual Representations from key public viewpoints surrounding the proposed development. The visualisations formed part of the planning submission, providing objective visual material in support of the accompanying Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Townscape and Heritage Visual Impact Assessment.
Production Process
1 | Photography and survey
Baseline photography was undertaken by Matthew White of White & White Studio Ltd on 9 December 2024 under clear atmospheric conditions with excellent visibility. High-resolution photographs were captured using a Canon EOS 5DS fitted with a TS-E 24 mm f/3.5L tilt-shift lens, mounted on a levelled tripod at a standard eye-level height of 1.6 metres.
The accompanying survey was completed on 6 December 2024 by Sterling Surveys Ltd using a Leica Total Station and GeoMax GNSS equipment. Precise three-dimensional coordinates were recorded for each camera position together with between 18 and 20 surveyed control points per viewpoint, all referenced to the Ordnance Survey National Grid (OSGB36) and Ordnance Datum (AOD).
2 | 3D modelling and camera matching
Architectural CAD drawings and Revit models supplied by JM Architects were imported into Autodesk 3ds Max and positioned within a geo-referenced coordinate system using the survey information provided by Sterling Surveys Ltd. Virtual camera positions were established through mathematical camera-matching techniques based on the recorded survey data. Between 18 and 20 surveyed control points were used for each viewpoint, incorporating foreground, background, high and low reference points to verify accurate spatial alignment.
3 | Material and lighting calibration
Lighting conditions were recreated using the V-Ray rendering engine, calibrated to the site's geographic location together with the solar position and time recorded during the photographic survey. Architectural materials, including red brickwork, precast stone cladding and glazing, were carefully developed to accurately reflect the specified architectural finishes supplied by JM Architects. Lighting intensity and reflected light were adjusted to reproduce the natural daylight conditions captured within the baseline photography.
4 | Verified view production
The final imagery was composited in Adobe Photoshop in accordance with Landscape Institute Technical Guidance Note 06/19 and Appendix C of the London View Management Framework (LVMF). Existing trees, street furniture and pedestrian activity were carefully integrated with the proposed development to ensure accurate alignment between the rendered model and the baseline photography. The completed package comprised three AVR Level 3 photorealistic visualisations, each presented with annotated graticule borders identifying lens information, field of view and optical axis data in accordance with recognised verified view methodology.
Technical Summary
Parameter | Project Specifications |
Site Location | 8 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, London SW16 6NN |
Proposal | Redevelopment for a new mosque, community centre, prayer halls, classrooms, café, and multipurpose facilities (S73 Application ref: 18/01093/FUL) |
Architect | jmarchitects |
Client | South London Islamic Centre |
Townscape / Heritage Consultancy | Squire Heritage Consulting |
Highest Point AOD | Site ground levels range from +44.36m to +51.27m AOD across assessed viewpoints |
Total Viewpoints Assessed | 3 viewpoints (Viewpoints 1, 4, and 6) |
AVR Deliverable Levels | Level 3 (Photorealistic Representation) |
Key Heritage Receptors | Streatham High Road Conservation Area, St Leonard's Church, Streatham Green |
Technical Guidance | LI TGN 06/19, LVMF Appendix C, GLVIA3 |
AVR3 from Mitcham Lane illustrating the proposed SLIC within the surrounding streetscape.
AVR3 verified view from Gleneldon Road showing the proposed South London Islamic Centre in its urban context.
AVR3 verified view from Streatham Green illustrating the proposed South London Islamic Centre within the surrounding townscape.
