Assael Directors meet HRH during royal visit to The Lighthouse, Woking
Assael Directors Tim Chapman-Cavanagh and Ed Sharland were honoured to meet HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh during her visit to The Lighthouse in Woking, where they discussed their ongoing collaboration on the design of Woking High Street’s upcoming co-living development and the Lighthouse reprovision, delivered with JRL Group and Halcyon.
Hosted at Albion House, the visit gave Her Royal Highness, patron of the charity, a first-hand look at The Lighthouse’s interim space, which will remain in use while the new co-living development and long-term home for the Lighthouse is under construction. During the visit, she took the opportunity to personally thank the volunteers who have supported the relocation.
The Lighthouse has been supporting people facing hardship, poverty, and social isolation in Woking for over 15 years. Its inclusion within the High Street Woking redevelopment reflects a shared commitment to community, compassion, and long-term positive impact.
Until now, its facilities evolved organically, without purpose-built spaces to fully realise its mission. The new development will provide The Lighthouse with a modern, dedicated home fronting Woking High Street, offering a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment. Designed to host a wide range of weekly programmes and events, the facility will also integrate with the wider co-living community, fostering meaningful connections between residents and charity users.
The visit also offered Assael Directors an opportunity to discuss how purpose-built co-living developments can strengthen community ties. They highlighted how ongoing collaboration with The Lighthouse has directly shaped the project’s design, ensuring that the charity’s needs remain central to the approach.
A spokesperson for The Lighthouse said:
“It was an inspiring start to the new year welcoming Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh to Albion House in Woking, alongside project partners JRL Group and Assael Architecture. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for The Lighthouse and the communities we serve, ensuring our services can continue to grow as part of Woking’s redevelopment.”