Hounslow Council has given the ok to the 980 Great West Road project in Brentford, West London, is a transformative masterplan for the former GSK HQ site, led by Hadley Property Group and designed by Haworth Tompkins.
Acquired in 2023, the site aims to become a vibrant, mixed-use 15-minute neighbourhood, emphasising building retention, adaptive reuse, and circular economy principles.
The development will feature 2,300 new homes and over 320,000 sq. ft. of commercial and community spaces within a landscape-led public realm.
The vision is to create a connected, inclusive, and ecologically rich neighbourhood, opening the site for public access to the River Brent and Boston Manor Park. Extensive community engagement has shaped the masterplan, reflecting a collective ambition for a sustainable, people-centred quarter. The design team, including dRMM, Metropolitan Workshop, and Studio Egret West, focuses on reuse, reconnect, and regrow principles, reducing embodied carbon by reusing existing structures and materials.
The strategy retains the substructure and basement as a logistics hub and repurposes the high-rise tower for residential use, achieving a 50 per cent reduction in embodied carbon. A new energy centre, constructed from reclaimed materials, supports the circular design ethos. Distinct character areas offer varied experiences, from the lively “Underside” space for cultural events to the serene riverside edge promoting biodiversity.
The project includes 35 per cent affordable housing, BtR, market sale, PBSA, and co-living options, ensuring demographic diversity. Studio Egret West developed detailed designs for the retained tower, providing high-quality homes with private balconies, communal terraces, and a rooftop conservatory. Community engagement has been central, ensuring the neighbourhood reflects local priorities.
Design quality is emphasised through scale, proportion, and the relationship between architecture and landscape. Buildings maximise daylight, ventilation, and views, with over 85% of homes designed to be dual aspect. Environmental modelling informed the massing and orientation of blocks, balancing density with comfort. The project represents a £1 billion investment, demonstrating large-scale application of circular design principles for environmental, social, and economic value.
Key collaborators include Walsh, Studio Egret West, Turley, TPS, Montague Evans, Greenage, Buro Happold, Neighbourly Lab, Michael Grubb Studio, and others, ensuring a comprehensive approach to planning, design, and sustainability.
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