Brent Cross Plot 12 202, London Borough of Barnet for Related Argent and L&Q with Maccreanor Lavington, Whittam Cox Architects, AKTII, Sweco and All Clear

Brent Cross Plot 12 202, London Borough of Barnet for Related Argent and L&Q with Maccreanor Lavington, Whittam Cox Architects, AKTII, Sweco and All Clear

 

Conductor House and The Delamarre are the first buildings delivered in Brent Cross Town, a major regeneration project by Related Argent and Barnet Council. These buildings set an architectural benchmark, defining a vibrant high street edge while creating a green, community-focused environment. Conductor House delivers 120 homes (92 affordable rent and 18 through shared equity or ownership), while The Delamarre provides 170 market sale apartments.

 

 

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community? 

 

Brent Cross Town, a partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council, marks one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects transforming 180 acres of underutilised brownfield land into a new park town for north-west London. Maccreanor Lavington’s Conductor House and The Delamarre are the very first buildings completed in this masterplan, setting the architectural and placemaking benchmark for all that will follow.
 
Located in one of London’s most diverse neighbourhoods, the project turns an ambitious masterplan into a tangible, vibrant reality. Together, these two buildings define the new high street edge and the park frontage, creating a dynamic and welcoming place that announces the emerging town centre. They balance urban energy with a leafy, residential character to form a place that feels grounded, green, and distinctly local.
 
Conductor House delivers 120 affordable homes, while The Delamarre provides 170 market sale apartments, both arranged around a new pocket park that encourages play, relaxation, and community connection. This generous shared green space fosters social interaction, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging for new and existing residents alike.
 
A revitalised park network reinforces the neighbourhood’s green and social ambitions. Claremont Park integrates a pond and playground while the Exploratory Park celebrates the joy of play and sports for children and adults alike.
 
As the first phase of Brent Cross Town, these buildings provide more than homes-they embody values of sustainability, inclusion, and quality. They set a new standard for design, environmental performance, and community integration, acting as a catalyst for the town’s transformation.

 

Is the project innovative or creative in its design or purpose? What does it do well in terms of serving its people?  

 

Being the first two buildings to be completed at Brent Cross Town, Conductor House and The Delamarre are inherently innovative, transforming the ambitions of the masterplan into a reality. They set the design and placemaking benchmark for what follows, demonstrating how early delivery can shape identity, and establish quality within an evolving community.
 
 An important part of the Brent Cross Town masterplan is the creation of a new High Street a dynamic heart leading to Market Square. The vision called for strong urban character and high density, without overwhelming the pedestrian experience. To achieve this, Maccreanor Lavington proposed alternating seven- or eight-storey frontages with taller corner elements, creating a lively rhythm that emulates the additive quality of traditional high streets. Along the park edge, the massing is articulated as a series of elegant urban villas that overlook green spaces and transition gracefully to the existing homes along Clitterhouse Crescent.
 
 Both buildings connect to the development’s district energy centre, providing low-carbon heating and hot water via a centralised network. Conductor House delivers 120 homes, including 92 for affordable rent, ensuring inclusive growth and continuity for residents.
 
 At street level, active frontages with retail and café units animate the public realm, while a shared pocket park fosters play, relaxation, and interaction. Ground floor apartments have individual front doors with porches, offering passive surveillance to residential streets. This blend of design, sustainability, and social value exemplifies what it means to be a good neighbour and sets a new standard for community-driven urban development.

 

Please describe the programme of the building, and how its design serves this use. Please also explain whether the future viability of this use has been considered. How might the building be repurposed to other uses? 

 

The programme of Conductor House and The Delamarre has been carefully designed to integrate residential, social, and commercial functions, while creating a coherent identity as a single unit despite their distinct typologies. Together, the two buildings provide a mix of affordable, replacement, and shared-ownership homes. Conductor House delivers 120 homes, 92 for affordable rent and 18 for shared equity or ownership, addressing the urgent need for high-quality, inclusive housing and fostering a socially diverse community.
 
The layout and massing of both buildings respond directly to their programme. Apartments are arranged to maximise daylight, privacy, and views into the pocket park, while circulation and access remain legible and intuitive. Ground-floor spaces are activated with flexible retail and café units, supporting local enterprise and creating a vibrant street presence. Future viability has been embedded into the design. Connection to the district energy centre ensures low-carbon heating and hot water, reducing long-term operating costs and environmental impact, and keeping service charges low for residents. The flexible ground-floor units are designed to accommodate a variety of uses over time, responding to the evolving needs of the neighbourhood and sustaining economic vitality. Residential layouts, with generous room proportions and adaptable internal layouts, also allow for future conversion or reconfiguration if required.
 
By uniting two distinct buildings into a cohesive residential block, the design achieves both architectural unity and functional adaptability. This approach ensures that the buildings will continue to serve residents, and the wider community thus providing a resilient model for high-quality, mixed-tenure urban living.