The Brentford Project, Hounslow – Ballymore with AHMM, Glenn Howells Architects, Maccreanor Lavington and Grant Associates

Spanning nearly 12 acres and encompassing the south side of the high street, The Brentford Project will inject new energy into the locality, reconnect the town centre with the water, and create a social a ‘walkable neighbourhood’, with 11 high-density, low-rise buildings, encompassing residential, retail, employment, community and leisure uses, alongside public realm.

 

 

Who is on the project team? 

 

• Architects (masterplan) - AHMM, Glenn Howells Architects and Maccreanor Lavington 

• Amos & Amos (residents’ amenities)

• Grant Associates (landscaping)

 

Describe the context of this project and its neighbourhood and people?

 

Historically, Brentford has been overlooked and neglected, with a run-down high street, no identifiable centre and a number of derelict, abandoned buildings - an area overshadowed by its affluent neighbours, Chiswick, Richmond and Kew. 

 

Despite its location at the apex of the River Thames and the River Brent, it’s not immediately obvious that Brentford is a waterside neighbourhood, and there is a significant disconnect between the High Street and the waterfront, due to a long parade of buildings acting as a visual blockade. 

 

More widely, Brentford is a major business hub, with many global brands headquartered along the Great West Road and at nearby Chiswick Park. Its transport links to central London and local abundance of green space, including Kew Gardens and Syon Park across the water, and Richmond and Gunnersbury Parks, is also a draw.

 

At the start of the project, a lengthy planning and CPO process meant there was confusion and lack of confidence amongst the community regarding delivery of the project. The town has a strong and engaged community, including several active local groups, all highly invested in the future of the area, and coupled with the community’s disillusion on the project, there was significant need to involve them as early as possible. 

 

As such, the community has played a key role in the development of the plans and vision for the neighbourhood – including ensuring it celebrates the town’s rich industrial heritage and supports and enhances the existing creative community.

 

Please describe your approach to this future place and its mix of uses. How will it function as a vibrant place? How does it knit into, and serve the needs of, the wider area? 

 

Spanning 11.8 acres and encompassing the south side of the high street, The Brentford Project will inject new energy into the locality, reconnect the town centre with the water, and create a social and cultural hub. 

 

The Brentford Project includes just 11 high-density, low-rise buildings, encompassing much-needed residential, retail, employment, community and leisure uses, alongside public realm. 

 

Informing the approach is the concept of the ‘walkable neighbourhood’, with the aim of creating a place in which residents – existing and new – can (and want to) stay local. 

 

Architecture by AHMM, Glenn Howells Architects and Maccreanor Lavington, it features a variety of architecture and typologies reflective of the area’s richness - bringing together a mix of characteristics, old and new, rather than having an individual landmark building. Instead, it focuses on choreographing the experience of living in or visiting Brentford.

 

The site layout is designed to meet the requirements of modern living, now and in the future, and establishes distinct yet cohesive, connected pockets for specific uses, including: 

 

- Revitalised high street – with a major supermarket and traditional retailers offering the everyday essentials 

 

- Pedestrianised yards and lanes - following a historic pattern, dedicated to supporting emerging local businesses and budding entrepreneurs, including a range of boutiques, independents, artisans and craftspeople 

 

- The waterfront - opened up with thoughtful public realm, creating a dynamic culinary offering with a variety of restaurants, cafés and bars, alongside extensions to the Thames path that open up new waterside walking routes

 

What is the environmental impact of the project? How will the carbon use and material impact of the development be mitigated? What is the sustainability strategy? 

 

Ballymore’s sustainability efforts run across the entire business and all aspects of its strategy, with a particular focus on three key areas: people, communities and resources. Its vision is aligned with nine of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Ballymore is currently in the process of developing its Environmental Social Governance framework, applying many new principles to The Brentford Project. 

 

At The Brentford Project, Ballymore has employed strong re-use of existing buildings, which contributes to a lower embodied carbon for the project and achieved significant operational carbon reductions with a high efficiency heating system. Working with specialist district heating consultants, Ballymore has increased the system’s performance specification to reduce heat losses, minimize energy use and avoid overheating. 

 

Building fabric is designed to exceptional high standards with low air leakage and high-performance insulation, allowing for very low energy use in operation. The building façades feature high level acoustic protection and provide for greater health and wellbeing of residents. 

 

In addition, the majority of construction waste is recycled, and on-site energy is managed to minimize use. 

 

There is a high urban greening factor with waterside public spaces that are focused on delivering greater health and wellbeing standards than found in many London projects. 

 

Flood plain improvements will also be made to address implications of the climate emergency, designed to reduce the impact of flooding from the overflow of the river.

 

Describe the social impact of the project: How will this future place contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of its citizens? 

 

Ballymore undertook extensive research on Brentford’s demographic to ensure the future place will cater for the true demographic of the area across age, cultural and socio-economic diversity. The design responds to the changing ways people interact with the high street, with the approach viewed from a social and utility perspective.

 

Brentford is designated within the draft London plan as a key centre with high growth-potential in both the commercial and residential sectors. As such, new offices, homes and amenities are required to support the forecast local employment growth (including hundreds of jobs generated at The Brentford Project itself and many more via suppliers). The site delivers 876 homes and much-needed local amenity, including a major supermarket (Morrisons), 40+ retailers, restaurants, bars, cafés and leisure facilities. 

 

Five acres of new landscaping, increased access to blue and green space with extensions to the Thames Path and restoration of two neglected docks, and extensive new community-led spaces will support residents’ social wellbeing and mental health.

 

Ongoing community initiatives and engagement programmes provide support and opportunities for local businesspeople. Ballymore gifted a warehouse to local entrepreneur, Duke of London, to expand its business, which in part is dedicated to affordable workspaces and studios for local creatives and start-ups. Ballymore also supported Duke of London in its takeover as publican of The Brewery Tap – ensuring the local favourite remains open and a key part of Brentford’s music scene. A free exhibition space in the information centre showcases works from neighbouring artist collective, Johnsons Island.