Brentford Waterside

Appointed by the London Borough of Hounslow, BDP designed this mixed-use development forming the affordable housing provision within a wider masterplan for Brentford Waterside, and providing the key town centre block linking Brentford High Street to the waterfront.

Our proposals build on the masterplan and address our client’s objectives to maximise the number of affordable homes including units at the social rent level, with a mix focused on 2-beds and 3-beds as per the Council’s housing need.

The design is tenure-blind providing 96 new homes with 1,225sqm of new high street retail as well as car parking, residential entrances and service areas above which three residential buildings are set around south-facing landscaped podium gardens.

Working to a tight programme: We delivered the detailed planning consent within eight months to enable the CPO process for the wider masterplan. We exchanged information and received advice from the Council’s legal team during pre-planning to ensure the proposals would not be open to legal challenge. Through regular pre-app meetings, the housing and planning teams at Hounslow were kept informed of the emerging design creating efficiency in the process.

Demolition of existing buildings: The Council was keen to maximise the number of homes and our early studies demonstrated the benefits of demolishing the existing buildings, which the masterplan proposed to retain. We engaged with the planning department and Conservation Officer, Community Groups and the local historic society to demonstrate the public benefits of redeveloping the entire site. Through high quality, design, an uplift of 26 social rented homes compared to the masterplan was achieved in the final consent.

Responding to future changes in the building regulations: During the pre-planning design process, the Council asked us to consider specifying a sprinkler system for the housing. We proactively reviewed the fire strategy with a fire specialist and the requirements for the integration of the sprinklers.

Maximising the quantum of family housing: Late in the design process, we introduced duplex units with roof gardens to the top of the building by adding an additional storey without extending the main circulation cores. This proved extremely efficient and provided good quality family homes split over two levels.

Space efficient design of the homes: All the homes meet London Plan standards. However, as they are social rented it is expected they will be at maximum occupancy. Therefore, we maximised the sense of space for example modular bathrooms with sliding pocket doors to create more useable space in rooms.