First Phase of £600 Million South Kilburn Masterplan Completes

PRP Architects, London Borough of Brent and L&Q have recently completed the first stage of their £600 million, 48 hectare regeneration masterplan scheme in South Kilburn, Brent.

The complex, named Watling Place, features 113 affordable, 20 shared ownership and 20 private sale homes including 24 family maisonettes and 7 family apartments. The development showcases the 'ethos' of the London Borough of Brent by delivering high quality, tenure blind housing and sets a design precedent for future phases in South Kilburn.

PRP's design delivers dramatically expressed 11 storey blocks in strategic positions along Albert Road. These prominent buildings create key vistas from South Kilburn's future focal point, an extended park in the heart of the masterplan.  The spaces between the towers are occupied by smaller, lower-rise buildings which sit like a series of concertinaed, interlinking blocks each with their own identity yet working collectively.

The design showcases a modern feel and a distinctive design, positioned to increase natural sunlight and also decrease the level of noise from the nearby station.  The materials were chosen for robustness, longevity and quality, with the key taller blocks expressed dramatically in an Italian porcelain clay composite rain screen cladding system, made up of five different colours. The project acts as an exemplar to demonstrate that high quality materials and details can be used and procured within the constraints of affordable housing and a limited budget.

Bhupinder Singh Chawla, Associate Director at PRP commented

"Watling Place demonstrates that high quality design and delivery using superior materials can be achieved within the confines of a challenging budget. The scheme provides the highest standard of housing for residents and the uplifting impact to the surrounding area is immediately apparent."

The complex meets the Code for Sustainable Homes 4* with sustainable features ranging from photovoltaic panels and triple glazed windows to green roofs and increased sound insulation. Achieving high levels of thermal insulation was an important element of the scheme and so it was designed to maximise thermal mass and prevent overheating.

Communal gardens create a series of multifunctional spaces for the community of Watling Place that include incidental natural play, beds of native and scented planting, plus paving and decking to provide areas for all weather seating.

Adam Simpson, Assistant Director at L&Q commented

"Completion of Watling Place is testament to the many years of hard work and perseverance of all involved in the scheme.  L&Q is proud to deliver these high quality homes that will transform the lives of local people.  The distinctive design creates a striking local landmark, and really sets the standard for future phases of development within the masterplan."

Andy Donald, Director of Regeneration and Major Projects at the London Borough of Brent added

"This is a fantastic scheme – the regeneration of South Kilburn is already transforming the area and is having a really positive impact on local people's lives. Regeneration gives people better quality homes and brings more opportunities and jobs into the area. That is why it is front and centre of everything we do in Brent."