News

At nearly 500 flats, the consented Euro House development is one of the largest residential schemes that Dominvs Group has taken through planning.

Located just a few minutes walk from Wembley Stadium, the 540,000 sq ft Euro House development is designed by architect AHMM.

Located on former warehouse site at Fulton Road, it plans to build four brick-clad buildings, rising from 11 to 21 storey, containing one, two and three bedroom apartments of which 98 provide affordable housing and the balance private sale.

Design inspired by the grand Edwardian-era mansion buildings and warehouses of central London and Manhattan

The flagship London development has been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Husnell Ahluwalia, Director of Dominvs Group said: “The timing of this planning consent on the Euro House development in Wembley Park has been perfect, co-inciding with the announcement and introduction of a C0vid-19 vaccine.

“There has been a strong return of confidence that by Spring 2021 we will start to see a return to normality, which will unlock significant pent-up buyer demand in the London housing market, and Dominvs Group now has a major consented scheme on this site ready for a strong market.”

The proposals will deliver 454 homes, including 40% affordable, and improvements to the public realm and new operational space for TfL.

The scheme, which covers a 1.6-acre site, has been designed by Tate Hindle architects and will be delivered across five buildings.

The design has a focus on sustainability – with green and biodiverse roofs as well as wildlife-friendly landscaping such as bird boxes and bee bricks included.

Emma Hatch, senior property development manager at TfL, said: “This is the second project with Barratt London and builds on our track record for delivering much-needed new homes in the capital.

“Our first homes at Blackhorse View in Waltham Forest started selling earlier this year, showing our developments have been designed thoughtfully with both the community and residents in mind.”

Jim Wood, London Operations Managing Director at Barratt London, said: “It is a great privilege to be delivering this development in partnership with Transport for London, and we are looking forward to starting work onsite for the project in 2021.”

Remediation contractor Provectus is at work on the site while Berkeley is out to tender for groundworks and concrete frame contractors on the first phases.

At its peak, more than 1,000 construction workers will be on site – with an estimated 8,000 jobs created in total during the construction process and over 250 apprenticeships.

The first phase of construction work at the 26ha site is focused on Evergreen Point, which will provide 205 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Construction will also begin on a new entrance for West Ham station, due to complete in 2023, the development’s community hub and landscaping around Evergreen Point.

High-rise Evergreen Point building with planned community hub

Berkeley has imposed strict sustainability goals on contractors.

At least 95% of the waste generated will be recycled, while 100% of timber will be sourced from sustainably managed forests.

On site, remediation will also enable over 40,000m3 of soil to be reused on site rather than sent to landfill.

Land remediation is progressing as Berkeley tenders early civils packages

All the carbon emissions generated from onsite construction will be monitored and offset via verified carbon offsetting schemes, to enable the site to be carbon positive.

Berkeley is also aiming to use modular construction and off-site solutions where possible, in order to make the build programme as efficient as it can be.

The project also involves building a new community centre, a retail and leisure quarter and a new base for the East London Science School.

Berkeley is also working together with housing association Peabody to deliver 40% affordable housing, including shared ownership opportunities.

Justin Tibaldi, divisional managing director at Berkeley Homes (Capital), said: “Our approach is to adopt best practice every step of the way and we aim to be world-class when it comes to sustainability, delivering this vital scheme in a way which is carbon positive, as well as providing a development which brings lasting community benefits.”

The first homes, at Evergreen Point, are due to be completed and ready for occupation by 2024.

The new strategy unveiled by chair Sharon White aims to generate 40% of future profits from areas such as financial services and private and affordable housing by 2030.

First planning applications will be submitted in the new year for sites in London where John Lewis would become the landlord once housing is built.

John Lewis is looking at building flats above or around stores.

White said: “We’ve identified 20 sites we own that could be used to benefit local communities by providing quality and sustainable housing while providing a stable income for the Partnership.

“We’ll make planning applications for two of these in the new year in greater London.

“Entering the ‘build to rent’ market also allows us to furnish properties using John Lewis Home products and deliver Waitrose food.

“We’re a landlord already at three of our properties so this is an obvious extension for us. And we’re now talking to developers and investors who can help us achieve our ambitions.”

The five-year recovery and growth plan for the retailer will also see £1bn invested, split equally between modernising and refitting its shop estate and transforming its online offer.

White said she hoped the plan would see the business reach £200m profit by the end of year two and £400m by end of year five.

Pre-construction work has just started on the 24 private and 12 affordable housing units, as well as some commercial space.

Anthony Franks,  Steyn Group managing director, said: “Steyn Group is looking forward to delivering this fantastic asset in partnership with Murphy and City Inc.

“The product is a reflection of many years of hard work by our teams and we couldn’t be more excited about our expansion into our home city of London.”

The project is expected to be completed by Summer 2022.

Murphy’s Building Director Bryan McNamee said “We’re really pleased to be starting this challenging project with a new client, right on the doorstep of our London HQ.

“The scheme presents the type of engineering challenges and quality finish we enjoy delivering upon. We’ve already got boots on the ground and have started to get to work on delivering this fantastic scheme.”

The latest update comes as the Crossrail Board said: “Delivery of the Elizabeth line is now in its complex final stages and is being completed at a time of great uncertainty due to the risks and potential impacts of further Covid outbreaks.”

The board said the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood will be ready to open in “the first half of 2022.”

The line was originally due to open in December 2018.

Latest budget estimates show that the cost to complete the project could be up to £1.1bn above the latest agreed finance package taking the total beyond £19bn.

Crossrail said it is planning to start intensive operational testing “at the earliest opportunity in 2021.”

The board blamed the latest delays on:

• Routeway: we have had lower than planned productivity in the final completion and handover of the shafts and portals. The shafts and portals form a critical part of the routeway and contain many of the complex operating systems for the Elizabeth line. We have now completed handover of eight of the ten shafts and portals to TfL and will complete handover of the final two this autumn.
• Stations: as more detailed plans for the completion and handover of the ten central section stations have developed, we have revised our previous schedule assumptions about the pace at which these large and complex stations can be handed over to TfL. The completion and handover of all the stations in the central section is a monumental task – in our updated plan we have phased the transfer of stations to take account the scale of this undertaking.
• COVID-19: Covid has further exacerbated the schedule pressures due to a pause of physical activity on sites during lockdown to keep the workforce safe and significant constraints on ongoing work and productivity due to the reduced numbers that can work on site to meet strict social distancing requirements. We now have a maximum of around 2,000 people on our sites, less than 50 per cent of our pre-Covid complement.

Crossrail said it is undertaking “a period of intensive construction activity during August and September to complete the remaining construction works in the routeway for Trial Running.”

Mark Wild, Chief Executive, Crossrail Ltd, said: “Our focus remains on opening the Elizabeth line as soon as possible. Now more than ever Londoners are relying on the capacity and connectivity that the Elizabeth line will bring, and we are doing everything possible to deliver the railway as safely and quickly as we can.

“We have a comprehensive plan to complete the railway and we are striving to commence intensive operational testing for the Elizabeth line, known as Trial Running, at the earliest opportunity.

“Delivery of the Elizabeth line is now in its complex final stages and is being completed at a time of great uncertainty due to the risk and potential impacts of further Covid outbreaks.

“We are working tirelessly to complete the remaining infrastructure works so that we can fully test the railway and successfully transition the project as an operational railway to Transport for London.”

Andy Byford, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “It is very disappointing to receive confirmation from Crossrail Ltd that their plan for opening the Elizabeth Line now has a date of the first half of 2022.

“The line will transform travel across London and is vital to supporting jobs, homes and businesses across the capital. I will now work with my team and the DfT to review Crossrail’s plans.

“I have been very clear that I am committed to getting this railway open safely and reliably as quickly as possible for the benefit of London and beyond.”

The specialist brownfield developer is in talks with Defence Infrastructure Organisation chiefs to buy the 36.7 acre Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow West London.

Completion of the deal is subject to vacant possession and anticipated to be in August 2021.

Inland Homes expects to make a planning application for a residentially led mixed-use scheme of over 1,000 homes within the next six months.

The Group will manage the planning and development process on behalf of the equity investors on this project and will be entitled to receive a significant share of the development profit from the £600m development.

The site currently operates as an occupational military barracks and is the home of the Irish Guards who are relocating to Aldershot.

The site is a historically important military establishment with a formal parade ground, specifically built to house soldiers and stable horses.

The Barracks comprises over 37 acres of land and includes 14 Grade II listed buildings and 19 locally listed buildings together with over 439 existing residential accommodation units.

The entire site is allocated for a major mixed-use development via a development brief adopted by the London Borough of Hounslow.

Inland chief executive Stephen Wicks said: “This is our fifth MOD transaction and the largest to date.  We have an excellent track record in the early delivery of homes on sites such as this, a significant proportion of which will be affordable, which is particularly important in London Boroughs like Hounslow.”

Barney Hillsdon, Principal at Avison Young who acted on behalf of the DIO added: “This is a fantastic result for both the DIO and Inland during a very difficult time in the market.

“The site will deliver much needed private and affordable homes for London and will offer a diverse range of product to the market due to the retained heritage buildings on the site”.

Thames Tideway has now assessed the impact of the lockdown and more restricted working practices on the vast project.

It has warned shareholders that the project will be pushed back nine months into the first half of 2025.

Project engineers now estimate that Covid-19 will add £233m to costs, taking the expected final project budget to £4.13bn.

Tideway is in discussions with regulator Ofwat over a package of measures to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19 on the company.

“We are making progress in these discussions and we expect to reach a full agreement in the coming months,” said a spokeman.

Following a temporary pause of all but essential works at the start of the lockdown, construction work recommenced on the majority of Tideway’s worksites in May, but at a lower level of activity in order to comply with social distancing requirements.

The project is approaching 60% completion and still in peak construction.

Immediately opposite the new Crossrail station, North Quay is the largest undeveloped site remaining at Canary Wharf and will be built out with around seven high-rise blocks.

Masterplanned by architects Allies and Morrison, the site is earmarked as a mixed-use district with up to 2.5m sq ft of office and 1.6m sq ft of residential space.

All new homes will be net-zero carbon while office buildings will target BREEAM Outstanding level for sustainability.

Outline plans have just been submitted to Tower Hamlets Borough Council for approval.

Under the provisional timetable, enabling works could begin by the end of 2021. Development works will then be undertaken in several phases between 2021 and 2029.

Previously inaccessible dockside will form the backbone of the design providing a 250m east-west waterside promenade.

The development plans at North Quay are in addition to a further 2m sq ft CWG has underway in construction projects and a further 2.5m sq ft in design.

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of Canary Wharf Group, said: “North Quay is a unique location and one of the largest single development sites in London.

“This will be a fantastic addition to the Canary Wharf estate and offer an exceptional environment for a range of occupiers and sectors including health and life sciences, technology, media, financial or business services organisations.

“In a dynamic and unpredictable world, the extensive flexibility in this plan will enable us to respond quickly to market demand within a framework agreed with the local authority.”

The planning application has been made after a seven-month-long consultation with local residents and businesses.

Designed by architects Pilbrow and Partners, the proposals at Centre House include two landmark 22-storey and 32-storey buildings and a new curved crescent of housing.

Around a third of the homes will be affordable homes, allocated to staff at Imperial and other key workers.

The gateway project forms part of the wider 10 acre White City Living major regeneration scheme that will eventually provide more than 2,300 homes.

The planning consent follows more than two years of consultation and engagement with Hammersmith & Fulham Council and represents the next phase of the regeneration of White City.

Works will start on site in late autumn, with construction due to commence in 2021 and the first homes expected to be completed by 2024.

Sean Ellis, Chairman of St James Group, said: “Centre House is the final piece of the jigsaw in the White City masterplan and is pivotal in connecting the major regeneration projects that surround it.

“We have worked closely with Imperial College London and Hammersmith & Fulham Council to create a high-quality new vision for the site, providing a significant number of key worker and private sale homes.”