September saw the long-anticipated launch of The Brentford Project, a new West London waterfront development uniquely located at the meeting point of the River Thames and the River Brent.
Spanning 11.8 acres in the very heart of Brentford, The Brentford Project, by Ballymore, will breathe fresh life into the neighbourhood, opening up previously undiscovered routes and transforming Brentford town centre.
With works now underway, this significant regeneration will deliver 876 homes alongside expansive, beautifully-designed landscaped spaces and an invigorated stretch of the high street offering a unique dining, entertainment and shopping scene of over 50 new retail spaces.
Inspired by the area’s waterfront heritage, the regeneration project will incorporate just 11 buildings and reinstate Brentford’s historic connections to the water via a series of distinctive pedestrianised lanes and yards, paying homage to the area’s integral role in industrial London’s past.
A true West London gem, Brentford borders the picturesque neighbourhoods of Richmond, Chiswick and Kew, surrounded by green open space including the 300 acres of Kew Gardens and the 200 acres of Syon Park. Despite its leafy surroundings, central London and all it has to offer is also within easy reach.
Reimagining a historic West London neighbourhood
The revitalised high street will incorporate all the amenities desired for modern living, with a selection of market-leading retailers, alongside a major supermarket, boutique cinema and traditional shops including a bakery, greengrocer and butcher.
Meanwhile, a series of characterful yards and lanes have been designed to seamlessly reconnect the high street with the waterfront. The peaceful passageways of the lanes will be dedicated to supporting emerging local businesses, home to a variety of boutiques, independent retailers, artisans, craftspeople and budding entrepreneurs.
Down by the water, thoughtful public realm and an eclectic range of restaurants, cafés and pubs will line the frontage, creating a dynamic culinary offering. Extensions to the Thames path will open up new walking routes along the water’s edge.
The Brentford Project will also bring a host of community spaces, in particular with the transformation of the Grade II* Listed St Lawrence’s Church – a forgotten masterpiece originally designed by renowned Brentford architect, Thomas Hardwick. A hidden gem which dates back to the 15th Century, the church, with its dramatic vaulted ceiling, wooden arcading and striking rows of arches, is set to become a new focal point for Brentford as a cultural and foodie hub – designed to host a series of pop-ups, events and shows.
Set within the grounds of the significant church, St Lawrence Gardens will be innovatively reimagined as a sanctuary for residents and locals, bringing together existing mature trees, open spaces and thoughtful landscping with new, sensitively-designed covered walkways and porticos, as well an open air pool, to create a modern cloister – a one of a kind offering for the Brentford community. Alongside, a residents-only gym, spa and treatment rooms, all of which overlook the gardens, will complete the wellness offering.
Homes inspired by a rich history
With architecture by renowned practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, alongside Stirling Prize-recognised architects, Glenn Howells Architects and Maccreanor Lavington, The Brentford Project draws on the area’s heritage, inside and out. Echoing Brentford’s industrial past, features include cantilevered terraces to many apartments, alongside materials such as wood, concrete and iron.
The first collection of homes comprises a range of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each with contemporary, open plan layouts and floor-to-ceiling windows which frame the panoramic views across the water and the skyline beyond.
Apartments incorporate custom-designed kitchens with modular base and wall cabinets, Cloudburst concrete worktops and Italian-designed Bertazzoni four or five-ring range cookers – a rare feature in a new build home in London – all complemented by timber wall panelling. Textured European oak engineered floorboards feature throughout living spaces, while bathrooms boast marble floor tiles and brushed brass finishes.
John Mulryan, Group Managing Director at Ballymore, comments: “With its fascinating urban, rural and industrial heritage, the launch of The Brentford Project marks the first exciting step in realising our vision for Brentford as a revitalised waterside destination for West London.
“The project will bring fresh energy to the area in a way that honours and builds its historic past - as well as its abundance of creativity and culture – reinstating the lost connections between the high street and the waterfront. With a revitalised town centre, The Brentford Project will revive this well-connected pocket of London to create a place not just for people to live, but also to experience and enjoy.”
A centre for business and creativity:
Dominic Heaton-Watson, Associate Director, International Residential Project Marketing at Knight Frank Malaysia comments: “Residents of Brentford are ideally placed for connectivity across the capital, as well internationally. Trains from Brentford railway station take just 20 minutes to Clapham Junction and 28 minutes into London Waterloo, while the Piccadilly line from nearby Boston Manor Underground station puts local residents in Leicester Square in 32 minutes. For international travel, Heathrow Airport is just 25 minutes by road and is an important characteristic for our investor community in Kuala Lumpur.”
Brentford also enjoys a privileged location on the doorstep of some of London’s best-loved green spaces, including Syon Park, which leads to Kew Gardens, as well as Gunnersbury Park. With its unique network of waterways, the area offers a lifestyle not often found in London, be it paddle boarding, kayaking or a canal boat ride.
West London has long been a business and creative powerhouse, with the nearby Great West Road, often referred to as the Golden Mile, home to global businesses including GlaxoSmithKline, Sky, Sega, Warner Bros and Walt Disney. To the east of Brentford, in Chiswick Park, is the UK base for a range of industry-leading companies, from Paramount and Sony to Starbucks and Pernod Ricard. Prices at The Brentford Project start from £369,500. For further information on The Brentford Project, please visit: https://www.knightfrank.com.my/residential/buying-international-property/buying-london-property/the-brentford-project
