Quayside House, London
Partnering successfully delivers a mixed use, mixed tenure development

Client: Stadium Housing Association
Location: North Kensington, London

Project Description

Exterior of Quayside House, London Under a PPC2000 partnering contract, we delivered a development of 108 new homes and 6,000m2 of commercial accommodation on time and on budget

Stadium Housing Association’s Quayside House in North Kensington is one of the largest affordable housing schemes in London. Developed on a two acre brownfield site, it combines 108 new homes for rental and shared ownership with 6,000m2 of offices and studios aimed at the creative industries. Stadium identified the potential of the site and acquired it in 2002. Previously the McKay Trading Estate, it occupies land located between the Grand Union Canal and the busy Kensal Rise. Local planners were keen to retain employment opportunities on this site, but Stadium wanted to provide accommodation for low income families.

The Solution

Quayside House, London The solution is a six-storey building where ground and first floor provide work space, suitable for studios and offices aimed at small and start up businesses, with homes for rent, and shared ownership occupying the other four floors. On the second floor, a podium level divides into 3 courtyards (2 with play areas), which in turn lead to 12 shared staircases that lead to 108 individual flats, most of which overlook or have views of the canal.

Key Features

Through close working between ourselves, architects APT Partnership and other partners, we were able to value engineer the design to improve buildability and meet the client’s £25 million budget. For example:

  • we relocated the optical fibre cable
  • we redesigned the service road to avoid moving services, saving £100,000
  • we constructed the retaining wall to the canal with silent sheet piling, which eliminated the possibility of damage to nearby National Grid cables and reduced disruption to neighbouring residents and businesses
  • we used comfort cooling as an alternative to more costly and complex air-conditioning in the commercial accommodation
  • we used a structural waterproof membrane in preference to asphalt in the construction of the flats. Not only does this improve waterproofing but it speeded up and gave certainty to the programme
  • The overall design promotes sustainability, with e.g. low energy boilers and warm roof construction

Quayside House is a pioneering development whose mixed use and mixed tenure accommodation fit well with the social and economic make-up of the neighbourhood. Not only does it provide new homes for local people on low incomes, but it is helping to revitalise an area in need of investment and regeneration.

Contact The Innovator

Paul Carter
Paul led the project team responsible for the successful delivery of Quayside House.

Wates Group, Wates House,
Station Approach,
Leatherhead Surrey KT22 7SW
Tel: 01372 861000