Grant Associates has been appointed to take forward the detailed design and oversee the delivery of the landscape and public realm for The Brentford Project, a long-anticipated waterfront regeneration in west London.
The Brentford Project aims to revitalise the town centre and establish an exciting retail, leisure and culinary scene, building on Brentford’s rich industrial heritage.
The scheme will create a unique opportunity for riverside living, providing homes with views across the surrounding landscape, water and greenery of west London, sitting alongside leisure and wellbeing spaces. Throughout the neighbourhood, great focus is being placed on creating homes that are surrounded by greenery, new public spaces and vibrant public realm.
The architecture by AHMM, Glenn Howells Architects and Maccreanor Lavington is inspired by the area’s industrial and waterside heritage. Landscape architect practice Grant Associates’ role will be to take forward the masterplan and public realm strategy to reinforce a sense of place and offer an inclusive and welcoming environment for local residents, Londoners and visitors.
The new neighbourhood is driven by a landscape and heritage strategy which re-imagines the character of the industrial site’s historic yards and lanes, together with reconnecting Brentford High Street to the River Brent, Grand Union Canal and the Thames Path. The landscape and waterfront will provide an ecological and artistic focus for Brentford and London, and an active and vibrant place to live, walk through and use. The existing character of the working waterfront and canal, the intimate urban spaces and historic materials, together with the riparian ecology, provide the design language for a revitalised public realm and streetscape.
“From the beginning, the vision for The Brentford Project has been to reinforce the connection from the high street to the water’s edge, and within it create a new riverside hub and community. The landscape and public realm are essential ingredients of this vision and to help establish a beautiful and active place to live, socialise and play. The Waterfront will be brought back to life with people and nature, and together with the Yards will reinforce a sense of place and offer an inclusive destination for local residents and Londoners.”
Keith French, Director at Grant Associates
Workhouse Dock, an existing but neglected mooring on the River Brent, will be rejuvenated with 24-hour moorings, restaurants, pubs and cafés, alongside seating terraces for local events and providing access to the water for kayaks and paddleboards. Nearby St Lawrence Gardens will be transformed into a tranquil retreat with a central garden space framed by a cloister walk together with a woodland play space and residents’ outdoor pool.
A series of raised podium gardens for residents will be interspersed throughout Workhouse Dock, each with its own distinctive planting character and feel, with Waterfront Square designed as a space to bring the community together, with dedicated spaces for outdoor markets, performance and public events.
Image and Text Credits: Grant Associates
