Brooke House, a new residential development by GRID architects, has completed in Acton, west London, delivering 102 100% affordable homes for women on behalf of Women’s Pioneer Housing (WPH) in partnership with L&Q. The 15-storey building replaces an outdated estate of 39 flats with a significantly expanded and future-facing housing offer, tailored to the needs of single women in London.
The project’s name also reflects this legacy. Previously known as Brook House, it was renamed Brooke House in a subtle reference to Emma Brooke, the 19th-century novelist and campaigner for women’s and workers’ rights. This connection is carried into the building’s entrance foyer through a mural by award-winning printmaker and illustrator Eliza Southwood, developed in close collaboration with residents. The colourful artwork celebrates women past, present and future at work and at leisure, with Emma Brooke depicted prominently in the foreground.
Located on Gunnersbury Lane, the scheme provides 100 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom homes, more than doubling the capacity of the original site while substantially improving living standards. All homes meet contemporary space standards, are accessible and adaptable over time, and are supported by shared amenities that promote wellbeing and a sense of community.
Developed in close consultation with residents, the project directly addresses the shortcomings of the previous accommodation, where units fell below minimum space standards and offered limited accessibility. At Brooke House, all existing residents have been offered a new home, with apartments that are significantly larger, dual aspect, and better suited to independent living as needs evolve. Ten homes are fully wheelchair accessible, while features such as lifts, step-free access and dedicated mobility scooter storage support an ageing resident profile.
The scheme is underpinned by a clear social ambition: to provide safe, secure and affordable homes for women who might otherwise be excluded from the housing market. Women’s Pioneer Housing, founded in 1920 by suffragists, continues its long-standing mission to support single women through access to high-quality housing. Brooke House reflects this legacy in a contemporary context, responding to ongoing challenges around affordability, housing insecurity and access to suitable accommodation for single occupants in London.
Architecturally, the building is composed as a series of interrelated forms, with a 15-storey central element flanked by lower wings that respond sensitively to the surrounding landscape and neighbouring buildings. The material palette draws on the local context, combining red brick with lighter horizontal bands formed from 600mm-long linear white concrete GeoBricks to create a cohesive and legible façade. The design references the nearby Art Deco Gunnersbury Court through its symmetry, expressed entrances and carefully detailed brickwork, while establishing a distinct identity appropriate to its civic role.
A key aspect of the scheme is its landscape-led approach. The majority of existing mature trees have been retained, informing both the massing of the building and the organisation of external spaces. A series of gardens – including sensory, activity and woodland zones – provide opportunities for residents to spend time outdoors, while a communal roof garden offers accessible planting areas above the tree line. Together, these spaces support both social interaction and quieter moments of retreat, contributing to residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.
The development adopts a low-energy strategy, incorporating air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), photovoltaic panels and waste water heat recovery systems. The building is fully electric, with no reliance on gas, and is designed to reduce operational energy use while improving comfort and air quality.
Delivered by HG Construction, the project was completed ahead of programme and reflects a collaborative approach between client, design team and delivery partners. Brooke House is conceived as long-term social infrastructure – balancing density with dignity, and addressing both immediate housing need and the evolving requirements of its residents.
Project lead and GRID director, Colin Veitch, added:
“Brooke House is the result of a highly collaborative process with Women’s Pioneer Housing, L&Q and the wider project team, shaped through ongoing dialogue with residents. The ambition from the outset was to replace outdated accommodation with homes that are not only larger and more efficient, but genuinely supportive of long-term, independent living. It’s rewarding to see that realised in a building that improves day-to-day life while contributing positively to the wider neighbourhood.”
