A residential-led, mixed-use scheme for Westminster City Council, Harrow Road is an ambitious regeneration project intrinsically focused upon placemaking and substantially enhancing the social environment for the community. Comprising of three new blocks that scale up to 16-storeys, the scheme delivers 112 affordable homes, a nursery, new community centre, canal-side café, and start-up office space. The project is located within an existing council estate and sited on what was formerly a tarmacked car parking area, constrained by complex 4m level change and limited points of access.

To address the varied scale and character of the surrounding context, the build was split accommodation into three main blocks. The tallest element references and relates to the 60s tower blocks, acting as a marker at the key junction of the canal and Harrow Road. The massing then steps down in height, stitching into the lower context to the south. A palette of harmonious, but varied, brick tones helps articulate the three main blocks. Glazed brick and terracotta are used as an accent material across all three blocks, tying together the overall development.

Harrow Road demonstrates the unique opportunities that arise when councils are able to deliver on their own land. The opportunity to reshape the public realm and help address wider strategic goals was the starting point for the project. This resulted in new pedestrian routes, play facilities, a new public plaza and wider pavements that will transform this corner of the Harrow Road and access to the adjacent canal. “The proposals for Harrow Road are some of the best I’ve seen, it is a remarkably good scheme, very imaginative, and the overall development is so impressive.” — Cllr Guthrie McKie, City of Westminster Planning Committee