Making Sense of Site
The West End Gate residential development, located at 131-139 Church Street, London, W2 1NA, is a privately owned project designed by Squire and Partners, Farrow Huxley (Landscape Architects), and Scott Brownrigg. Berkeley Homes Ltd serves as the general contractor, supervising a network of subcontractors such as RECO Hoist, MPB, and OCL, which specialise in rental fleets, concrete relations, and facades, drylining, and recladding, respectively. The clientele for this project includes Berkeley Homes Ltd as the developer and private clients, with Wallacea, a notable external client specialising in Retirement Living, as a notable external client.
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The estimated project costs outline a substantial investment, with a land cost of 100 million, build costs ranging between 200-300 million, culminating in a total project cost of 450 million. Originally scheduled to begin in 2017 with a completion date of 2023, the timeline has been affected by the impact of COVID-19, resulting in a new completion date of 2025.
OUR TEAM
Meet the talented individuals behind Berkley: West End Gate
Peter Stewart
Townscape consultant
Board Director
Michael Dobson
Non-executive Chairman
Michele Greco
Associate Director
Squire and Partners
Xander Taylor
Project Planner at Berkeley
Main Contact
Companies involved
Berkeley Homes Ltd takes the lead on the West End Gate project, serving as client, developer, and main contractor. With eight blocks in play, multiple major architects take on different construction phases, demonstrating a collaborative approach for a successful and diverse development.
MPB: Sub-Contractor
One of the Sub-Contractors MPB can been seen consistently displayed through out the construction site. MPB Structures Limited is a family-owned private limited company that specialises in earthworks, drainage, substructure, reinforced concrete works, and civil engineering for railway infrastructure.
MPB warning signs are visible throughout the site. The MPB equipment can be easily identified by its distinctive logo.
Tp Bennett
Main Architect
The architect's appointment for the entire West End Gate project includes the choice of Tp Bennett as the primary architectural company. Within this position, Michael Squat concentrates on the technical aspects of the master plan, offering critical instructions to the Berkeley Group for the project's completion. Tp Bennett is in charge of moulding the visual and functional features of the development, as well as establishing design plans and ensuring compliance with legislation. On-site, architects are critical in ensuring that the design is correctly implemented. They inspect items such as the facade structure to ensure appropriate installation. Collaboration between architects and engineers is efficient, fostering a conflict-free environment and ensuring a smooth translation of the design vision into reality.
tp bennett is a multidisciplinary design firm noted for its skills in architecture, interior design, and planning. The firm's portfolio includes commercial, residential, healthcare, and educational projects.The company is known for its dedication to design excellence, sustainability, and innovation. tp bennett works with clients to design personalised and practical environments that match the unique requirements of each project.
The changing involvement of the main architects throughout the West End Gate project reflects the project's dynamic nature. Tp Bennett takes the lead at first, but as the project continues, Squire and Partners, as well as Scott Brownrigg, take over the role of main architects. This evolution emphasises the importance of a collaborative and flexible approach to ensuring the project's success across its various stages.
The professionals on-site and in meetings
The emphasis of site meetings is typically on coordination, with different teams accountable for different areas of the project. Each team concentrates on a different aspect of the development, which makes coordination more efficient. Teams hold site meetings with contractors to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the master development programme. Before beginning any work, this systematic technique requires following an initial sequence outlined in the programme. Coordination among teams and adherence to the master development programme lead to a streamlined workflow, effective communication, and overall project success.
Main Topics in Meetings
Progress Updates
Health and Safety
Issues and Challenges
Coordination
Quality Control
Recent Challenge
A prominent example of excellent collaboration occurred recently in the project when the construction team faced an instance in which a hole had been dug, but later modifications to the design required rapid attention. As a result, the building team collaborated closely with the commercial and engineering teams. The construction team requested clarification on the modified design, the marketing team quickly supplied price insights, and the engineering team assessed technical feasibility. A timely consensus was established, and the construction team flawlessly adapted to the new design, demonstrating great teamwork. The project's capacity to react quickly to changes while maintaining progress was highlighted by the effective communication and collaborative decision-making process between construction, commercial, and engineering.