Morland Gardens, London Borough of Brent

• Housing
• Brent Council
• 2017-2020

Granted Planning Permission July 2020

Morland Gardens is a socially focussed mixed-use scheme in the London Borough of Brent. The scheme includes 65 new council homes, a 2500m² state-of-the-art adult education centre with public café and 700m² of affordable workspace.

The £43m scheme is situated on a council-owned site in the heart of Stonebridge Ward, one of Brent’s most deprived areas. It will deliver 100% affordable council homes, combined with a significant investment in skills and enterprise. 32% of the 65 new homes will be three to four-bed, and an additional 12% will be dedicated units for disabled residents. The scheme follows the London Development Panel 2 (LDP2) framework to help tackle the London housing crisis.

The proposed scheme creates strong, active frontages that give much-needed definition to the prominent urban corner, while the vibrant façades address the colour, tone, massing and rhythm of the two churches either side of the development. The new adult education centre will be laid out on a single floor level with affordable workspaces below and new homes above. A welcoming orientation space will include a public café and will encourage people into the centre where learning spaces will be arranged around a large multi-functional space that will be the hub of the new building.

This new centre will enable Brent Start to provide a high-quality service to help boost numeracy and literacy, expand its digital skills offer, provide a facility for arts and crafts and ensure more support for residents with learning disabilities. Brent Start will also manage the affordable workspace offering students and local residents a place to launch their business ideas.

The project has been designed with sustainability at the forefront. An ambient loop heating system provides a 39% reduction in operational CO2 and extensive rooftop gardens and multiple sheltered courtyards give residents over 2200m² outdoor space, protected from pollution, promoting healthy living and biodiversity. The building will be constructed to the highest design and environmental standards and will create an exceptional building in the heart of the community.

Planning Awards 2020, Winner, Mixed Use Development
New London Awards 2020, Shortlisted, Mixing Category