Greenford Quay is a large-scale Build to Rent (BTR) development in Ealing, London, showcasing the best in Volumetric Modular technology and another exemplar project from offsite specialists Tide and Vision.

Building on many successful and award-winning Volumetric modular schemes, Greenford Quay further demonstrates the companies’ successful partnership in delivering innovative factory-led design and construction alongside developers Greystar and investor Ivanhoé Cambridge.

As one of the largest purpose-built rental communities in London, this 27-acre site was derelict for over a decade before Greystar and Ivanhoé Cambridge stepped in to pave the way for a huge regeneration project. The mixed-use waterfront neighbourhood will include 2,118 new homes in seven main buildings on derelict industrial land, breathing new life into a previously inaccessible stretch of the Grand Union Canal.

The land was acquired by Greystar in 2015 whom secured planning with Tide appointed as main contractor and starting work on-site at 379-home Tillerman’s Court in 2018, followed by 251-home Lyon’s Dock. Further phases of development are on-going, comprising 354 homes at Block 8 and 390 homes at Block 7. At the heart of the new neighbourhood is a a central square, a canal bridge and walkaway and an amphitheatre, together with shops, cafes, a vet, creche and even a brewery, creating an attractive community space, delivering local employment and amenities, with material from the demolished factory buildings used to create new landscaped areas.

Tillermans Court contains 379 apartments in a range of designs and sizes, as well as a gym, rooftop terraces, meeting rooms, a cinema and residents’ lounges. The building was originally designed traditionally but adapted to a volumetric modular approach which increased the net area without altering the architectural vision of the varying layouts and high-end finishes. Tide and Vision are helping deliver 2,400,000sq ft of residential accommodation combined with 190,000sq ft of additional commercial and retail accommodation across the entire development with improved public realm.

Adopting an offsite construction path offers a cutting-edge, strategic solution to many of the UK’s housing needs and Ealing Council saw the benefits of volumetric modular to provide a range of living spaces quickly, sustainably and efficiently – all key benefits for any local authority wishing to create much needed new communities.

The volumetric approach is more streamlined and provides a cleaner construction timeline – with 80% of the logistics on-site reduced, minimising disruption for surrounding businesses and homeowners. The offsite approach also helps reduce embodied carbon across the scheme. On Tillerman’s Court, detailed analysis conducted by Heriot Watt University to compare the volumetric approach with the original construction strategy, showed savings of 26,000 tonnes of embodied carbon – a reduction of 44% compared to traditional construction and a 10% improvement on RIBA 2025 and & LETI Band C benchmarks.

Being a factory-led precision process, the creation of the volumetric homes is executed with a high degree of manufacturing discipline employing constant, stringent quality control throughout the entire process from module creation to final installation. The significant investment in research, development and testing refines and enhances the system. As a fully accredited system, the schemes are fundable mortgageable and insurable.

Tide and Vision are responsible for delivering seven of the world’s ten tallest modular buildings, including the world’s tallest at Ten Degrees, Croydon. Working within a well understood and vertically integrated procurement model, they offer a full turnkey offsite solution and are committed to driving forward the modernisation and decarbonisation of the built environment. The work at Greenford Quay is acting as a blueprint in combining modern living with contemporary design and showing how BTR projects can be delivered efficiently, sustainably and cost effectively.

For more information visit:

www.tideconstruction.co.uk

www.visionmodular.com

Images: 01-03. Greenford Quay is breathing new life into a neglected part of London and creating a thriving new community with volumetric modular design at its centre

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