Balfour Beatty has celebrated the “topping out” the £16.95 million Trenchard House housing scheme in Soho and completion of the superstructure.
The joint celebration included representatives from its customer Barratt London and development partners United House Developments, Dolphin Square Foundation and EC Harris LLP.
Built on Broadwick Street on the site of a demolished 1930s hostel, Trenchard House is a contemporary mixed-use building built to high sustainability standards. It will incorporate 78 residential units, including 65 affordable homes and 13 private apartments, with additional retail space at ground floor level and restaurant facilities in the basement.
Sustainability features include a combined heat and power unit to supply low-carbon heat for heating and hot water and installation of a planted ‘brown’ roof to provide a natural habitat for wildlife. Demolition materials and construction waste are being sorted and recycled with only 6% to be sent to landfill sites.
Balfour Beatty is demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable workforce by employing five apprentices during the project as well as work experience placements through the Prince’s Trust ‘Get into Construction’ programme. Surrounded by retail, residential and commercial businesses, Balfour Beatty is also working closely with the local community throughout the project.
Mark Ashall, Operations Director, Barratt London (BDW Trading Ltd), said: “Before being purchased by BDW Trading Ltd, Trenchard House had been vacant for 11 years and was in a very poor state of repair. With Balfour Beatty’s help we are developing the space into a modern mixed-use building with sustainability at its core.”
Ed Morgan, Balfour Beatty Managing Director for London Infrastructure, said: “We are delighted to be working on this new housing development in the heart of Soho. Sustainability will be a primary focus for us during construction, with the retail section designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and a Code for Sustainable Homes ‘Level 4’ rating.”
Jeffrey Adams, Chief Executive, United House Group, said: “Trenchard House is a great example of a public sector land site in London providing the opportunity to create homes in the heart of the capital. We look forward to seeing more sites being made available by the Government and local authorities.”
Jon Gooding, Chief Executive, Dolphin Square Foundation, said: “With demand for affordable homes having never been greater, we are delighted to be providing 65 apartments available at discounted rents, helping to ensure that Westminster has the range of new homes it needs.
"As an organisation we are committed to providing homes for people who are a vital part of London’s economy and who are being priced out of the capital.
"We hope our new residents will reflect the mix of people who work in Westminster, in businesses that form an important part of the London economy but could not afford to buy or pay market rents in central London.”
Trenchard House is scheduled to be completion in the Summer of 2015.
