980 Great West Road

Planning Granted

Dematerial Venues

980 GWR is a highly ambitious masterplan that transforms the former GSK HQ into mixed-use neighbourhood, prioritising retention, adaptive reuse and circular economy principles.

980 Great West Road transforms the former GlaxoSmithKline global HQ in Brentford from an isolated, car-dependent corporate campus into an inclusive, mixed-use neighbourhood rooted in sustainability, health and community life.

Located between the Great West Road and Boston Manor Park, the 5.38-hectare masterplan reimagines a prominent but impermeable site along Brentford’s Golden Mile as a vibrant 15-minute neighbourhood. The vacant glazed monolith stood as a physical and social barrier, severing connections between communities to the north and south. The proposal reconnects surrounding neighbourhoods through a landscapeled framework of new streets pedestrian- and cycle-friendly routes, public spaces and improved links to the River Brent and Boston Manor Park, creating a more active and welcoming environment that encourages interaction and community life.

The £1 billion masterplan delivers over 2,300 homes across a diverse range of tenures alongside workspace, retail, cultural and community uses. New pedestrian and cycle routes reconnect neighbourhoods north and south of the site, reconnecting people to Boston Manor Park and opening public access to the river for the first time.

Repurposing the existing basement infrastructure for servicing and back-of-house accommodation frees the ground plane for a broader mix of active and communityfocused uses, creating an active public realm throughout the day and evening.

A reuse-first approach underpins the design strategy. Significant portions of the existing structure are retained and repurposed, reducing embodied carbon while establishing a new identity for the site grounded in circular economy principles. Existing infrastructure is adapted for low-carbon logistics and energy systems, while reclaimed materials are reused throughout the public realm and landscape.

Developed through extensive co-design with local communities and stakeholders, the masterplan reflects Brentford’s diversity and aspirations. Celebrating the centenary of the Golden Mile, 980 Great West Road demonstrates how reuse-led development can deliver healthier, better connected and more inclusive neighbourhoods for London.