Plans to transform 980 Great West Road in London into a major housing-led mixed-use neighborhood have been approved by Hounslow Council. The redevelopment will convert the former headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline into a 2,300-home community through a retrofit-focused master plan.
Led by Haworth Tompkins, alongside Metropolitan Workshop, dRMM, and Studio Egret West, the proposal reimagines the 5.4-hectare site with 2,324 homes, including affordable units, as well as student housing and co-living residences. The plan also incorporates commercial space, retail, and community facilities, supporting nearly 2,000 jobs.
Central to the redevelopment is the adaptive reuse of the existing office complex, including retention of its basement and structural framework. A redesigned high-rise tower will be converted into residential use, featuring large balconies, shared amenities, and a rooftop conservatory.
More than 60 percent of the site will be dedicated to public space, including gardens, play areas, and riverside access along the Thames. The master plan also includes an innovation hub developed with the University of West London, forming part of the area’s emerging Golden Mile District.
The project marks a significant shift for the site, which opened in 2002 as one of the UK’s largest commercial developments. Through adaptive reuse and landscape-led planning, the scheme aims to transform the former corporate campus into a mixed-use neighborhood integrated with its surrounding urban context.
Read more at The Architect’s Journal.Â