The Verdean, London Borough of Ealing, for Peabody and Mount Anvil, with Levitt Bernstein, Kew Gardens, Exterior Architecture, Light Follows Behaviour and Tigg Coll

The Verdean is a £520m development set to create 1,228 new homes, 455 of which will be affordable. Two residential towers, the Oak and the Aster will contain 160 and 170 homes, respectively. Six percent of commercial spaces totaling 780sqm will be allocated to local businesses. The scheme will incorporate additional public realm community connectivity improvements and green spaces.

Who is on the project team? (designer, consultants, etc)

Exterior architecture – landscape architects

Levitt Bernstein – masterplan

Kew Gardens – sustainability

Light Follows Behaviour – inclusive spaces

Tigg Coll – placemaking

Describe the context of this project and the point it has reached in its development. Who was there in this place before development, where have they gone, who is there now and who will be there in future? When is the project expected to be complete?

The first homes (phase one) were handed over to Peabody customers in summer 2023, with phase two now under way after receiving planning approval in 2019. Then, the site was walled off with lower space standards, disconnected from the wider community. The JV engaged with residents of the 225 existing homes at the earliest opportunity, giving them right of return post-completion and rehousing 51 residents in phase one. Phase 3 is due to complete in 2030. The JV is ensuring it creates an inclusive community at The Verdean. A revised planning application increased affordable housing to 46% of its 1,228-homes, which are designed to be tenure-blind with no distinction in quality or appearance. Whereas the previous estate was cut off from neighbours, The Verdean already connects directly with the surrounding community. The JV has put on Wellbeing Weeks featuring dance and gardening classes, as well as opening a drop-in library for local children. The site will feature two acres of public open space, aimed at bringing people together as the development emerges, plus additional amenities for open-market-sale and shared ownership residents. These efforts are set against a backdrop of significant change in the wider Acton area. The arrival of the Elizabeth Line, alongside a £26bn regeneration plan that sits on The Verdean’s doorstep, are already driving a surge in population. The JV recognised that this upheaval required it to not only build high-quality homes but to engage with the existing community, serve their interests and offer reassurance as work progressed. 

How are you seeking to foster community, welcome visitors and attract tenants? How are you responding to changing demographics, behaviour, market context, policy, transport habits and the climate crisis since winning planning?

The Verdean is creating a variety of spaces in which residents and visitors alike can connect. In addition to landscaped gardens, a woodland walk and a 5,000 sq m play area, the site will feature a running track, outdoor gym, climbing wall and a basketball court. Healthy lifestyles will be further encouraged by a new community kitchen and allotments for growing fruit and vegetables. This provision also aims to satisfy the post-pandemic demand for outdoor spaces and activities among prospective residents. The Verdean will offer nearly 1,300 sq m more community amenity space than the previous estate, while cafes, shops and a supermarket will serve both tenants and those from surrounding neighbourhoods. The Elizabeth Line’s arrival, along with the adjacent £26bn regeneration masterplan, are driving changes in the residential market and its demographics. The JV responded to these shifts by resubmitting its proposals for The Verdean. The revision expanded the number of homes to serve a surging population and boosted the proportion of affordable housing, reflecting the diverse demographics of those flocking to Acton. Its tenure-blind approach, ensuring no difference in quality or design between private and affordable homes, sets The Verdean apart in its market offering. As well as proximity to excellent public transport links, the scheme will provide a cycle hub in response to the growing importance of sustainable travel. Further climate-conscious features include communal allotments for greater self-sufficiency, and a partnership with Kew Gardens that will see The Verdean’s landscaping designed to maximise its support of biodiversity.  

What is your sustainability strategy and how are you mitigating carbon use and construction pollution?

The JV has embedded sustainability from the outset on The Verdean, which is replacing an estate that suffered from inefficient and poorly insulated buildings. Residents will benefit from new homes that offer exceptional airtightness levels to ensure minimal heat loss through the building fabric, as well as U-values that exceed standard requirements. The designs prioritised dual-aspect and south-facing rooms to maximise solar gain, while also seeking to achieve a continuous thermal line supported by excellent levels of insulation. Sustainability measures extend beyond The Verdean’s buildings: green spaces and biodiversity are at the heart of the development. Mount Anvil has forged a groundbreaking partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, whose scientists have provided expert advice on creating habitats that will benefit and bolster local wildlife. Mount Anvil and RBG Kew have produced an industry-leading Biodiversity Blueprint on ways to accommodate and encourage pollinators in urban landscapes. This resource underpins the development of The Verdean’s two acres of green space, which represent more than a third of the total site footprint and will comprise courtyard gardens, woodland areas and an eco-walk. All are designed in partnership with Kew – an initiative that is expected to deliver a biodiversity net gain of 35.9% across the scheme.