Grand Union Development, St George

19 May 2021

grand-union-development-canal

Patrick Parsons is playing a significant role in the regeneration project led by St George, a part of the Berkeley Group. The project involves the transformation of a 22-acre industrial estate in North London, specifically at Grand Union, Alperton. Patrick Parsons is providing geo-environmental, civil, and structural engineering services for this mixed-use development, which will include 3,330 new homes.

The site, situated between the Grand Canal and the River Brent, was previously used for industrial purposes. Over the course of 18 years and 6 phases, St George will undertake the demolition and preparation of the site, culminating in the creation of a vibrant residential hub in North London. The development will encompass over 3,000 homes spread across 5,000 square feet, alongside community hubs, co-working spaces, landscaped gardens, and essential amenities such as healthcare centers.

The project area is bounded by Beresford Avenue to the north, the River Brent to the south, and the Grand Union Canal to the west. Notably, the development will also provide public access to the Grand Union Canal from this location, which has been closed to the public since the 1930s.

Patrick Parsons is responsible for the design services of the first two phases of the Grand Union development, comprising 900 units, as well as pre-planning for phases 1-3, which will include a total of 1,400 units. The construction of these phases will involve the use of reinforced concrete frames. The design and structural work for Blocks A-D, the first phase, have been completed, with Blocks A, B, and C already reaching the structural completion stage. Block D’s reinforced concrete frame is also nearing completion.

Blocks A and B are each five stories high and feature ground floor level car parks, recessed and projecting balconies, and core walls for lateral stability. Slab loads are transferred through columns and core walls, strategically aligned from the roof to the first floor. A transfer floor plate structure is implemented at the first floor level to distribute loads and stresses into the structural grid columns, facilitating the ground floor car parks.

Block C, ranging from 5 to 8 storeys, is primarily designed for residential use from the first floor to the roof levels. The ground floor will accommodate commercial and community spaces, with loads from upper floors transferred through the transfer structure to the structural grid columns between the ground and first floor.

Block D is a larger development, taking the shape of a U with varying storey heights ranging from 8 to 14 storeys. It utilizes four different cores connected by floor plates, transfer structures, internal and perimeter beams to provide lateral stability and transfer loads from the superstructure to the foundations. Block D also includes a single-storey basement car park accessed through lift shafts, stairwells, and a permanent vehicle access ramp. Similar to Block C, a transfer floor structure is utilized at the first floor level.

The second phase of the Grand Union development consists of four blocks ranging from 12 to 18 storeys. The Twickenham team at Patrick Parsons is responsible for providing structural and civil engineering services for this phase, ensuring consistency in design principles with phase 1. Additionally, preparations and connections to buildings in phases 1 and 3 will be made at the ground floor level.

Subscribe to our newsletter