One of London's biggest office buildings is getting transformed into a new neighbourhood

"Once completed, GSK's old haunts will have a whopping 2,324 homes. Most of the headquarters will be demolished, with basements remaining and the main office tower being redesigned with 'oversized balconies' and a rooftop conservatory."

"In total, 30,000 square metres is being reserved for commercial use, including a bar, cinema, theatre, dance hall, immersive VR space and even an escape room. Studio Egret West's plans will see 60 percent of the space remain open to the public with stuff like communal gardens, play areas and riverside access."

"Not everyone has been in favour of the plans. Kew Gardens and Historic England raised concerns that the redevelopment would impact the views from the iconic London park. The council itself voiced concerns around whether it slots into the London Plan, Sadiq Khan's pathway to make half of all new homes affordable and reduce London's carbon footprint."

Hounslow Council has approved a major redevelopment of GlaxoSmithKline's former Brentford headquarters, which has been empty since 2024. The project, led by Haworth Tompkins with Metropolitan Workshop, dRMM, and Studio Egret West, will transform the site into a new neighbourhood containing 2,324 homes. Most of the original building will be demolished, though basements will remain and the main office tower will be redesigned with oversized balconies and a rooftop conservatory. The development includes 30,000 square metres of commercial space featuring a cinema, theatre, bar, dance hall, VR space, and escape room. Sixty percent of the space will remain publicly accessible with communal gardens, play areas, and riverside access. Some concerns were raised by Kew Gardens, Historic England, and the council regarding visual impact and alignment with London's affordable housing and carbon reduction goals.

Read at Time Out London