OUR PROPOSALS

STUDY AND SOCIAL SPACES

The proposals include the provision of 355 student rooms in a mix of studio and cluster bedrooms.

The students shall benefit from a variety of different amenity spaces for their private use within the building. This includes a 2-storey sky lounge and 2 external roof terraces, creating unique spaces that will offer opportunities for social interaction and enhancing their well-being.

SKY LOUNGE

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE

The scheme will re-provide circa 867m² of light industrial space. This provides an exciting opportunity for creatives to secure a purpose built space in Wembley, which is fast-becoming a hub for this community.

Maker Space

Collaborative workspace for small scale industrial use. Such uses could be situated in standalone commercial spaces or within co-located spaces. Dedicated workspaces, variety of licence and lease lengths.

Creative Studios

Workspace for creative uses that may have additional spatial requirements above and beyond those of office-type workplaces. This could be part of a standalone employment site, but is also suited to co-location with residential spaces. Spaces normally need to be customisable.

Co-working and Managed Workspace

Space shared by several companies with flexible lease terms, either with shared working space or small individual units, often with business support. Usually used by professional and business support services, start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises, social enterprise hubs, freelance or part-time workers.

Sky Lounge

Terraces

Social Lounge

STUDENT BEDROOMS

SUSTAINABILITY

ENERGY

We are aiming to minimise energy demands and associated carbon emissions. The design will follow the energy Hierarchy in line with London Plan and GLA Guidance.

BE LEAN – 15% REDUCTION IN CO2 EMISSIONS

Use passive design strategies like efficient building shape, thermal mass, windows and shading
Apply PassivHaus standards for insulation and glazing, following LETI guidelines
Prioritise natural ventilation and use wastewater heat recovery to reduce hot water energy use, which is a major energy consumer in student housing

BE CLEAN

Prepare the project for future connection to district energy networks

BE GREEN – TOTAL 35% REDUCTION

Install air-source heat pumps for heating and hot water
Optimise roof-mounted solar-panels
Consider battery storage to manage demand and reduce peak energy use

SUSTAINABILITY

BREEAM UK

The overall target for the project will be meeting the BREEAM standard to an Excellent standard

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Apply circular economy principles to ensure sustainability and longevity, justifying the decision to demolish and rebuild
Design for durability, adaptability, and an end-of-life strategy
Maximise material recovery from demolition for reuse. Use materials sourced from off-site suppliers when possible
Minimise construction waste. Implement a strict waste management plan for operations
Consider modular, demountable construction techniques and partitions for future flexibility

WHOLE LIFE CARBON

Strategies to include recovery of prime materials for demolition works
Use of concretes with high cement replacement content
Plasterboards, glass and steels with a significant recycled content
Timber structure designed to be demountable and reused to retain the sequestered carbon

DESIGN & MASSING

The building has been designed to contribute to the changing context and character of Watkin Road and the wider Wembley Masterplan. The recently consented scheme of 1-4 and 9 Watkin Road, alongside other developments either built or proposed, provide a local fabric which the 7 and 8 Watkin Road development can neatly weave in to.

The centre of the building is proposed to be 18-storeys. This is shorter than other proposed developments in the vicinity of the site, including the 27-storey, 1 Watkin Road to the south-west of the site and the 20-storey, 9 Watkin Road to the direct west of the site. This approach contributes towards the overall transition from the taller buildings to the south of the site approaching Wembley Stadium to the traditional housing across Wealdstone Brook along North End Road and heading north to Wembley Park Underground Station.

The two wings are 15 (east) and 16 (west) storeys respectively. This allows for a more varied façade treatment, creating exciting opportunities for a standout architectural design, with a strong central core supported by the two wings. This approach also creates the opportunity to provide two roof terraces, which shall be for the use of residents of the building.

The reduced height on the wings also help to protect views of the iconic Wembley Stadium arch. This includes views from Chalkhill Park, which have been identified by the London Borough of Brent of local importance.

The development of the site also allows for the activation of the street-level frontage. Two separate entrances will be made for the student and light industrial uses respectively, which shall open out to street level. New landscaping is proposed to soften this frontage and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

DESIGN & MASSING

The massing of the building has been designed similarly to the emerging context with clearly defined main and shoulder heights. The top of the building aligns with the height of North East Lands and other developments on Fulton Road. As the site sits further away from the identified green spaces and Olympic Way, the top height is proposed to be overall lower than the above developments. However, it offers a transition to the lower scale of the wider context to the north.

Similarly to North East Land, the shoulder heights have been designed to ensure good short and long range views of the Stadium have been retained. As the site sits further away from the most sensitive areas, with new approved developments offering some shielding, this height is proposed to be higher than the immediate neighbours, but with a subtle change.

HEIGHT WITHIN THE WIDER CONTEXT

ELEVATED DESIGN

ELEVATED DESIGN PRINCIPLES

AMENITIES

The proposals include the provision of around 355 students rooms of which there will be studio and cluster rooms. The layouts can be seen below.

TYPICAL STUDIO ROOM SECTION

SKY LOUNGE

INDUSTRIAL USE

The scheme will re-provide circa 867m² of light industrial space. The potential light industrial uses are as follows:

Maker Space

Collaborative workspace for small scale industrial use, Such uses could be situated in standalone commercial spaces or within co-located spaces. Dedicated workspaces, variety of licence and lease lengths.

Creative Studios

Workspace for creative uses that may have additional spatial requirements above and beyond those of office-type workplaces. This could be part of a standalone employment site, but is also suited to co-lo cation with residential spaces. Spaces normally need to be customisable.

Co-working and Managed Workspace

Sky Lounge

Terraces

Social Laundry

STUDENT ROOMS

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

The aim is to create a consistent approach to the landscape across the various plots coming forward on Watkin Road.

ROOF TERRACE

We are looking to provide external amenity space in the form of a roof terrace. The roof terrace will provide:

Weather Friendly Spaces, with shade and shelter
Flexible Amenity Spaces, with social areas, quiet nooks, and flexible functionality
Planting typologies, with wind and drought tolerant planting, and edible & ornamental planting

TERRACE LANDSCAPE DESIGN

DAY IN THE LIFE

SUSTAINABILITY

ENERGY

We are aiming to minimise energy demands and associated carbon emissions. The design will follow the energy Hierarchy in line with London Plan and GLA Guidance.

BE LEAN – 15% REDUCTION IN CO2 EMISSIONS

Use passive design strategies like efficient building shape, thermal mass, windows and shading
Apply PassivHaus standards for insulation and glazing, following LETI guidelines
Prioritise natural ventilation and use wastewater heat recovery to reduce hot water energy use, which is a major energy consumer in student housing.

BE CLEAN

Prepare the project for future connection to district energy networks

BE GREEN – TOTAL 35% REDUCTION

Install air-source heat pumps for heating and hot water
Optimise roof-mounted solar-panels
Consider battery storage to manage demand and reduce peak energy use.

SUSTAINABILITY

BREEAM UK

The overall target for the project will be meeting the BREEAM standard to an Excellent standard.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Apply circular economy principles to ensure sustainability and longevity, justifying the decision to demolish and rebuild
Design for durability, adaptability, and an end-of-life strategy
Maximise material recovery from demolition for reuse. Use materials sourced from off-site suppliers when possible
Minimise construction waste. Implement a strict waste management plan for operations
Consider modular, demountable construction techniques and partitions for future flexibility

WHOLE LIFE CARBON

Strategies to include recovery of prime materials for demolition works
Use of concretes with high cement replacement content
Plasterboards, glass and steels with a significant recycled content
Timber structure designed to be demountable and reused to retain the sequestered carbon