Built
Child Graddon Lewis
New housing in Westminster, the tenure was changed mid-construction by the elected Labour council from being 50% for private sale to 100% affordable rent – the majority for social rent.
A residential-led, mixed-use scheme for Westminster City Council, Harrow Road is an ambitious regeneration project intrinsically focused upon placemaking and substantially enhancing the social environment for the local community in Paddington. The development comprises of three blocks and extensive landscaping - all allowing for the re-provision of existing community facilities, a nursery, new public realm, commercial spaces, and crucially 112 new homes.
"At 300 Harrow Road, we are proud to have delivered a landmark development that creates truly affordable, energy-efficient, family-sized homes which are vital for Westminster’s residents.
"The scheme exemplifies the Council’s commitment to a Fairer Westminster, creating not only a 100% affordable scheme that improves residents' quality of life, but investment in facilities such as an enterprise space, nursery and café that will benefit the local community."
James Green, Director of Regeneration and Development - Strategy, Westminster City Council
“The proposals for 300 Harrow Road are some of the best I’ve seen, it is a remarkably good scheme, very imaginative, and the overall development is so impressive.”
Cllr Guthrie McKie, City of Westminster Planning Committee
“Harrow Road is a fantastic illustration of a local authority showing imagination and ambition with existing council land. The project supports a thriving and active neighbourhood by carefully balancing the provision of community facilities, promoting economic growth, and critically, new affordable homes. It shows how good quality design can help unlock latent opportunity on existing brownfield land despite complex constraints.
“The starting point for the scheme was understanding what surrounds the site and how this redevelopment may unlock some of the latent potential. Physical and visual connections to the canal and park were poor. By forging a new route from the south of the site, we have opened up a new pedestrian connection that also allows a view of the canal for the first time. The new plaza space at the junction of Harrow Road provides much improved access into the park as well as a generous civic space with spill-out space from the new café.
“The extensive improvements to the wider landscape and public realm capitalise on the canal and provide benefit for the wider community, demonstrating the possibilities of civic-led development. The centrepiece of the scheme is a fantastic new play space, which replaces a car park. At the outset of the project, we identified a lack of play facilities within the wider area. The opportunity to address that shortfall was felt to be something that would benefit the existing community, not just new residents. By grasping opportunities beyond the site boundary, new development can positively impact whole neighbourhoods and beyond.
“To address the varied scale and character of the surrounding context we split the built accommodation into three main blocks. The tallest element references and relates to the 60s tower blocks, acting as a marker at the key junction of the canal and Harrow Road. The massing then steps down in height, stitching into the lower context to the south. A palette of harmonious but varied brick tones helps articulate the three main blocks. Glazed brick and terracotta are used as an accent material across all three blocks, helping to tie together the overall development.”
James Felstead, Director, Child Graddon Lewis
Project information
Status
Built
Borough
Westminster
Size
12677 sq m
Completion
January 2024
Location
300 Harrow Rd, London W2 5HG, UK
Team Credits
Architect
Child Graddon Lewis
M&E / Sustainability Engineer
Stantec
Contractor
Willmott Dixon
Project Manager
WSP
Landscape Architect
Gillespies
Client
City of Westminster
Listed by
Child Graddon Lewis
Last updated on
28/07/2025