Part of the BBC Television Centre regeneration, this new housing development seeks to deliver high quality affordable housing on a site that acts as a gateway to the rest of the masterplan.

1 & 2 MacFarlane Place comprises two buildings providing much needed affordable homes for a broader range of residents, ensuring more of the community can share in the benefits of White City’s wider regeneration.

The wedge-shaped site lies between a railway viaduct and Wood Lane and was previously a BBC multi storey car park. Located within Victorian infrastructure and 21st century commercial buildings, the design draws on robust residential and industrial references and makes the most of the shape of the site. To the south, eight maisonettes reflect the scale of terraced houses opposite; to the north, the tallest building overlooks the railway with a slender vertical profile. A raised courtyard garden and a roof terrace face west, catching the evening sun and providing views over the low-rise neighbourhood. The high-quality materials and details take cues from the nearby Grade 2-listed Dimco warehouses and the viaduct, ensuring the scheme blends into the existing design of the neighbourhood.

The two buildings facades have a similar character but there are subtle differences in composition and colour to provide variety and identity. Both follow a clear composition of base, middle and top, whereby the two-storey base aligns with the height of the viaduct. The gridded façades are formal, but brick pattern and colours add depth and interest.

The robust and distinctive buildings have unique external shutters which are fitted to all apartments, allowing residents to control the amount of sunlight they let into their homes. With over 500 shutters, this is the largest residential installation of its type in the UK and provides an innovative solution to the UK’s increasing summertime temperatures and are an effective measure to deal with the risk of overheating on hot days.

Robert Kemlo, Development Director, Mitsui Fudosan UK:

“MacFarlane Place was delivered on programme and on budget thanks to a genuinely collaborative partnership between Mitsui Fudosan UK, Stanhope, Peabody and Kier. Clear governance, early design-for-delivery workshops and shared digital platforms kept decisions swift and issues transparent, allowing us to de-risk the project without hampering the wider ambitions for the project – one key aspect of which was a joined-up approach on sustainability objectives.

“For Mitsui Fudosan UK, the scheme underscores our commitment to creating social value in White City. By bringing 142 high-quality affordable homes to the area earlier than originally planned, we are helping key workers, young professionals and families live in a district where demand and costs continue to rise. The new retail provision and public realm add further long-term benefits for the local community.

“Sustainability was at the forefront of our strategy from Day One and we are incredibly proud of the fact that, by working closely together, we have been able to cut embodied carbon to 799 kg CO2e/m2 . We have set this exemplary benchmark and look forward to replicating its success as Television Centre Phase 2 progresses.”

Gareth Healy Stanhope Development Director:

“A selection of the Stanhope Team attended Macfarlane Place recently and, to put it simply, we were blown away by the quality of the product being delivered by the development team.

“Standing on Wood Lane and looking at the buildings, with the scaffold strike now complete, the newly exposed buildings are a striking and beautiful addition to the White City / Shepherds Bush skyline. We visited a number of the apartments in both buildings, looking at the show flats and several others in both H1 and H2, along with the retail spaces at ground floor and the BoH areas. Everyone was very impressed by both the design and the quality of the works completed.

“Following Practical Completion in October 2024, we have received several compliments from neighbours in the local community about how the scheme presents itself. Peabody has now taken over the buildings and the apartments are largely occupied. Feedback via Peabody is that the new tenants are enjoying their new homes. Thanks to your team for the hard work and effort that went into delivering what is a wonderful new addition to Television Centre.”