By switching to volumetric delivery, the first building at Greenford Quay was delivered 18 months ahead of schedule and with a 44% reduction in embodied carbon.
Tillermans Court is the first phase of the Greenford Quay regeneration project in West London – one of the UK’s first large-scale, purpose-designed, build-to-rent developments.
The mixed-use waterfront neighbourhood will ultimately include 2,118 new homes in seven main buildings on derelict industrial land, breathing new life into a previously inaccessible stretch of the Grand Union Canal.
Tillermans Court contains 379 apartments in a range of designs and sizes, as well as a gym, rooftop terraces, meeting rooms, a cinema and residents’ lounges. The building was originally designed traditionally, but we adapted it for factory manufacture without altering the architectural vision of varying layouts and high-end finishes.
After completion, Heriot-Watt University carried out detailed analysis to compare the volumetric approach with the original construction strategy. By drastically cutting waste and vehicle movements, and optimising material, we saved 26,000 tonnes of embodied carbon – a reduction of 44% compared to traditional construction and a 10% improvement on RIBA 2025 and LETI Band C benchmarks. This is equivalent to:
Greenford Quay also strives to meet the highest sustainability targets in operation. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels have been installed and a dedicated Energy Centre provides district heating to every home. Other roof areas have been planted with a wildflower meadow to help increase biodiversity.
Greenford Quay continues our long and successful partnership with global leader in build-to-rent housing Greystar, which now comprises eight schemes. The switch to volumetric brought significant advantages to Tillermans Court:
At the heart of the new neighbourhood is 27 acres of public realm.
A central square, canal bridge and walkway, together with shops, cafes, a vet, creche and even a brewery, have created an attractive community space, delivering local employment and amenities.
Material from the demolished factory buildings was used to create new landscaped areas.
Delivering Tillermans Court through volumetric construction meant a 50% quicker construction programme compared to the traditional methods.
This can also be seen through a direct comparison of project area ‘v’ programme time.
