Here in West London - Brentford to be more precise, there has been an ongoing redevelopment revolution. Old shop fronts have been updated and a selection of streets have been repaved in order to spruce the town up. Some believe the Olympic fever from last summer is still present in the air, motivating companies and locals to make the best of their town; however these plans have been on the cards for a number of years.
One new development that stands out in the area is the Great West Quarters, referred to as GWQ by housing developers, Barratt Homes. What used to be land for a Glaxo Smith Kline factory is now well on its way to becoming a vibrant and contemporary living complex. Wallis House and an addition of 17 new buildings have been transformed into almost 800 apartments and a scatter of shops, cafes and bars to please. A hotel will also be included on the site, in hope of receiving more visitors.
The destination could be described as perfect with everything possible within reach, from Westfield shopping centre to secondary schools and even Macdonald’s down the road. It is located on the Great West Road, only minutes away from the M4, meaning commuting couldn’t be easier.
The construction isn’t complete yet with three phases left – The Tower, Laval House and Novotel Hotel. The Great West Quarters development is expected to be finished by next year.
This new complex may be a £500 million design but it will churn out new jobs, create booming business and benefit the surrounding areas in good time. The regeneration has been witnessed by those who regularly pass by and a number of people in and around Brentford share their views on the GWQ below –
Azfer Ali a local resident, 44 – “It should be good for this area but I’m sure it will get busier. Traffic and congestion isn’t something I’m looking forward to…”
Laraib Asad, 16 - “I’ve seen the development change over the last few years because we drive past it all the time. I definitely think it looks much better than it did before and makes Brentford more appealing.”
Lilja Ferkic, 30 – “The land is being put to good use and a lot of positives will come out of it so I can’t complain. I’m interested in seeing what it’ll look like when it’s finished because right now it’s still cranes and construction."
