Morgan Sindall Construction has completed the restoration of 12 railway arches in Kilburn, London, for Place for London.
The Kilburn Mews project has created 12 refurbished business-rental spaces, two new retail units and upgraded public realm in a formerly brownfield area.
Restoring Victorian structures
The arches, built in the mid-19th century, were stripped back to their bare brick structure. The works included removing existing concrete, mechanical and electrical services and fixtures, as well as the controlled removal of asbestos.
Morgan Sindall installed new structural slabs, lined soffits and walls, and glazed feature façades. Structural steel goalposts support the glazing while limiting loads on the railway arches.
The team restored original brickwork and cleaned and repaired cast-iron rain pipes. Because the works took place beneath live railway infrastructure, fixings that could affect the arches were not used. Instead, an internal steel frame was installed within each arch to control loading and help extend the life of the Victorian structures.
Coordination between Morgan Sindall, Place for London, TfL and Network Rail was required because of the property arrangements and the proximity of operating railways. The project was delivered without disruption to the transport network, according to Morgan Sindall.
Safety and sustainability measures
Working beneath three operating rail lines in a congested area required the new units to meet a high fire-rating standard. The construction team also had to account for damage from Second World War bombing and undocumented post-war works, including underpinning and infilling.
The design includes improved visibility, CCTV and enhanced lighting, following findings from the 2021-22 MOPAC Public Attitudes survey for the Mayor of London’s Women’s Night Safety Charter.
The commercial units are gas-free and use air-source heat pumps, underfloor heating and a communal district heating system. A 76m3 attenuation tank controls the release of rainwater, while localised systems around new trees support water management and biodiversity.
Reusing the existing arches avoided the carbon cost associated with a new-build development, while new planting is intended to improve biodiversity. The regeneration was designed in line with the Mayor of London’s Draft London Plan and approved by the Mayor’s Design Advocates.
Local employment and skills
Morgan Sindall and its supply chain also worked with local organisations to support social value initiatives, including engagement with people not in education, employment or training, construction careers activity, community support, training and apprenticeships.
Partners included Capital City College, Heath School, C4WS Homeless Project, Action for Youth Boxing Intervention and Literacy Pirates.