Grahame Park

Colindale

Mansion block development of affordable homes across five buildings with podium deck gardens.

Location: London

Client: Wates Residential on behalf of Notting Hill Genesis and Barnet council

Project Value: £55,000,000

Status: Complete

Grahame Park (Plot A) consists of 209 affordable homes across five buildings, varying in height from three to ten storeys, and comprising of a mix of flats, townhouses and maisonettes. Designed as a sustainable, family-friendly neighbourhood, this first phase introduces traditional tree-lined streets with planting and on-street parking. The layout follows the principles of classic mansion blocks, ensuring every elevation serves as an active frontage. A commercial unit at ground level and generous podium-level communal gardens above the parking deck further enhance community interaction and provide welcoming, shared spaces for residents.

Appointed by Wates Residential as lead consultant at Stage 3, ECD Architects were responsible for developing the detailed design, and supporting both the client and contractor through delivery to completion on site.

This project represents the first phase of the wider Grahame Park regeneration, one of Barnet’s largest housing estates, which was originally built in the 1960s and 70s, and is being delivered by Notting Hill Genesis and Barnet Council. The masterplan will ultimately provide around 2,000 new homes, improving access for walking, cycling, and public transport, while creating high-quality public open spaces for all age groups.

The new development enhances the local streetscape by concealing the majority of parking behind ground-level units with individual entrances and gardens, retaining mature trees and introducing extensive new landscaping. The buildings are orientated east-west to maximise natural daylight, with all homes featuring a balcony or terrace and most benefitting from full-height bedroom windows. Brick facades with aluminium doors, windows and railings provide a robust and timeless architectural character.

Aligned with the RIBA Sustainable Outcomes and the London Plan 2020, Grahame Park achieves an operational energy use of 90 kWh/m²/yr. Each home features MVHR systems to improve air quality, while a sustainable water strategy reuses rainwater for courtyard irrigation. With an expected embodied carbon of just 73 kgCO₂e/m² for a two-bedroom flat, the project demonstrates ECD’s ongoing commitment to delivering low-carbon, high-quality homes that support thriving communities.

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