Morgan Sindall finishes refurbishment of 12 Kilburn railway arches for Place for London

Morgan Sindall Construction has completed the Kilburn Mews restoration, refurbishing 12 railway arches in Kilburn, north-west London, on behalf of Place for London. The scheme produced 12 spaces for business rental, two retail units and an improved public realm aimed at regenerating a previously brownfield area beneath active rail lines.

Site constraints and technical challenges

Work took place beneath three operating rail lines in a congested location, so logistics, sequencing and safety were major constraints. The project required close coordination between Morgan Sindall, Place for London, Transport for London and Network Rail to prevent disruption to the transport network and maintain safety standards.

The contractor also encountered undocumented post-war repairs caused by WWII bombing, including historical underpinning and infill. These surprises had to be assessed and incorporated into the structural and construction approach. Given the proximity to rail operations and the intended public use, the new units were designed to achieve a high fire-resistance standard.

Design, sustainability and services

The commercial units are gas-free. Heating and energy-efficiency measures include air-source heat pumps, underfloor heating and a communal district heating system to reduce emissions and lower operating costs. Reusing the arches avoided the carbon cost of building new structures, and new planting was included to boost local biodiversity.

Surface water management features include a 76m3 attenuation tank to control rainwater discharge, plus local attenuation around newly planted trees.

Social value and community outcomes

Morgan Sindall implemented social value initiatives during the project that engaged local young people and community groups. The contractor and suppliers worked with local organisations such as Capital City College, Heath School, C4WS Homeless Project, Action for Youth Boxing Intervention and Literacy Pirates to promote construction careers, training and apprenticeship opportunities and to support community activities.

The completed Kilburn Mews provides small commercial and retail premises in a previously underused part of the urban fabric, upgrades local public realm and services, and preserves historic railway architecture while meeting contemporary safety, sustainability and community standards.