Councillors Give Go Ahead to GSK House Redevelopment
Clears way for scheme that could deliver over 2,300 housing units
The scheme visualised from the A4 looking down Boston Manor Road. Picture: Hadley Property Group
March 7, 2026
Hounslow councillors have granted planning permission for one of the borough's largest-ever regeneration schemes — the redevelopment of the former GlaxoSmithKline headquarters on Great West Road in Brentford. The decision, made at Thursday night's meeting on 5 March, clears the way for more than 2,300 new homes and over 300,000 square feet of commercial, community and educational space on the 13-acre site at 980 Great West Road.
Ten committee members voted in favour of the scheme, with only Conservative councillor Peter Thompson voting against. He raised concerns about the lack of family-sized flats and the competitive pressure the development could place on Brentford Town Centre. The planning team had recommended approval, concluding that any harms — including the scheme's height of up to 25-26 storeys — were outweighed by the benefits, particularly the delivery of new housing. The development still requires final sign-off from the Mayor of London before it can proceed.
The project is being brought forward by Hadley Property Group, with a design team including Howarth Tompkins, dRMM, Studio Egret West and Metropolitan Workshop. The approved masterplan will transform the former GlaxoSmithKline headquarters into a new mixed-use neighbourhood described as a '15-minute neighbourhood'. Crucially, the plans reuse the existing basement and substructure, a move claimed to save more than 34,500 tonnes of embodied carbon compared with full demolition and rebuild.
In total, the masterplan provides 2,324 residential units across a range of tenures, including social rent, intermediate housing, student accommodation and co-living. The first phase alone will deliver 761 homes across five tower blocks. The tallest, a 26-storey building constructed on top of the landmark existing tower, will contain 239 flats. Other blocks in the first phase reach 23, 17 and 12 storeys.
Phase one will deliver 225 one-bedroom flats, 379 two-bedroom flats, 149 three-bedroom flats and 8 four-bedroom flats. Of the 761 homes, 612 will be sold on the private market, with 116 allocated for social rent and 33 for intermediate rent. An additional 19 per cent will be available for private rental.
The scheme viewed from the canalside. Picture: Hadley Property Group
Separately, two linked buildings of 24 and 8 storeys will provide student accommodation for 506 people, comprising 96 studio rooms and 410 cluster rooms with shared communal areas. A co-living block of 21 storeys will add a further 296 en-suite units with shared kitchens and living spaces.
The wider development will deliver over 330,000 square feet of commercial, educational and community space, partly in partnership with the University of West London. Up to 28,611 sqm of flexible employment and educational floorspace is planned, expected to support between 455 and 635 full-time jobs.
Planning documents outline the potential for retail outlets, cafes, a micro-brewery, a cinema and fitness centres. Community infrastructure includes a new NHS GP surgery and a 62-place nursery.
More than 60 per cent of the site will become publicly accessible space, including gardens, play areas and new riverside access along the canal. Phase one alone will deliver 1.49 hectares of new public realm across five character areas, including an arrival square, a main plaza and pedestrianised zones. Over 3,700 sqm of dedicated children's play space is also included.
On environmental grounds, the scheme will deliver a net increase of 50 trees and a 75 per cent net gain in biodiversity. The development adopts a car-lite strategy, providing only 47 car parking spaces in phase one — rising to a maximum of 92 across the wider site, primarily for blue badge holders. In contrast, 1,878 long-stay and 143 short-stay cycle parking spaces will be provided.
The GSK site as seen from above Picture: Hadley Property Group
Historic England raised significant concerns during the planning process about the impact of the tall buildings on nearby heritage assets, including Kew Gardens, Boston Manor and Osterley House and Parkland. However, planning officers concluded that the substantial benefit of delivering thousands of new homes far outweighed the identified harms to these sites.
With planning permission now granted, Hadley Property Group can move into detailed design, phasing and construction planning. Given the scale and complexity of the project, delivery will be staged over several years. The first buildings could be complete within two to three years, with the full build-out expected to span approximately a decade. Early phases will focus on new flats, affordable housing and the main public spaces, while later phases will complete the commercial buildings and remaining residential blocks.
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