Green light for 462-home co-living scheme in Ealing

A 462-home co-living development across two towers and 32 storeys in London has been given full planning permission.

Having been referred by Ealing Council, the Greater London Authority has given developer, Tide Construction, the go-ahead to build 462 homes on brownfield land in Ealing.

The Castle development, which will also provide over 16,000 sq ft of communal spaces over four floors for residents, will be constructed by Tide’s volumetric modular contractor, Vision Modular Systems, in the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area. The Castle has been designed in collaboration with architects HTA Design and includes lounge areas, private dining and co-working spaces, library, bespoke gym, cinema and games rooms, cycle parking spaces and a cycle hiring scheme available for residents. 

Helen McManus, planning manager for Tide Construction, said: “This ambitious scheme will play a significant role in the regeneration of the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity area. The Castle will not only bring much needed revitalisation and quality new homes to this part of Ealing, but it will do so while cutting construction time by approximately 50% compared to traditional methods of construction, enabling the project to be delivered swiftly and with minimal disruption to the local community.”

The development will also create a new home for The Castle public house, revitalising a social hub that dates to the 1930s but has remained vacant since 2020. The new pub will have a renewed street presence, with a sculptural elevation that pays homage to the historic architecture of everyday London pubs. It will also include dedicated space for community uses.

As a result of Tide and Vision’s volumetric technology, which cuts construction time by up to 50%, The Castle is expected to complete in 18 months. 

The two towers will also act as a gateway to the cluster of surrounding developments and provide convenient access to North Acton underground station, enabling access to central London in 30 minutes.

Christy Hayes, chief executive of Tide Construction, said: “The Castle’s 462 homes further strengthen Tide’s pipeline of homes and our sustained year-on-year growth. The Castle is another step forward for Tide in demonstrating how volumetric construction can deliver the housing London needs in a safe, sustainable, and efficient way.”

Simon Toplis, partner at HTA Design, said: “The Castle is our 10th project with Tide Construction, and will build on our joint track record of delivering high quality homes that demonstrate the incredible potential of volumetric modular. The design flexibility afforded by Vision’s volumetric system enables us to create bespoke and highly crafted schemes that respond to the neighbourhood context and character, time and time again. The Castle is particularly exciting in this respect, combining the delivery of innovative co-living with the rare opportunity to reimagine a classic London pub for the 21st century.”

Tide is both the developer and the contractor for the scheme, a residential typology that is emerging in the UK. The Castle will follow Tide’s previous developed and constructed co-living project, the Enclave: Croydon, which will welcome its first residents in Q4 2023. Providing 817 homes, it is one of the largest co-living schemes to be approved by the GLA.

As with all its volumetric schemes, Tide will work with its sister company, Vision, to deliver The Castle. 

The Castle scheme will bolster Tide’s pipeline of 3,500 homes under construction and follows Tide’s delivery of Ten Degrees in Croydon, Lewisham Exchange, and Mapleton Crescent, Wandsworth.