Gleeds named project and cost manager for ambitious Rectory Farm scheme

Gleeds has been appointed as project and cost manager on Formal Investments' Rectory Farm development in Hounslow.

The ambitious scheme, which has been recommended for approval by the local council this week, will see vast quantities of minerals extracted from beneath the surface of a 110 acre area of disused land close to Heathrow Airport.  The deep subterranean space created as a result will subsequently be converted to house around 175,000sq metres of warehouse and storage space. 

Above ground, plans include provision for the creation of the largest new park in West London for more than 100 years. In addition to open spaces and woodlands, the park will give local residents access to a host of other amenities, including: a multi-use games area, cricket nets, football and hockey pitch’s, community gardens, a running track, tennis courts and an outdoor amphitheatre and concert pavilion.

The complex works will be phased over a seven to ten year period, with the first part of the park opening to the public as little as 12 months after the ‘sealed top-down’ construction programme begins. It is anticipated that the scheme could generate as many as 2,500 new job opportunities during the build and beyond.  

Richard Steer, Chairman of Gleeds Worldwide, said: “The huge reserve of gravel concealed below ground at Rectory Farm is much needed for the construction of London’s schools, hospitals, roads and homes so I am delighted that recommendation for approval has now been granted. This is a truly pioneering project which is going to completely transform the area for both businesses and residents, who will benefit from a fantastic public park and a considerable boost to the economy of Hounslow.”

This is the fourth time Gleeds has worked alongside Formal Investments, having been appointed on the Sauchiehall Street project in central Glasgow, Honeybourne Place in Cheltenham and the Tokenhouse Yard development at Bank in London. 

Formal Investments Director, Nicholas King, said: “It is hugely exciting to know these ambitious and visionary plans, overwhelmingly supported by local residents, have taken a massive step towards going ahead. We have worked hard with Hounslow’s planners and councillors to get the proposals right, so that we can provide a local economic boost and give the people of Hounslow a tremendous legacy in the form of a new public park free for all to enjoy.”