A platform for Regeneration
Infrastructure as a catalyst for development
Brent Cross West Station Project summary
Client
Barnet Council
Key partners
VolkerFitzpatrick; Network Rail
Services provided
Project and programme management, Cost consultancy, Construction management
Sectors
Rail, Housing and regeneration
Locations
UK - London and south-east England
Project timeline
- Status
- 2020-2023
Project story
Transforming rail travel. Sparking regeneration. Connecting communities. Working with Barnet Council, Mace has project managed the creation of London’s first new train station in over a decade, sitting at the heart of one of the city’s most ambitious regeneration programmes.
Cities around the world are growing. This means challenges and opportunities. We must provide new homes for increasing urban populations, while providing more sustainable transport options. Local authorities, with a finger on the pulse of local needs, are ideally placed to lead the charge. Barnet Council, and its Brent Cross Cricklewood development programme, is an example of this in action.
A catalyst for change
Situated on the Midland Main Line, the 7,000 sq. metre Brent Cross West station is equipped with four platforms and provides services that connect with central London in as little as 12 minutes.
While the station will revolutionise travel in this corner of London, its role is much greater. It is at the heart of a major £8bn regeneration opportunity that, when complete, will provide 6,700 new homes for Londoners, generate 25,000 jobs and provide 3million sq. ft of office space. The station will be a major gateway to the new business and innovation district connecting Brent Cross Town to the Knowledge Quarter in King’s Cross and the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, with 5.2 million working people within a 60-minute commute. What’s more, the connection to the Midlands will help to boost the region’s economy. It’s an excellent case study of how good transport infrastructure is an enabler for further regeneration and growth both locally and regionally.
Overcoming complexity with an integrated approach
Every major infrastructure programme comes with its challenges, and Brent Cross West was no different. From working in the middle of a live rail environment to overcoming the impacts of Covid-19, Barnet Council, Mace, our partners and the supply chain have worked hand-in-hand to find solutions and build the station while keeping everyone safe.
The live rail environment presented logistical challenges that could only be overcome through collaboration. Laying over 10km of new track, delivering 700 tonnes of steel to site and carrying out works around operational rail assets required strong relationships and clear communications. With multiple parties involved – ranging from Network Rail, to a host of supply chain partners carrying out the work – Mace played a crucial coordination role, facilitating conversations, setting expectations and, ultimately, enabling the permissions needed to carry out the work safely.
We leveraged existing relationships, built across many years working in the rail sector, to get on the front foot and lay the foundations for a one-team culture. This ensured every single person coming to site understood what was expected of them and created a shared vision that enabled consistency, quality and camaraderie.
In our role as project manager, we acted as the eyes and ears for Barnet Council, encouraging collaboration and innovation across the board.