Is This London’s Most Exciting Riverside Address?

Picture sprawling apartments with dazzling facilities and a serene riverside location and you might think of Battersea; or perhaps Chelsea, or even Richmond. Venture a little further afield, however, and you’ll find somewhere boasting all of this and more. Welcome to The Brentford Project, says Martha Davies – two years since it opened its doors, there’s a whole lot to explore. 

From Luxurious Amenities To Top-Notch Restaurants: What’s New At The Brentford Project

It’s been just under a year since I first paid a visit to The Brentford Project, and as I head down to the riverside, I’m struck by just how much has changed. There’s a host of gorgeous new restaurants, boutiques and cafés – I’m particularly thrilled to find a Gail’s Bakery – and the waterfront has come alive, now playing host to a spectacular Everyman Cinema. 

Just a stone’s throw from all of this, set back slightly from the river, is The Wick, a brand new residents’-only hub. Last year, it was just a promise, but now it’s a glittering reality: I step into the courtyard to find a huge outdoor pool flanked by Pinterest-worthy pink sun loungers and comfy outdoor seating. Just off the reception area (where I’m greeted by a wonderful team of concierge staff) there’s a sleek workspace kitted out with private meeting rooms and a bar. Back outside, meanwhile, I spot the wellness centre, which is complete with treatment rooms, a spa, and a breathtaking gym spanning two separate floors. It might seem like such luxury is reserved for the most imposing central London developments, but The Brentford Project very much proves otherwise.

The residences, of course, are equally as gorgeous: just crossing the threshold of one of the two-bedroom apartments has me swooning. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the river and the surrounding neighbourhood; chic blue kitchens add a cosy, coastal-inspired touch; and enormous balconies ensure there’s plenty of private outdoor space (although there’s also the raised podium gardens to explore, which look particularly wonderful in the sunshine).

Having grown up nearby, I have a nostalgic attachment to the suburbs – whether or not you regard Zone 4 as suburban – and Brentford certainly has that west London magic, brimming with greenery (Kew Gardens is a ten minute drive away) and yet fabulously close to central London (you can reach Clapham Junction in just twelve minutes). Ballymore, the Irish developer behind the regeneration, has envisioned The Brentford Project as a ‘15-minute town’, the kind of place providing everything you might need within a short walk. And they really have tapped into everything the area has to offer. 

The previously neglected Workhouse Dock, for instance, is now home to a collection of pubs and eateries, alongside tiered seating terraces leading down to the water. There’s a boat club providing plenty of activities for the local community, and St Lawrence Gardens – a verdant enclave neighbouring Brentford’s oldest building, a Grade II* listed church – will soon become an additional communal space complete with a woodland play area and covered walkway.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, the newly transformed town centre is a treasure trove. From homeware boutiques and indie bookshops to superb restaurants, locals are spoilt for choice. I enjoyed a particularly incredible lunch at Rottura, a family-owned Italian spot offering seasonal small plates and a rather glorious deli counter. Another fan favourite, according to practically everyone I spoke to, is Sam’s Waterside, and it’s easy to see why: there’s really no better place for an evening meal by the river, especially when you can sample everything from parmesan churros (which are as unforgettable as they sound) to burrata with peach and pesto, chargrilled yellowfin tuna, and a knockout cheeseburger. If I hadn’t already been dreaming about becoming The Brentford Project’s newest resident, I most certainly was after having dinner at Sam’s.

It’s clear, then, that Ballymore’s vision for Brentford really has materialised, and its ambitious project is mostly certainly a success. But that’s not to say that everything is different. Ballymore’s vision has always been to enrich what exists in Brentford rather than starting from scratch, and while there’s a lot that’s shiny and new, none of it possesses that ever-so-slightly lifeless sheen that you might expect from a huge regeneration project such as this. In fact, I’m reminded of the feeling that hit me as I wandered these streets last year: there’s a real sense of community here, and a sense of excitement, too, for everything Brentford now embodies.

Prices at The Brentford Project range from £425,000 for a studio to £912,500 for a three-bedroom apartment. For more information, visit thebrentfordproject.com