Union Wharf, Greenwich | Five years on
Assael Director Alex Johnson recently had the opportunity to tour one of our first completed Build to Rent projects, Union Wharf, five years after its completion in 2020. It gave an opportunity to evaluate how the development has performed over time in terms of resident experience, wear and tear, and overall performance as a Build to Rent asset.
Alex was hosted by Ines, the Building Manager for Essential Living, who has been overseeing Union Wharf’s operations since its opening. Also joining the tour was Michael Forrester, Head of Development at the London Borough of Lewisham and an NLA expert panel member, contributing to the upcoming NLA report on London’s tall buildings, London Growing Up: A Decade of Building Tall.
Upon arrival, Alex was warmly greeted by the concierge team in Collier Point’s ground-floor lobby. This naturally lit space, with expansive curtain walling offering views of Deptford Creek, serves as the heart of the development. It provides a welcoming, hotel-like atmosphere, acting as the main interface between residents and the Facilities Management (FM) team. Residents can relax while waiting for friends or transport, or work from the tall tables. Additionally, a “glass box” leasing office overlooking the creek allows future and current residents to meet with the Leasing Manager.
Ines expressed excitement over Collier Point’s ground-floor refurbishments, especially the new café on Creek Road, accessible from both the lobby and street. Assael had strategically designed the main entrance to activate Creek Road’s frontage, enhancing connectivity to Deptford Creek and the new Creek Walk path.
Adjacent to the café, the resident-only gym has also undergone a major transformation. Previously located on the top floor of Collier Point, the gym has been relocated to the ground-floor commercial unit, where it has quadrupled in size. The new space features an intelligently arranged layout with updated equipment, offering residents 24-hour access. The gym’s relocation was partially prompted by acoustic issues with the top-floor apartments, where residents were disrupted by gym noise. Attempts were made to mitigate this with floor build-ups, but concerns persisted about sound transmission through the steel framework connecting the rooftop amenity to the building’s structure.
They proceeded to the 23rd floor roof-level amenity – where panoramic views of London provide a stunning backdrop for a range of communal spaces such as the club lounge, private dining room, home working space and rooftop terraces. A new meeting room with a 12-seat hardwood table and large TV screen provides a professional yet peaceful space for in-person, online, or remote work.
In Walton Heights, the second, smaller building, additional modifications were made to amenity spaces in response to resident feedback. The original plan included a children’s workshop for messy homework projects and parties, but this space has now become multifunctional, hosting yoga classes and movie nights (not at the same time!). A new movie projector was added to further enhance the space’s versatility.
The private dining rooms, which were originally installed, have also held up well over time. However, there is a noticeable difference in how the two types of worktop surfaces have aged. The green marble countertop in Collier Point shows signs of heat stains and color-dulling from chemical-based cleaning products, while the stainless-steel worktop in Walton Heights remains in excellent condition with no apparent damage. While both surfaces are still in good shape and should last for another five years with proper maintenance, this serves as a reminder of the importance of careful product selection and robust specifications.
The tour ended in the back-of-house areas, where staff welfare facilities were upgraded. The changing room was refreshed, and a new ground-floor staff room was added with a kitchen, dining and break areas, and an office for the building manager.
Key takeaways from the tour:
- Amenity spaces should be designed for flexibility and multifunctionality, allowing for future adaptations as user needs evolve
- Build to Rent developments should feature activated frontages that give passersby a glimpse of the lifestyle on offer, helping to attract potential residents
- Locating key amenity zones on lower floors, with good connectivity to Front of House (FOH) areas, can streamline operations. While top-floor amenities are still valuable for their views, this trend has been increasingly applied in other Build to Rent projects since Union Wharf
- Robust material specifications and careful product selection are crucial, particularly in high-use communal areas where wear and tear are more noticeable