Feb 15, 2024

Hayes Park Central and South wins planning approval

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Slovak Academy of Sciences Campus

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Hayes Park Central and South wins planning approval to convert two unique Grade II Listed Buildings into 124 new high-quality homes. The heritage-led approach seeks to enhance their significance and setting through new landscaping, play spaces and growing spaces to increase local biodiversity.

The iconic Heinz Headquarters, now vacant, was designed by noted American corporate architect, Gordon Bunshaft, in Hayes Park in Hillingdon, West London and was built between 1961-62.

The building was originally used was for high specification corporate offices and research laboratories for HJ Heinz UK Limited. Grade II listed, the form of the external concrete frame is claimed to be based on the bending moment diagram, with the hinge points defining points of contra-flexure. These high-quality sculptural forms were pre-cast and finished with Cornish Granite to provide a uniform finish.

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View showing homes overlooking the Hayes Park South courtyard with the reinstated reflective pool, island and trees.

The proposal will provide a sustainable reuse of the office buildings, which have been vacant for a long period of time due to a lack of demand in office space. The conversion to residential use will provide a second life to the Listed Buildings and help release local family housing and contribute towards the borough’s housing delivery. The proposed residential use is the optimum viable use for the site and the proposals would not have an impact on the Green Belt.

Studio Egret West as both architect and landscape designer for the development has sought to embrace the character and historic significance of the site, carefully considering the natural setting, in particular the trees and green space, reflecting the existing qualities of Hayes Park.

Administration Building designed by Gordon Bunshaft (historic image taken by others)

The reflective water feature was a significant design feature (historic image taken by others)

The external concrete frame based on the bending moment diagram (historic image taken by others)

We aim to provide a second life to the vacant Grade II buildings and deliver a high-quality landscape strategy that that will benefit everyone. The development will create a place that is safe, inclusive, and accessible by all. It will promote health and wellbeing for future residents with pedestrian and cycle routes through the attractive areas of public parkland and community space”

Christophe Egret, Studio Egret West

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View of new Hayes Park Central courtyard

View of the corner of Hayes Park Central

Conservation led design principles

In addition to its transference from office to residential dwellings, the scheme will set about to improve the entry sequence, open up the communal space and enhance the setting within the landscape. The external façade will be cleaned and repaired to conserve the building’s iconic form for generations to come. The proposal will reinstate Bunshaft’s original ‘Reflective Pool’ and island with a tree (influenced by a minimalist Japanese garden design). The pool, island and tree, will now act as a focal point to connect residents with each other and nature.

Since January 2023, Shall Do Hayes Development has welcomed input from the local community on its proposals with leaflets and a dedicated website available to help inform and engage people. The majority of the responses from the public were positive or neutral and the team responded to the community in relation to any questions raised.

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