Yardhouse, Wood Lane

Across Europe, demand for housing is rising, thanks to population growth and the increase in single-person households. But supply is failing to keep pace: in the UK, the average number of new homes built annually over the last decade has been barely half the amount required, while the steady rise in house prices has pushed more people into the already overstretched rental market.

We need to build more high-quality housing, particularly now more people see their home as a place to work as well as sleep and socialise. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of how the built environment contributes to our overall carbon footprint.

Co-living, an emerging residential concept that combines private living space with communal amenities, helps us tackle both these challenges. It is a low-carbon, higher-density model that allows us to repurpose under-used urban buildings, in a way that combats social isolation and broadens access to quality housing.

Following a complex planning application process, Bridges and our partner HUB received planning consent to construct 209 co-living units alongside 50 social units for Women’s Pioneer Housing on Wood Lane in Hammersmith.

The ‘Yardhouse’ development will be a major component of the regeneration of the White City area, delivering much-needed social housing for WPH while also making a significant contribution towards the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s unmet housing needs.

The development is targeting BREEAM Excellent, with c.60% less CO2 emissions than a standard new-build development. Sustainability features are likely to include solar photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, sustainably-procured materials, low-energy lighting, water-efficient fittings, good levels of sound insulation and daylighting, cycle parking spaces, secondary fire escape and amenity spaces such as roof terraces.

In addition to the benefits for residents, Yardhouse will provide WPH with new offices and over twice as many affordable housing units as it had previously. It will benefit the local community through its high-quality landscaping and shared amneities. And it will aim to make a positive contribution to local employment and apprenticeships during construction, while also engaging with schools and local charities.