HTA secured planning for Phase 3 of the Friary Park masterplan, delivering 693 new homes, a co-designed community centre and an enhanced public realm. The scheme builds on earlier phases with a simplified architectural language, consistent materials, and thoughtful detailing. Reconfigured block layouts unlocked more open space, improving amenity and liveability across the site. The eastern gateway now forms a welcoming threshold with a new community centre, play areas and a cycle hub. Developed through workshops with residents and groups like Delve Youth Club, the community centre and public realm reflect local needs, creating a flexible, inclusive place with a strong sense of belonging.
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Friary Park
Final phase of Friary Park shaped through resident collaboration, delivering 693 homes, a co-designed community centre, and a refined architectural response rooted in local context.
One Place, Many Stories
Architecture
Our approach to the design of Friary Park Phase 3 prioritises architectural cohesion within the masterplan, ensuring continuity with earlier phases while delivering tangible enhancements to outdoor amenity space and community infrastructure.
To maximise public realm, we revised the original block typologies to reduce building footprints, creating more generous, high-quality outdoor spaces. A key feature is the improved arrival experience from the east, conceived as a welcoming gateway integrating a new community centre, cycle hub, and inclusive play spaces open to the wider neighbourhood.
The architectural expression continues the material strategy of the wider masterplan—lighter materials on taller buildings and red brick for lower shoulder blocks—simplified in Phase 3 to create visual clarity. Two façade types are proposed: a lighter palette for taller elements to reduce visual massing, and a warmer red tone for lower elements, referencing Acton’s historic brick character.
Façades are composed using two principal grids, combining two window types and two balcony forms—projected and inset—to support massing articulation and internal planning. Projected balconies emphasise the butterfly-shaped taller buildings, while inset balconies define the vertical break between shoulder and taller forms. A limited palette of brick and metal materials is used throughout, with expressive metal detailing adding richness around key openings and amenity areas.
A special focus has been placed on activating ground-floor façades, especially along the north and west elevations where plant requirements could otherwise create inactive frontages. Reflective metal cladding is introduced here to catch light and movement, enhancing the pedestrian experience.
To further strengthen identity and celebrate key access points, especially the community centre, large circular brick columns are used as bold architectural features—adding rhythm, texture, and civic character to the streetscape.
The community centre and play spaces were co-designed with local residents through workshops, embedding their aspirations into the final design.
Communications & Engagement
HTA led a comprehensive, community-focused engagement programme for Phase 3 of the Friary Park regeneration, placing residents at the centre of the design process. Building on earlier consultation by Peabody and Mount Anvil, our strategy focused on three key themes: the new community centre, play spaces, and the public realm.
The approach was grounded in detailed research, including a review of past engagement, demographic insights, and audits of local services. Early collaboration with the Residents Steering Group helped build trust and shape the engagement framework, which we presented within the first month of our appointment. This early clarity on community priorities informed our design direction throughout.
The new community centre was developed through spatial planning workshops and ongoing dialogue with local organisations including the Felix Project, Maples Children’s Centre, and Jamal Edwards Delve. The resulting design delivers flexible, multi-functional spaces to host cooking classes, religious gatherings, youth engagement sessions, and mental health workshops.
We also explored inclusive play design, working with Make Space for Girls and Delve to create spaces that meet the needs of all age groups, particularly young women. Our public realm strategy prioritised identity, accessibility, and legibility, developed through community-led drawing and mapping exercises.
A range of tailored engagement methods, public exhibitions, workshops, journey mapping and observational studies, ensured accessible and ongoing involvement, responding directly to Ealing Council’s consultation guidance and sustaining meaningful dialogue with the community throughout.
