West Drayton

A modern development comprising 40 apartments with basement parking and 13 houses, featuring RC frame construction for the apartments and masonry homes.

Located in West Drayton, Hillingdon, London. Completed in 2016.

Position:

design manager, Planning and Architectural Coordinator

About

This site was a vacant, derelict property, formerly used as the West Drayton Police Station. In collaboration with the Hillingdon Borough Council Planning Department, the design and construction of the homes were developed to provide affordable housing for the local community.

The apartments were constructed using a reinforced concrete frame with insulated cavity masonry for the exterior walls and metal-framed internal partitions. The development also included a basement car park and a cranked framed roof structure, demonstrating a complex and robust structural design.

The building’s fire strategy was carefully designed to meet all current regulatory requirements. This included the provision of two dedicated fire escape staircases, fire-protected lobbies, and smoke detection and ventilation shafts throughout the building. The design ensured a fully compliant means of escape for all residents, addressing both safety and regulatory considerations.

The project required close coordination between structural engineers, fire consultants, and construction teams to integrate the fire safety measures seamlessly into the overall building design. This experience reinforced my understanding of combining technical building systems with regulatory compliance to deliver a safe, functional, and high-quality residential development.

Responsibilities

Responsible for managing, coordinating, and administering all architectural aspects of projects, including:

Pre-Design / Briefing: Understanding client requirements, developing the project brief, conducting site analysis, assessing feasibility, and preparing initial cost estimates.

Concept / Schematic Design: Creating initial design options, defining outline forms, and establishing spatial layouts.

Design Development: Refining the design and integrating input from consultants, including structural, MEP, and other specialist disciplines.

Planning & Regulatory Approvals: Preparing documentation for Development Approvals (DA) and obtaining all necessary statutory consents.

Detailed Design & Documentation: Producing comprehensive construction drawings, specifications, and supporting documents for building approvals (CC) and tender processes.

Tendering & Contractor Engagement: Issuing tender documents, evaluating bids, and managing contract negotiations.

Construction Administration: Overseeing construction works, conducting site inspections, managing variations, and ensuring quality control.

Handover & Close-Out: Coordinating practical completion, addressing rectifications, and delivering all final documentation to the client.

Tasks

Affordable Housing Calculations:
Responsible for assessing and calculating affordable housing requirements in line with local authority policies, ensuring the correct mix and tenure is incorporated into the development proposals. This includes working closely with planning officers and finance teams to ensure compliance and viability.

Commissioning Site Investigations:
Oversee the commissioning of site investigations, including geotechnical, environmental, and topographical surveys. Review findings to inform design decisions, mitigate risks, and ensure designs respond appropriately to site conditions.

Appointing Professionals and Monitoring Performance:
Select and appoint consultants, including structural engineers, MEP engineers, landscape architects, and other specialists. Monitor their performance throughout the project, ensuring deliverables are met on time, to budget, and in line with design quality expectations.

Preparing Planning Drawings and Design & Access Statements:
Lead the production of planning drawings and detailed Design & Access Statements, ensuring proposals meet statutory requirements, local planning policies, and client expectations. Coordinate with the design team to ensure clarity, accuracy, and compliance across all documents.

Submitting Planning Applications:
Prepare and submit planning applications, ensuring all supporting information, reports, and documents are complete and meet local authority requirements. Maintain communication with planning officers to address any queries promptly.

Progressing Planning Applications to Successful Decision:
Manage the planning process from submission to decision, liaising with authorities, responding to consultation feedback, and negotiating conditions where required. Ensure that applications progress efficiently to secure timely approvals.

Producing Construction Technical Drawings:
Develop detailed technical construction drawings for building approval and tendering purposes. Coordinate input from consultants and ensure drawings are accurate, buildable, and compliant with regulations.

Construction and Finishes Specification Writing, Schedules, and Documents:
Prepare comprehensive specifications, schedules, and supporting documents covering materials, finishes, and construction methods. Ensure clarity for contractors and alignment with design intent, regulatory requirements, and client expectations.

Assisting the Contractor with Material Ordering and Site Technical Queries:
Provide ongoing technical support to the contractor during construction, assisting with material selection, procurement, and resolving on-site queries. Ensure solutions align with design intent, standards, and project programme.

Drawings and Images

Before Construction

Skills Gained

Topic Learned: Developed strong liaison skills by working closely with appointed Housing Associations and Council Planning Departments to ensure that all housing requirements and design criteria were fully met. This involved interpreting regulations, addressing feedback, and aligning the project with statutory and community standards.

Management Skills: Effectively hosted and coordinated planning and construction team meetings, ensuring seamless communication between multidisciplinary teams. This proactive approach helped keep the project on schedule, mitigated potential delays, and facilitated timely decision-making.

Enhancement: Maintained regular communication with the developer and investors, providing progress updates and resolving queries to ensure the project advanced according to plan. By keeping all stakeholders informed and aligned, I contributed to efficient project delivery, strengthened professional relationships, and enhanced overall project governance.

Technical Construction Drawings and Specification

Achievement

Technical Drawing Coordination: Gained proficiency in interpreting and coordinating structural and architectural drawings, ensuring accurate reinforcement placement, beam-column dimensions, and compliance with design and regulatory standards.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Worked closely with architects, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders to facilitate effective communication, reduce errors, and keep the project on schedule.

Stakeholder Liaison: Liaised with Housing Associations, planning authorities, developers, and investors to secure approvals and ensure smooth project progression.

Project Management & Programme Control: Assisted in monitoring construction activities and coordinating team efforts to maintain project timelines and mitigate delays.

Problem-Solving & Quality Assurance: Developed strong problem-solving skills by addressing design and construction challenges, while supporting quality control to ensure compliance with structural and safety requirements.

Bridging Design and Construction: Applied theoretical engineering knowledge to practical on-site construction, linking design intent with real-world implementation for a safe and efficient build.

In summary

The RC frame apartment project involved the design and construction of a multi-storey residential building with reinforced concrete structural framing. The project required close collaboration between architects, structural engineers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure design accuracy, structural safety, and regulatory compliance. Key responsibilities included preparing and coordinating architectural technical drawings, detailing reinforcement layouts, beam-column dimensions, and concrete cover, as well as liaising with Housing Associations and Council Planning Departments to meet housing requirements and obtain approvals. The project also involved hosting planning and construction team meetings, monitoring progress, and maintaining communication with developers and investors to ensure timely delivery. Through this project, I gained experience in technical coordination, quality control, programme management, and stakeholder engagement, contributing to the successful delivery of a safe, compliant, and efficiently executed residential development.

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