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Vabel secures swift planning approval for its residential-led scheme at Queensway Parade, exemplifying how an integrated developer-architect model can expedite urban regeneration with a focus on affordable housing and community impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Queensway Parade development in Bayswater, within the City of Westminster, has secured swift planning approval just a year after its acquisition by the developer and architect firm Vabel. The project involves transforming an 18,600m\u00b2 site at 114-150 Queensway from a \u2018tired, underutilised parade\u2019 into a vibrant mixed-use scheme composed of two interconnected seven-storey buildings. These will provide 94 new homes, including 35 affordable units, alongside retail and office spaces, marking a significant shift towards a residential-led development.<\/p>\n
This latest plan replaces a previous scheme by Foster + Partners, which had been approved in late 2023. That earlier proposal, called The William, was office-focused and timber-led, featuring a six-storey block that utilised only a fraction of the site for housing, about a fifth of the total area. Backed by estate investment management firm MARK, it was designed to complement Foster + Partners\u2019 refurbishment of the adjacent Grade II-listed Whiteley department store. However, despite several revisions to massing, the office-heavy scheme was ultimately abandoned by MARK prior to the site\u2019s sale to Vabel.<\/p>\n
Vabel, which operates a dozen-strong in-house architect team and serves as both owner and developer, pivoted the project towards a residential emphasis to align with local and London-wide targets on boosting affordable and private housing supply. The company\u2019s plans include 37 percent affordable housing, surpassing local policy requirements, and aim to enhance the site\u2019s contextual fit by drawing architectural inspiration from the mansion blocks characteristic of the surrounding area. Westminster\u2019s planning officer noted that this design demonstrated \u2018notably greater contextual awareness and mitigation\u2019 compared to the 2023 proposal, despite some concerns from local respondents about the building\u2019s scale and visual impact on nearby conservation sites.<\/p>\n
The development benefits from extensive stakeholder engagement and garnered strong community and council support, culminating in a unanimous approval by Westminster\u2019s Strategic Planning Applications Committee. According to Turley, who managed the planning process on behalf of Vabel, the scheme will also incorporate public realm improvements and uphold high sustainability standards, reinforcing its commitment to quality urban regeneration.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Spencer, co-founder of Vabel, told the Architects\u2019 Journal that the project\u2019s rapid progression\u2014from application submission in May to approval the following month\u2014was largely due to the firm maintaining control over the entire process as developer, architect, and contractor. This streamlined setup allowed the team to address council feedback efficiently and avoid delays typically caused by having multiple external parties involved. Spencer acknowledged, however, that this integrated business model entails considerable financial risk since Vabel assumes full ownership and development responsibilities, a practice still relatively uncommon in the UK market. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about the approach\u2019s potential, especially on smaller-scale projects, noting that it could improve delivery speed amid the challenges facing the industry.<\/p>\n
To finance the Queensway site\u2014Vabel\u2019s second in Westminster\u2014the company secured a \u00a330 million co-loan facility from OakNorth and ASK Partners. This financial backing supports Vabel\u2019s broader ambition, as the firm transitions from bespoke small-scale housing since its founding in 2009 to delivering substantially larger developments that contribute meaningfully to London\u2019s housing supply.<\/p>\n
With another smaller Westminster project nearing completion nearby, Vabel plans to prioritise onsite construction at Queensway Parade imminently. The firm\u2019s comprehensive project team includes a wide range of consultants encompassing heritage, fire, sustainability, structural engineering, landscape design, and various specialist assessments, underscoring the scheme\u2019s complexity and ambition.<\/p>\n
In sum, Queensway Parade represents a notable example of how integrated developer-architect models can facilitate more responsive and residential-focused urban regeneration, aiming to meet contemporary housing needs while respecting local context and planning priorities.<\/p>\n