The Council has taken a major step forward in its plans to deliver a new arts and culture centre and affordable housing as part of the wider regeneration of Brentford.
Published: Friday, 2nd May 2025
A report going to the Council’s cabinet meeting on 13 May seeks approval to enter into a Collaboration Agreement with developers Topland Group to progress the next phase of the redevelopment, paving the way for the new arts centre, expected to be the largest in the borough.
The Council and Topland have reached provisional agreement with a housing provider to deliver the affordable homes. This remains subject to an updated design achieving full planning consent and complying with new building regulations.
The report also sets out a new approach to select an operator for the arts and culture centre, via an open tender, which will be designed to serve all Hounslow’s communities, offer a range of activity to attract large and diverse audiences from across the borough and beyond, and be financially sustainable as an independent business. Further details on this process will be announced in the coming months.
The redevelopment project, which spans three sites along Brentford’s High Street and Riverside, also includes public realm improvements which include improving the river frontage and walk at the Albany site, hard and soft landscaping where possible, and new community spaces.
Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said:
The redevelopment of Brentford Town Centre is a priority for this Council. We are delivering not only much-needed affordable homes but also a new arts and culture centre that will be a source of pride for our borough. This project is at the heart of delivering a healthier, thriving, safer, liveable and a fairer, more equal Hounslow.
What must be recognised is that getting any regeneration or housing project off the ground in the current climate has been and is a mammoth task. Across the country, development, housing, and the arts sectors are facing unprecedented pressures. That Hounslow is still making real progress speaks to our commitment, the strength of our partnerships, and the boldness of our vision. There is still work to do, and challenges remain — but this is a long-term investment in Brentford’s future.
By investing in homes, culture, and community spaces, we are helping to build a vibrant, inclusive future for Brentford and for the whole borough. We owe it to our residents to secure the best possible outcomes, and this next phase marks an important milestone in that journey.
Cllr Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces, added:
After a decade in planning - and, we have to accept, a perfect storm of crises - I am overjoyed to see the final pieces of the puzzle coming together that will allow us to build Brentford's new arts and culture centre.
And I want that to be a world-class arts and culture centre. One that serves our residents, and also brings people in from far and wide, from across London and beyond to see the very best acts.
That is why we are launching an open process to find the right operator – one that shares our aims, will deliver a broad and ambitious programme, and demonstrates it can be financially sustainable. We hope to see strong proposals and are committed to an open and transparent process that delivers a vibrant cultural future for communities across Brentford and the wider borough.
The Council will continue to work closely with Topland Group and local stakeholders as it advances the next stages of the programme, including updated planning submissions later this year.
