Threefold Architects has successfully completed a groundbreaking residential development on Sheepcote Road in Harrow, transforming an underutilized town-center brownfield site into modern affordable housing for first-time buyers and local workers. The project, developed for Pocket Living, converted a former big-box retail unit and car park into 149 one-bedroom apartments specifically designed for people who live or work in Harrow, helping maintain local community connections.

The development features two buildings arranged in a distinctive cranked, broken L-shape configuration that responds thoughtfully to the surrounding townscape. The architectural design draws inspiration from the area's interwar Metroland architecture, incorporating high-quality brickwork with different tones and bonds that add depth, texture, and rhythm to the facade. This approach creates a dynamic envelope that offers both continuity with the neighborhood's character and a contemporary interpretation of traditional detailing.

Construction began in September 2022 and was completed in January 2025, with a gross internal floor area of 8,080 square meters. The project prioritized energy-efficient design to help reduce operational energy use and lower residents' utility costs, featuring a high-performance building envelope and glazing. The estimated annual CO2 emissions are 10.5 kgCO2/m2, demonstrating the development's commitment to environmental sustainability.

The development's centerpiece is a double-height lobby that serves as much more than a transitional space, functioning as a social and functional heart for residents. This welcoming environment features uplifting interiors with careful spatial planning, incorporating seating areas for informal gatherings and dedicated spaces for home working outside the apartments. Matt Driscoll, director of Threefold Architects, explains that the interiors were designed to create a comfortable and friendly environment while remaining robust and low-maintenance.

The color palette throughout the common areas draws inspiration from the red brick used in the lobby, featuring rose pink tones contrasted with soft petrol blue that characterizes the corridors, apartment entrances, and signage. The lobby space showcases this color combination through tiled terrazzo flooring and fabric lining in the booth seating areas. Exposed concrete from the structural frame is softened and warmed by oak paneling and acoustic baffles, creating a space with civic quality while maintaining comfort and welcoming atmosphere.

The exterior design employs contrasting brick tones throughout the building to add layering and emphasize the verticality of the facade's columnar elements. Rose-hued red brick dominates the lower floors, articulating a podium on each building - single-story on the secondary block and two-story on the street-facing building. This podium frames tall, inset glazing that defines the main entrance and helps activate the streetscape, with daylight flooding the lobby and animating the internal brickwork.

Community-building extends beyond the interior spaces through a rich and layered network of communal gardens, roof terraces, and bridge decks. Each outdoor space features thoughtful planting, seating areas, and panoramic views that weave throughout the development. These spaces function both as circulation routes and activated areas, transforming transitional moments into valuable opportunities for casual social interaction that supports resident wellbeing.

The project utilized high-quality materials and finishes throughout, including Ibstock Shoreham Red Multi brick, European oak veneered panels with Osmo white oil finish, and Solus Ceramics floor tiling in the lobby. Lighting features pendant lights from Muuto and Audo Copenhagen, while upholstery from Kirkby Design adds warmth to the seating areas. The robust combination of concrete, oak, and terrazzo finishes gives the space its contemporary character while ensuring durability over time.

Interior spaces within the apartments follow Pocket Living's rigorously developed one-bedroom home typology, arranged to optimize efficiency while maximizing natural light and aspect. The design team focused on creating homes that support modern urban living while maintaining affordability for local workers and first-time buyers in the Harrow area.

Driscoll emphasizes that these shared amenities were designed to enrich the residential experience at Sheepcote Road, supporting residents' wellbeing and meaningful community exchange while reducing the need to commute for work. The double-height entrance space functions as a vibrant social and co-working hub, with warm tones, textures, and rich planting creating a welcoming backdrop for informal seating areas. A mezzanine level provides flexible workspace above and seated booths below, complete with communal tables and integrated joinery for productivity and comfort.

The project represents a successful example of urban regeneration, taking an underused retail site and transforming it into a community-focused development that addresses local housing needs while contributing positively to the area's urban fabric. The development demonstrates how thoughtful design can create affordable housing that doesn't compromise on quality, community building, or environmental performance, setting a precedent for similar projects in London's suburban town centers.