Grand Union Wins WhatHouse? Gold Award – Best Mixed-Use Development in Wembley
Grand Union, St George’s landmark regeneration project in Wembley, has been awarded the prestigious WhatHouse? Gold Award for Best Mixed-Use Development. This is a recognition that positions the neighbourhood as one of the UK’s most exciting new destinations.
The accolade celebrates not only what has been delivered so far, but also the ambitious long-term vision guiding the next phases of the neighbourhood. Read on to learn more about the story behind the success and how we are helping regenerate the Wembley area.
Grand Union: A Regeneration Success Story
London continues to face an acute housing shortage, with many large-scale regeneration schemes struggling to progress. Grand Union stands out as a rare exception.
Construction began on site in January 2019, and by December 2021 the first 100% affordable homes were handed over to Brent Council – just four years from acquisition to first completion. Considering the scale and complexity of the 22-acre site, the pace is exceptional.
A Strong Partnership With Brent Council
A major driver of Grand Union’s success has been the hands-on, proactive approach from Brent Council. From day one, the council set a clear vision to ensure meaningful community engagement. This included creating high-quality affordable homes, and exceptional public spaces for all of Alperton.
The community’s influence has been equally important. Engagement was built one conversation at a time, through exhibitions, festivals, door-knocking, outreach to schools and businesses, and an on-site visitor centre. This collaborative foundation led to the creation of the Grand Union Community Development Trust. This trust now runs the Community Hub at the heart of the neighbourhood.
Canalside Living at Grand Union
For decades, the 22-acre brownfield site was disconnected from the Grand Union Canal and River Brent. Today, it is quickly transforming into a flourishing canalside neighbourhood with 11 acres of high-quality public space, a 240% Biodiversity Net Gain, 540 new trees and 6.1 acres of living roofs.
There will also be a 6-metre-high waterfall, a wildflower meadow and pond and an amphitheatre, perfect for yoga, cinema nights and seasonal events.
Life on the Piazza
The Canalside Piazza has quickly become the social heart of Grand Union. It is home to cafés, restaurants, an Anytime Fitness gym and everyday conveniences such as a Co-op supermarket and healthcare centre. It offers all the essentials alongside charm and character.
Pavo, the lovingly restored 1935 narrowboat café run by Crepes+Coffee, brings a unique touch to the neighbourhood. It serves crêpes and specialty coffee while acting as a friendly gathering point.
To support Pavo’s launch, St George provided an in-kind contribution of over £10,000 towards the café’s opening. Twelve months on, the business has grown into a thriving local hotspot, firmly embedded in the daily life of the piazza.
New Homes in Wembley Designed for Quality Living
Grand Union combines generous layouts with waterside views and classic industrial-inspired architecture.
Its latest waterfront homes within its launched Peninsula House collection offer one, two and three-bedroom apartments. These luxury homes are uniquely positioned where the Grand Union Canal meets the River Brent. These dual aspect apartments are designed as a calm sanctuary, featuring spacious open-plan layouts, floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and access to beautifully landscaped podium gardens.
Resort-Style Living on Your Doorstep
Residents enjoy exclusive access to The Lock, a private hub centred around wellness and everyday enjoyment. From quiet coworking areas to a two-lane bowling alley and e-darts room, The Lock embodies the “Live. Work. Play. Relax.” ethos that is central to the development.
Family-Friendly Spaces
In March 2025, Grand Union welcomed Full of Beans, a family-friendly indoor play café , providing a safe. This offers a welcoming environment for children while parents enjoy quality coffee and fresh food.
Nearby, Peapods Nursery supports learning through play, exploration, and critical thinking. The nursery is brought to life with characters like ‘Terry the Triceratops’ and ‘Daisy the Dog’. Its open, light-filled space includes a Baby Room (9–12 babies) and a Toddler Room (up to 20 toddlers), providing a nurturing environment for the youngest residents.
A Community Built With Care
Community sits at the heart of Grand Union’s success and one of its key assets is its 5,000 sq ft Community Hub. The hub now operates as The Pantry, a new café run by London’s Community Kitchen together with local education partner United Colleges Group and St George.
The café runs Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm. It offers barista-style coffee, soft drinks, and freshly prepared lunches made by students from local colleges, who turn surplus food from local businesses into delicious meals.
This forms part of London’s Community Kitchen’s “zero waste, zero hunger” mission. London’s Community Kitchen already supports25,000 individuals weekly and diverts around 75 tonnes of food from landfill.
As well as being the perfect space for coffee morning catchups, the hub also hosts free yoga and a regular Bollywood dance classes funded by Brent Council alongside a calendar of other community events.
Powered by People
Grand Union is redefining what mixed-use development means in London. Through its partnership with SEGRO, the neighbourhood is home to the UK’s first multi-storey industrial hub - SEGRO V-Park Grand Union. This pioneering workspace supports tech start-ups, creative studios, food producers and a wide variety of local businesses, bringing new employment and opportunity to the area.
Delivering Affordable Homes at Scale
A strong, hands-on partnership with Brent Council has enabled Grand Union to deliver high-quality affordable homes at pace. In June 2025, 115 new canal-fronted homes were handed over to the council. This marks the second major delivery of affordable housing. Eventually, 1,170 homes will be dedicated to affordable rent and shared ownership.
Perfectly Connected for London Living
Grand Union’s location delivers the best of both worlds - peaceful waterside living with all the energy of Wembley and central London within easy reach. Stonebridge Park and Alperton stations provide quick connections via the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Overground lines, putting Oxford Circus just 26 minutes away.
Cycling to Paddington along the canal takes under half an hour, and the North Circular offers simple road access for those travelling further afield. Wembley’s London Designer Outlet, BOXPARK, Cineworld and a rich array of restaurants and leisure destinations are also close by.
Why Grand Union Deserves Gold
The WhatHouse? Gold Award recognises Grand Union as a benchmark for mixed-use regeneration – proof of what is possible when place, people and partnerships come first.
Grand Union is more than homes, more than amenities, and more than design excellence. It is an evolving community, shaped by collaboration, and built for the future. And with so much more to come, this Gold Award marks only the beginning of this journey.
Want to be part of an award-winning community? Read more on the Grand Union web page or contact the Grand Union sales team on 020 8003 2691. The Grand Union Marketing Suite is also open daily from 10-6pm Monday – Saturday and 10-5pm on Sunday.
Prices at Peninsula House start from £394,000 for a one-bedroom Manhattan apartment.