Award Recognised Project

Cecil Avenue

Innovative geotechnical solutions, cutting programme and enhancing buildability

The £92m Cecil Avenue regeneration, led by Wates Residential in partnership with Brent Council, will deliver 304 homes, half of which are affordable, alongside commercial and community spaces.

Engaged by Wates as the developer, we delivered geotechnical, civil, and structural engineering solutions, optimising efficiency, cost, and constructability.

Overcoming Geotechnical Challenges

Located 90m from Wembley Hill Railway Cutting, the site’s unstable periglacial slip surfaces posed significant excavation risks. Our innovative approach enabled the safe construction of a 7.5m-deep basement, using permanent piles for temporary lateral support. This eliminated traditional propping, creating an unencumbered excavation while maintaining cost, safety, and environmental targets.

Structural Solutions

The structure features a reinforced concrete (RC) frame, 3 to 9 storeys above the two-storey basement, adapting to the sloping site with carefully coordinated level changes.

Innovative and Results

Real-time monitoring and the Observational Method ensured excavation safety and efficiency.

Our overall approach has delivered significant benefits:

8 weeks (6.5%) programme savings by eliminating internal propping
Lower material costs by avoiding unnecessary temporary works
Improved efficiency through optimised slab thickness and reduced concrete grade for in-situ cores
Proven stability through continuous monitoring and risk assessment
Sustainability gains, supporting Brent Council’s low-carbon goals

Industry Recognition

We’re delighted that the Cecil Avenue project has been shortlisted for the Ground Engineering Awards 2025 in the UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of £500K–£1M category.

Awards

Client

Wates

Architect

Flanagan Lawrence

Completion Date2026

Services

Sectors

Mixed Use ,
Residential

Specialisms

Location

Brent ,
London

“Cecil Avenue showcases the power of proactive, design-led geotechnical engineering. Rather than deferring temporary works, we took full ownership to tackle significant instability risks on a site central to Prof. A.W. Skempton’s seminal work on slope stability. This recognition highlights the seamless collaboration between Walsh, Wates Residential, and GCL in delivering a technically advanced, sustainable, and cost-effective solution—setting a new benchmark for geotechnical engineering.”

Richard Ball, Geotechnical Director

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Taking Sustainability Seriously

Sustainability is in our DNA and we have our own ambitious goals to achieve Net Zero as a business and with our designs. With innovative in-house monitoring tools, Walsh clients have seen on average reductions of 10-20% total embodied carbon, with some of our flagship work achieving 60-70% reductions compared with baseline figures.