Related Argent has received planning consent for the second building in its new commercial district at Brent Cross Town: a nine-storey, mass-timber office building, designed by architects, Bennetts Associates.
The planning approval has been granted as activity at Brent Cross Town continues to progress with five buildings, including residential and student rooms, already under construction, alongside associated infrastructure and key amenities.
By delivering the building with an engineered timber frame and using off-site manufacturing and construction methods, 2 Copper Square will set industry-leading targets for embodied carbon reduction, operational efficiency and user wellbeing, supporting Brent Cross Town in its commitment to be net zero carbon.
Brent Cross Town, which is being delivered by Related Argent and Barnet Council, is among Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. This new district will be home to a cluster of knowledge-led businesses that will be anchored by Sheffield Hallam University’s first campus outside northern England. The area will welcome businesses that prioritise quality of life for their people and a desire to be part of a new net zero town with outstanding amenities such as parks, sports facilities, and great places to live. The first residents of the new homes under construction will move in from the end of 2024.
The 3 million sq ft commercial district is located next to the new Brent Cross West railway station, which opens in autumn 2023 and will connect to central London in as little as 12-minutes, offering excellent connectivity for occupiers. 2 Copper Square sits adjacent to the newly opened Claremont Park, and alongside two major new public squares that will act as a gateway to the rest of the neighbourhood.
The building offers 138,000 sq ft of inspiring workspace over eight levels, with a large communal roof terrace. Typical floor plates are a spacious 18,350 sq ft, with views out over Claremont Park and beyond to the playing fields and Hampstead Heath.
The ground floor offers a permeable and welcoming experience with a colonnade linking the prominent office entrance with a 7,000 sq ft F&B venue. Its three terraces will be densely planted, providing biodiversity net gain and enhancing the experience of its occupants.
Matt Flood, Development Director for Brent Cross Town, says: “Brent Cross Town represents an incredible opportunity to be part of a whole new London neighbourhood – and one that is 12 minutes from King’s Cross by train, run as net zero, and with an amazing mix of sport and play, green spaces, education and culture. Delivering majority-timber buildings in the UK is ambitious, and therefore can be challenging, however, it’s important for a zero-carbon future that we continually innovate. 2 Copper Square will offer an amazing opportunity for a business to make a tangible statement about their own ESG commitments and values.”
Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates, added: “2 Copper Square epitomises everything Related Argent is hoping to achieve at Brent Cross Town in terms of sustainability and social value, whilst also being a pioneering project for the future of office buildings and net-zero architecture using our research undertaken in the Design for Performance process. Furthermore, this project supports the new and existing community by providing key, interactive areas for all, including the wildlife.”