Fresh from its win at the British Homes Awards the previous week, Greenland's Ram Quarter development in southwest London has garnered another five awards, this time at the prestigious annual WhatHouse? awards, now in its fifth decade. Ram Quarter was the most celebrated at this year's ceremony, winning more awards than any other entrant and setting a 2021 record. The development won in the following categories: Best Development, Best Mixed Use Development, Best Renovation, Best Regeneration Scheme and Best Apartment Scheme.
The WhatHouse? Awards celebrates the brightest stars in the housing sector. More than 1500 people attended the gala event at Grosvenor House in London's Mayfair, with Britain’s housebuilding elite and the new-build supply chain filling every seat in the room. The awards were hosted by British Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and renowned sports broadcaster and presenter Clare Balding.
The judges said: "Through its vision for Ram Quarter, Greenland has provided 338 new homes while creating a new heart for Wandsworth, opening access to the river and forming connections through the town’s centre with interlinked urban and pedestrian spaces," noting that, "the transition from a busy high street and one-way system to a quiet series of courtyards is managed skilfully."
The development at the former Young’s brewery site has had a transformative impact on the regeneration of Wandsworth town centre, with the judges commending that, "Ram Quarter has successfully transformed a former industrial site and opened it up to residents and visitors alike." The site's design was also complimented: "Designed by EPR Architects, this is a remarkably well thought-out urban scheme".
Greenland was particularly pleased to win the coveted Gold Award in the highly-prized Best Development category, where the judges praised, "The scheme successfully integrates both old and new. The layout is a masterpiece in urban planning." The judges also praised the biodiversity on the site, observing that, "A considerable resource is the rewilding of the River Wandle." In summary, the judges concluded that Ram Quarter is "a good example of mixed-use development, carefully integrating residential and commercial, and enhancing and adding to the existing town centre."
Greenland's focus on creating a diverse and independent-led tenant mix has taken the development from strength to strength, with almost all apartments now sold and an active community of residents established. London independent brewer Sambrook’s has opened a new commercial brewery and heritage centre at Ram Quarter, with pizza served by Crust Bros. Visa and consular services business TLScontact is the site's office anchor, having relocated its London operations to Ram Quarter. Lifestyle and leisure brands Schooner bar, Mai Thai Deli and The Dapper Fox barber have also taken space. Kido school offers early education and childcare opportunities, and MoreYoga provides fitness and healthy living options. Ram Quarter's fine dining restaurant London Stock and coffee shop Story Coffee continue to attract visitors too.
The most recent additions to the site include adventure bar Boom: Battle Bar which launched last week, and southwest London's first bowling alley, Strike, which has opened this week. Further openings are planned early in the new year.