Read our interview with Philip Rolfe, Audley Group's Development Director, about our first net zero carbon Mayfield village in Brent Cross
Phil joined Audley Group in 2019 as Development Director, responsible for planning, leading and managing all development schemes. Prior to Audley, Phil was Managing Director at PMR Building Consultancy where he worked with Audley and their investment partner, Moorfield since 2007.
With 33 years’ experience in property, construction and development management, including 21 years as a Chartered Surveyor, Phil has an extensive track record across a wide variety of refurbishment and development projects. Prior to PMR Phil had senior roles at companies including Knight Frank, Watts Group and Jones Lang LaSalle.
Phil, what makes this site special?
It’s part of a much wider master plan for the regeneration of Brent Cross. It’s 180 acres, with 6,700 new homes and over 50 new shops, cafés and restaurants surrounded by 50 acres of parks and playing fields. It is bringing forward the principle of intergenerational living, with older residents, young professionals, students, and affordable housing, all part of the same community.
In particular for Mayfield Villages, that’s exactly where we want to be.
And the location?
If I could choose a perfect location for a Mayfield village, I’d say Brent Cross Town ticks all the boxes. It’s right beside the new station – Brent Cross West – so the links into London are fantastic. There will also be new and improved walking and cycling routes, which will create strong connections to the wider local areas. The location really is going to be something quite special.
How does it compare to the first Mayfield development in Watford?
It will have everything that makes Watford so great but will be a key part of a carefully curated development with all the benefits that come along with intergenerational living.
What was the history of the site?
It’s part of a substantial urban regeneration project and was previously under-utilised industrial land, so we really are bringing a Brownfield site back to life in a sustainable way.
You head up the ESG committee for Audley Group, is ESG front of mind for you on this project?
This is another thing that makes Mayfield Brent Cross so brilliant. The Brent Cross Town development will be net zero carbon by 2030. We’re delighted that our Mayfield village will be contributing to that positioning and that it aligns with our ethos of the sustainable development.
Brent Cross Town will be our first truly net zero carbon village. This is a real exemplar project. It will feature one of Europe’s largest collections of air source heat pumps which will provide low carbon heating and hot water for all residents and businesses. To date we have similar systems at some villages, but on a much smaller scale.
Where within the wider development will Mayfield Brent Cross be situated?
Our new retirement village will be located in the central part of the masterplan, on the new High Street, right in the heart of the development. Positively it’s very close to the new train station. It’s only a 300-400 metre walk.
Do you anticipate any challenges?
Always. In the world of construction and development we should always prepare for the unknown.
Every new building is normally a prototype in a way, which means that the design has to be carefully considered – we only get one go at constructing the building! Additionally, every location has its own site constraints and peculiarities, which can often make the process quite challenging.
Because it’s part of a master plan site, there will be lots of other schemes under construction at the same time, which will also make this a more complex scheme to deliver.
Due to the high-rise nature layout of our apartment block, it will be covered by the new Building Safety Act requirements, which is an emerging (but welcome) new set of requirements for us to comply with.
We’ll be selling brand new properties off plan ahead of the opening, how is the timeline looking?
We plan to be starting on site, subject to planning, end of 2025 with a view to opening 2027-2028.
How is the design special?
We’ll have some amazing roof gardens and some apartments will have their own private terrace. The design will take into consideration the multi-cultural, intergenerational community. I’m excited to see it take shape.
What do you personally love most about the new site?
I think it’s going to be a vibrant, uplifting community. I have visited similar schemes in London and other cities, but this one blew me away.
It creates a sense of place and community. It’s going to be a really carefully curated, uplifting place to live.
The vision for the whole of Brent Cross Town is a vision we share which is what first attracted us to the location and is certainly what attracted me particularly.
