White City

Here at Elite, the team have been working hard on our project at White City.

This project started back in early 2017 and is due to be completed in January 2022. The project is a large open space in West London, across the road from the famous Television Studios and adjacent to Westfields Shepherds Bush. It is made up of densely planted areas and open lawns with four separate water features throughout the scheme: three are in public areas and one is reserved for residents. It is made up of large lawn areas with resin pathways, providing a nice walk through the scheme taking you from feature to feature.

We had the fantastic opportunity to speak with the contract’s manager, Mark Unwin, who provided us with a deeper insight into the project at White City.

Why do you like the project at White City?

White City is a great scheme - St James have provided one of the best open spaces in London for all to enjoy. In the Spring and Summer months the area is regularly used by people sunbathing or enjoying picnics and children playing in the features. In my career with Elite, this is one of the projects I am most proud of being involved with, particularly how I have seen it change from concrete and rubble into what it is today. 

Did any issues arise within the project and if so, how did the team combat them?

As with all projects, there are issues that arise along the way. These were always made easier by the superb team I had around me to build the job and also the supportive back staff in the Elite office who ensured that we could resolve any issues which we encountered. St James are a great client to work with and have been both helpful and supportive if issues have arisen. One of the lasting memories I have is when we unearthed two suspected unexploded WW2 bombs during our excavation works. The job came to a halt whilst they were investigated and removed from site. Our operatives were commended for dealing with the situation in a safe and professional manner.

Have there been any specific safety measures implemented in regard to COVID-19?  

We have implemented various working procedures to ensure that we can carry on working on site in a safe and protected way. Our team work at two-metre spacing from each other and we have brought in additional equipment for lifting and laying material to coincide with this. We have also staggered our working hours to ensure that we are not congesting the trains or site entrance.