We are proud to announce the successful and early completion of a critical infrastructure project in West London, undertaken in collaboration with Thames Water and five key partners. This project, located outside the strategically important West Brompton Station and spanning the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea as well as Hammersmith & Fulham Council, required meticulous planning and seamless coordination between various stakeholders.
Browne played a central role in replacing a vital water pipe, originally installed in 1903, which had reached the end of its serviceable life. The works necessitated the closure of Lillie Road and Old Brompton Road, including Lillie Bridge. However, through close collaboration with Thames Water, UK Power Networks (UKPN), the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Power On, Virgin Media, and the Earls Court Development Company, we were able to significantly reduce the impact on the local community. Our combined efforts saved 58 days of road disruption, delivering essential infrastructure improvements with minimal inconvenience to residents, road users, and businesses.
What was initially projected to take 10 weeks was completed in just five, demonstrating Browne's commitment to efficiency, flexibility, and professional delivery. As the CDM Principal Contractor, Browne led the coordination of six utilities, ensuring all works were executed safely and efficiently. Our close collaboration with multiple Highway Authorities and careful communication with all parties ensured the smooth progress of the project.
“As part of the Councils Network Management Duty to reduce disruption to ours and neighbouring boroughs networks, identifying the potential for collaborative working is an important part of this duty. RBKC’s Network Management team worked closely with Thames contractor, Browne Construction, throughout the planning of these major works on Lillie Bridge. When it was clear that a full road closure would be required and once the duration had been agreed, RBKC sought to identify other works that might be able to take place whilst the road was closed. Browne were fully on board in agreeing to accommodate collaborative working where possible. On the RBKC side alone, we identified 5 separate utilities works, saving 93 days of future disruption.”
The collaborative approach extended to weekly progress meetings, where all parties addressed issues and solved problems as they arose. The result was a smoothly executed project, evidenced by the fact that no complaints were received from residents or businesses during the works.
At Browne, we are immensely proud of our contribution to this project, which stands as a testament to our dedication to delivering complex infrastructure with excellence. Special thanks go to key individuals whose leadership and coordination were vital to the project’s success, including Mike Ellis, Thames Water’s Project Manager; Jackie Howard, UKPN’s Collaboration Manager; Lisa Blundell, Browne’s Planning Manager.
This project highlights Browne’s ability to deliver critical infrastructure while minimising disruption and fostering strong partnerships with Thames Water, UKPN, and local authorities. We look forward to continuing these collaborative efforts on future projects.