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About
An area rich in history, nature and community, as well as being a well preserved example of 1960’s/70’s urban design and planning
History
For over 100 years Brentford Dock was an important part of the transport infrastructure, having been created as a trans-shipment point linking the Great Western Railway and the canal system with the Port of London. Goods from all over the world arrived on barges from the Pool of London via the railway and canals – they were then loaded onto barges and shipped to the Port of London and from there sent all over the world.
In 1964, Brentford Dock was closed as a shipping point and the site disposed of by the British Railways Board to the Greater London Council. Plans were drawn up by Sir Roger Waters in 1968 for what we now know as Brentford Dock.
The Dock was built between 1972 and 1978 for the Greater London Council (GLC) and was originally intended to be used as social housing. However, only 90 of the first-built flats were let and as the rest of the 500 flats were built they were offered for private sale on 98 year leases from the GLC.
Company Composition
The original leases were granted by the GLC to i) Estmanco (Brentford Dock) Limited and ii) the original purchaser of the flat. Estmanco (Brentford Dock) Limited was incorporated in 1978 – at the same time as the flats were completed – to provide management of the Estate (i.e. a ‘Residential Management Company’ or RMC).
The GLC (and subsequently the London Residual Body) continued as Freeholder and Head Lessor until the freehold was purchased by Estmanco (Brentford Dock) Limited in 1991. The Company then changed its name to Brentford Dock Limited in 1999.
Brentford Dock Limited (BDL) acts as Freeholder, Lessor and RMC. Owners of the 592 units on the Estate each hold 1 share in BDL as well as the leasehold interest on their individual property.
Governance
Brentford Dock Limited is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom own a property on the Estate. Directors are selected by means of elections open only to other owners of properties on the Estate. In this way Brentford Dock Limited is able to operate ‘for the Residents, by the Residents.’
Brentford Dock Limited employs managing agents, who are currently Michael Richards & Co, to deliver services on the Estate. They oversee the operations of the other Service Providers – cleaning, security, grounds maintenance etc., on behalf of BDL.
BDL is also the parent company of Brentford Dock Enterprises Limited (BDEL), which undertakes the Dock’s ‘commercial’ activities. This is because BDL’s sole source of income is service charges from the leasehold properties which cannot be used to fund commercial activities. One of BDEL’s main activities is the operation of the Marina which sits at the heart of the Estate. All profits from BDEL are used to carry out improvements to the Estate and sports facilities for the Dock’s residents, such as outside table tennis tables, chess, etc.
More About Brentford Dock
The Estate’s 592 units are a mixture of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom apartments and maisonettes together with a terrace of four 3-bedroom townhouses.
The blocks are named after Roman Emperors and have building numbers as follows:
- Galba Court: Blocks 1a & 1b
- Romulus Court: Blocks 1c, d, e
- Numa Court: Blocks 1f & 1g Otho Court: Blocks 2a, b, c,
- Nero Court: Block 3a & b
- Servius Court: Block 4
- Maurice Court: Block 5
- Julius Court: Block 7
- Marcus Court: Block 8
- Augustus Close: Blocks 9, 10 and 11
- Leo Court: Block 6
The freehold of 4 of these blocks – Galba 1a, Servius, Maurice and Leo Courts is held by the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH). There are 107 properties in these blocks, each with 2 leases – one granted by LBH and another from BDL. In effect, LBH is a leaseholder of BDL and these properties pay the same Service Charge and receive the same services as those on the rest of the Estate.
Other buildings include the Management Office, a Resident’s Clubroom and a convenience store.
The Management Office is located opposite the Marina on the ground floor at 2 Justin Close, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8QR and is the main point of contact for Residents on the Estate – email: managementoffice@brentford-dock.co.uk Telephone: 020 8568 5096.
The Residents’ Clubroom is located at the entrance to the Estate on Augustus Close and is used for Estate meetings but most of the time can be booked by Residents for social events and meetings. It also hosts a number of social and community groups (see ‘Community’ section http://www.lifeonbrentforddock.org.uk/ ).
The Dock Shop is located next to the Management Office and is on hand to provide a wide range of groceries, household items, newspapers and off-licence.
Brentford Dock benefits from having a Residents Clubroom, situated near the entrance to the Estate at 1 Augustus Close.
This is a popular venue for children’s parties, social gatherings and other events and can be booked via the Management Office at a very reasonable rate. 50 people can be comfortably seated at tables (furniture provided) and there is a kitchen available which is suitable for preparing buffet food if desired.
[Please note that, due to the proximity of the clubroom, all events must finish by 10.30pm and noise must be kept to a minimum].
Brentford Dock Estate covers a total area in excess of 9 hectares (or 22 acres). All Residents can enjoy the communal areas of the Estate, including the Thames riverside walk. The amount of green space surrounded by trees and water is what sets Brentford Dock apart from other residential developments. Residents can book BBQs along the front of the River Thames where there are tables and seating and concrete BBQ facilities. In addition, there are table tennis tables here and situated around several Blocks, all for Residents’ use.
Brentford Dock’s Marina is situated at the heart of the Dock, with easy access to the tidal River Thames and the Grand Union Canal. Leisure moorings are available and Dock residents benefit from a 12.5% discount on the standard mooring fees. Fo more about the marina see brentforddock.com/marina.
Brentford Dock Residents can also buy discounted season tickets to access the private gardens of Syon Park via our own gate. For further information contact the Dock’s Management Office, managementoffice@brentford-dock.co.uk or call 020 8568 5096.
All properties on the Estate have the opportunity to connect to ‘Gigabit’ fibre optic broadband (up to 1 GBps) from https://www.hyperoptic.com/ using their dedicated fibre optic network. Other providers are also available using British Telecom lines.
Each property on the Estate is attached to a communal aerial system which provides an ‘integrated reception system’ to IRS digital TV and Sky services. The Dock does not allow individual dishes to be fixed to the buildings and is not connected to any cable service.
Being a self-contained Estate, parking is limited by space. Augustus Close (and part of Justin Close) is an adopted Public Highway but on all other Estate roadways and car parks BDL’s own permit system operates. Many properties have individual allocated parking spaces or garages with them and these are often rented, or sold between Residents
(Non-Residents are not allowed to rent parking spaces or garages).
The Security Office is the first point of contact for any out of hours enquiry.
Security staff are on site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, plus support from an off-site control room. Security staff regularly patrol the Estate and also operate and monitor the CCTV cameras at the entrances and other points around the Estate.
The Security Team also provide additional services, such as parcel collection and key holding, as well as parking control.
The Security Office is located at ground level, next to the Management Office, at 2 Justin Close. The 24-hour telephone number is 07970 143999.
In the event of any critical emergency requiring police, ambulance or the fire brigade please dial 999 before alerting the Dock Security Staff.
There is a comprehensive cleaning contract in place which covers the cleaning of all communal areas on the Estate, with regular full-time staff who are familiar with the Estate. This ensures that all parts of the Estate are kept litter free and to a consistently high standard.
All properties are supplied by a District Heating and Hot Water system. BDL is responsible for all parts of the heating system until it reaches the isolation valves in each property. This means that household fuel costs, boiler repairs and maintenance costs are included in the Service Charge for each property.
Flat owners are responsible for maintenance of in-flat parts of the system – radiators, hot water cylinders, thermostats and in-flat pipework.
Ensuring that in-flat controls work and that there is adequate insulation, ensures that gas bills for the Estate – which are paid for from the Service Charge – are kept as low as possible. Between May and October, the supply of heating is monitored and turned off and on as the weather determines. Hot water is supplied all year round.
BDL is responsible for the maintenance of all communal areas and the external fabric of buildings on the Estate and in each Block.
All maintenance and repair issues are dealt with by the on-site team according to their urgency, and prioritised according to safety, essential services, building structures and aesthetics, using Service Charge funds which have been collected for this purpose.
Generally, all in-property repairs are the responsibility of the owner. BDL actively ensures that all owners comply with their repairing liabilities under the Lease, as far as is reasonably practicable.
If tenants have any in-flat issues then these should, in the first instance, be reported to their Landlord. In the case of the London Borough of Hounslow tenants, this will be Hounslow Council.
It is advised that all in-flat works are discussed with the Office in the first instance. Many non-structural works do not require specific consent but it is important that guidance is sought concerning communal services within Blocks, as the owner of the flat remains liable for any subsequent issues arising. Structural works or those affecting the appearance of the property will always require formal consent.
Due to the age of the buildings on the Estate, most properties were originally constructed using some asbestos-containing materials (ACM’s). Provided that these are not disturbed and remain in good condition, they do not present an immediate hazard, but it is recommended that anyone considering carrying out works to their flat obtains suitable advice first.
BDL is responsible for ACM’s in all accessible and communal parts of the Estate. These areas are regularly inspected and appropriate remedial works undertaken as necessary.
BDL is responsible for insuring the structural fabric of all the properties on the Estate as Freeholder and Lessor. ‘Buildings’ cover includes the structure and services of each Block plus the extensive communal parts within the Estate and also includes certain internal fixtures of individual properties (although these remain the responsibility of owners to maintain).
BDL also holds both Public and Employers’ Liability Insurance and requires all contractors working in communal areas to hold their own insurance.
Contents insurance should be arranged according to individual requirements. Householders are also responsible for ensuring that anyone working on their behalf holds appropriate insurance.