BAM starts on site at £8bn Brent Cross Town

BAM has started construction on the first office building to go up at a major mixed-use park town development in north London valued at £8 billion. 

Designed by shedkm architects, 3 Copper Square is part of a new 3 million sq. ft business and innovation district at Brent Cross Town (BCT), alongside 6,700 new homes, student housing, later living units, a high street, three schools and 50 acres of parks and playing fields under the wider development plans. 

The building will provide 239,000 sq. ft of office space over 14 floors as well as retail units at ground level – and Sheffield Hallam University has agreed to occupy around 110,000 sq. ft, setting up its first campus outside Yorkshire at BCT.  

The start on site follows the appointment of BAM as the main contractor by Related Argent property developers and Barnet Council who are funding the build. 

NatWest is providing a £62.7 million “Green Loan” which is for “sustainable projects that demonstrate strong environmental performance”. 

3 Copper Square is scheduled to open in Q3 2026 and forms part of Phase One at BCT that includes 930 new homes, 662 student rooms, plus retail and leisure amenities by the end of 2025. 

The building is a hybrid cross-laminated timber and concrete structure with exposed timber soffits that soften lighting and acoustics, as well as a double-height reception area, penthouse, and communal terraces. 

Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing agents. 

Last year, Related Argent and property investment manager Invesco Real Estate appointed Galliford Try’s building business to the Brent Cross Town development, with a contract valued at £87 million.  

Having previously been appointed to build 249 new homes, the group was brought in to build a further 286 apartments across three blocks on behalf of a US client.  

“We’re excited to begin another chapter in our 30-year-long partnership of working with Related Argent and continuing to build on our previous successes of delivering transformative projects,” said BAM London director Rod Stiles.  

Luke Desforges, academic director at Sheffield Hallam, said: “We’re excited that construction has begun on the home for our new campus, where we will be the anchor tenant.  

“Due to open for September 2026, it will provide an outstanding and dynamic learning environment, boasting modern facilities, where students will learn from academic experts to gain the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.” 

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