Twickenham Riverside is a clear example of Kier's end-to-end approach in action. For the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, this is about far more than delivering new buildings in Twickenham. The development represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create lasting economic, social and environmental value for the community while maintaining the unique character of a much-loved riverside location. The scheme ,which is due to complete in December 2027, will transform a prominent riverside site through the delivery of 45 new homes, including 50% affordable rented housing, alongside new retail, office, food and beverage space, public realm improvements and enhanced green spaces. The complexity of the site - situated in the heart of Twickenham’s residential and commercial district and adjacent to the River Thames and its complex tidal flood infrastructure - meant it required much more than a traditional construction solution. It demanded a truly integrated approach from across the Kier Group.
A whole-Kier solution
Kier's end-to-end approach has played a key role in helping secure and provide solutions throughout the project. The team was able to draw on specialist expertise from across the Group to act as a strategic delivery partner and address the scheme's most complex challenges: including flood risk, riverside working, utility diversions, highways interfaces, drainage, ecology and public realm delivery. By bringing these capabilities together early in the process, Kier was able to provide the customer with confidence that critical risks could be understood, managed and sequenced effectively.
Having previously delivered the nearby Twickenham Gateway development through Kier Property, the Group brought both local knowledge and established customer relationships to the project, helping position Kier strongly during the bidding process. Once appointed, the project became a showcase for how different parts of the Group work together to solve complex challenges and deliver better outcomes for customers.
A group-wide solution
Due to its location adjacent to the River Thames, the project was exposed to a range of complex engineering, environmental and infrastructure challenges. These included the construction of a new flood defence, the provision of temporary flood protection measures along the quayside throughout the phased works, and the delivery of a new piled boating and a second eco-garden pontoon. Further complexities arose from the need to undertake deep drainage diversions, highways improvements and utility relocations within a constrained and heavily-populated urban setting. Drawing on expertise from across the Kier business, integrated solutions were developed to effectively manage these interfaces and mitigate programme, safety and environmental risks, ensuring the successful delivery of this landmark riverside scheme.
Kier Infrastructure’s canals and rivers’ team played a critical role from the outset. Their specialist understanding of waterways and flood management was a major factor in securing the project and they subsequently delivered the temporary flood defence works required to enable construction and provided expertise on river wall works, pontoons, ecology enhancements and the specialist environmental, marine and regulatory permitting requirements associated with working on the Thames. Their involvement helped the customer gain confidence that a highly-constrained waterfront site could be delivered safely and effectively.
Kier Design was central to the success of the project, providing an integrated offer spanning design assurance, technical consultancy, utilities expertise and programme support. A comprehensive design validation and buildability review led to refinements resulting in a solution that better met the customer's objectives, improved value for money and enhanced delivery certainty.The team also led the coordination of complex High Voltage services diversions, bringing together expertise from across Kier to manage a critical programme risk and improve delivery certainty. By acting as a trusted technical partner throughout the lifecycle of the scheme, Kier Design has helped de-risk the project, strengthen collaboration and ensure the wider benefits of Kier's end to end approach were realised.
The Transportation team then brought specialist highways expertise into the project, supporting critical Section 278 highways works and utility interfaces within a constrained town-centre environment. The same team has supported multiple Kier projects in the borough, creating continuity, fostering strong local authority relationships and helping streamline delivery. Their contribution demonstrated the value of having in-house infrastructure capabilities working alongside construction teams.
Creating lasting community value
As a regeneration scheme, success is measured by more than construction outputs. Working closely with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and local stakeholders, the project has already generated more than £7.9 million of social value, including £4.9 million of local economic benefit, supporting local jobs, skills, businesses and community initiatives. To date, the project has created 10 jobs, delivered 103 apprenticeship weeks, generated 154 volunteering hours, and supported the local supply chain with £4.7 million of spend.
The team has taken an active role in the local community, sponsoring and supporting the One Richmond Dragons' Den, which awarded more than £23,000 to six local charities tackling social isolation across the borough. Other initiatives have included resident coffee mornings, local careers fairs, litter-picking events construction engagement events, work experience opportunities for local students and supporting recruitment through local employment programmes. These activities have helped build strong community relationships while ensuring local people share in the benefits of the regeneration programme.
The Kier difference
Twickenham Riverside demonstrates how Kier can combine development, design, infrastructure, engineering and construction expertise to deliver regeneration projects that are greater than the sum of their parts.
For the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, that means a single partner capable of combining strategic advice, technical excellence and delivery capability that would be difficult to achieve through a conventional contractor relationship.
For Kier, it provides a compelling blueprint of how the Group's integrated business model helps clients unlock complex regeneration opportunities, create better places and deliver long-term value for communities.