Gallions Reach

Guildmore delivered a £25m cladding remediation programme across seven fully occupied residential blocks at Gallions Reach, Royal Albert Wharf, one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK at the time. Works replaced combustible external wall materials with a fully compliant, fire-safe cladding system, bringing all buildings into line with the enhanced requirements introduced under the Building Safety Act.

The project presented a series of significant and concurrent technical challenges. Situated directly beneath the flight path of London City Airport, every stage of scaffold design, crane operation and material handling required meticulous coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority to comply with strict airspace restrictions. Three of the seven blocks feature cantilevered sections extending over the River Thames, requiring the design and installation of temporary engineered dams to safely contain and manage fluctuating tidal levels throughout the works. Both challenges ran simultaneously across an 18-month programme on a live, occupied site.

Resident communication was central to the delivery approach throughout, with proactive engagement maintained across all seven blocks to minimise disruption and keep residents informed at every stage.

The project won the Refurbishment: High Rise, Render and Traditional Finish category at the 2025 INCA Awards.