Farrells' THE BeCa towers on Old Kent Road take two residential high-rise awards

Farrells said its THE BeCa scheme on Old Kent Road in London has been named Best Residential High Rise Development for both London and the UK at the United Kingdom Property Awards.

The architect said its team accepted the two awards at the event alongside the teams from developer Avanton and contractor HG Construction. Farrells describes the 292-apartment scheme as inspired by Manhattan loft living.

The scheme

Avanton says the 1.18-acre site will deliver 292 apartments, including affordable housing, above about 15,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail and commercial space. In December 2025 the developer said the two towers would rise to 19 and 15 storeys, with the 292 homes including 64 social rented apartments and 16 hotel rooms.

The site is the former Carpetright site. Farrells said it completes the redevelopment of land bounded by Old Kent Road, Sandgate Street, Ruby Street and Hyndman Street, and that the land will also complete the publicly accessible park at the centre of the adjoining Ruby Triangle scheme, which Farrells also designed and which was approved in 2018 for 1,152 homes.

Avanton says THE BeCa is the first phase of its 4.52-acre Ruby Triangle masterplan. Amenities will include a concierge, co-working space, a private fitness suite and communal roof terraces, according to Cheyne Capital.

Funding and construction

Cheyne Capital announced on 23 February 2026 a £92.25m senior loan to fund construction. The borrower is a joint venture between Avanton and Housing Growth Partnership, a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group, the lender said, and nearly 40% of the homes were pre-sold when the loan closed.

HG Construction is building the scheme. Adam Quinn, CEO of HG Construction, said: "HG is internally delivering piling, concrete frames, drylining, bathroom pods and mechanical and electrical services".

Southwark Council's Old Kent Road regeneration site reported that the eastern tower at 651 Old Kent Road topped out at 19 storeys in April 2026. HG Construction said it had celebrated the topping out of THE BeCa, the first building in the Ruby Triangle masterplan.

The wider regeneration

Southwark Council said 64 of the homes at THE BeCa will be for social rent, and that more than 40% of the new homes across Ruby Triangle will be affordable housing. The council said up to 20,000 new homes will be built along Old Kent Road by 2040.

Cheyne Capital said construction of THE BeCa is expected to complete in 2027. Southwark Council said it will be the first phase of Ruby Triangle to complete, in 2027.