Oval Village:
Blockwork for an Iconic London Scheme
Having worked with Lignacite for more than 20 years on major London developments including Paddington Crossrail and Chelsea Barracks, Lee Marley Group is continuing that relationship at Oval Village in London. The scheme will transform eight acres of brownfield land into residential, commercial and retail space, with a Grade II listed gas holder at the heart of the development.
Key Facts
| Location | Kennington, London |
|---|---|
| Sector | Mixed residential, commercial and retail |
| Lignacite products used | Lignacite, Lignacrete, |
| Architect | Rolfe Judd and Formation Architects |
| Main Contractor | Berkeley Homes |
| Blockwork Subcontractor | Lee Marley Group |
| Expected completion date | 2026 |
The Project
Oval Village is an ambitious seven-block development in Kennington, south London. The project will see more than 1,300 new homes created, alongside 170,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space.
The site is aiming for an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating for the non-residential spaces, which means environmental factors have to be taken into consideration when making material and design choices.
The most distinctive phase of the development is The Halo, a cylindrical tower sitting within the framework of a Grade II listed Victorian gas holder, long recognised as a local landmark overlooking the world-renowned Kia Oval Cricket Ground. Once complete, The Halo will provide 199 luxury apartments, with access to the 1847 Residents’ Club, which features a 24-hour concierge service, spa and gym. Given the quality expectations for the finished development, consistency of finish was an important consideration. Its unusual shape also made it one of the most complex elements of the project.
The Blockwork Solution
Lee Marley Group has been involved with both the blockwork and scaffolding at the Oval Village project since early 2020, with work on site beginning in September that year. Across multiple phases of the scheme, Lignacite supplied 100mm and 140mm 7.3N Lignacrete Standard and Lignacite Paint Grade blocks for the inner leaf of external walls, as well as internal partitions, basements and corridors.
The blocks were selected for their suitability to the project’s technical requirements, including A1 fire ratings, acoustic performance and finish quality. In the context of the project’s BREEAM ambitions for its non-residential spaces, Lignacite blocks incorporate recycled sand and graded wood particles, helping to reduce the volume of primary materials used. Lignacite also holds a ‘Very Good’ BES 6001 rating for responsible sourcing, along with a full suite of Environmental Product Declarations and Recycled Content Audit Reports. These enable suppliers to achieve the highest BREEAM scores.
Furthermore, the long-standing relationship between Lee Marley Group and Lignacite also gave the team confidence in the consistency of supply across a large, live London scheme. That reliability was particularly important for The Halo, where Lee Marley Group navigated the challenges of building within the framework of a listed gas holder. With programme changes and site constraints affecting the sequence of works, our responsive service and delivery flexibility helped ensure materials were available when needed.
The Block
2 products
The Result
Oval Village remains under construction, with the current phase scheduled for completion in August/September 2026. Across multiple phases of the wider development, Lee Marley Group has relied on us for the consistent supply of blocks, backed by independent verification, to support progress on a large and technically demanding live site.
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