Key Points
- Project Status: Construction work has officially restarted on the £500 million residential development at 100 Kensington in West London after a temporary pause.
- Contractor Collapse: The project was halted in June 2026 when the original main contractor, Ardmore Construction Group, entered administration.
- Developer Intervention: Property developer SevenCapital has taken direct control of project delivery by appointing group subsidiary Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd as the new main contractor.
- On-Site Workforce: Around 500 construction workers are expected to return to the 1.7-hectare site by autumn 2026 as site operations scale up.
- Project Progress & Timeline: The 462-home scheme is currently over 30 per cent complete; topping out of the 29-storey tower is scheduled for October 2026, with overall completion target set for early 2028.
- Funding & Joint Venture: Financial backing remains secure through a £258 million facility provided by Maslow Capital for the 50:50 joint venture between SevenCapital and MARK Capital Management.
Kensington (West London News) August 19, 2026 – Construction work at a landmark £500 million residential development in West London has officially restarted after property developer SevenCapital stepped in to oversee operations directly following the collapse of main contractor Ardmore Group.
The 462-home scheme, situated at 100 Kensington on West Cromwell Road, W14, was forced into a temporary hiatus in June 2026 when London-based contractor Ardmore Group entered administration. In response, SevenCapital has activated a contingency plan, bringing in its existing group company, Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd—originally incorporated in 2016—to act as the new main contractor and manage the remainder of the build.
Work on the 1.7-hectare site, which is delivered as a 50:50 joint venture between SevenCapital and MARK Capital Management, is already over 30 per cent complete. The developer confirmed that senior executives have taken hands-on control of the site to ensure seamless operational continuity.
How is SevenCapital Managing the Restart at 100 Kensington?
According to reporting by Marc Shoffman of Development Finance Today and coverage by Bridging Soup, SevenCapital Chief Operating Officer James Moody is leading the operational delivery alongside the company’s construction director and on-site experts.
As quoted by Bridging Soup, James Moody stated:
“Whilst construction works on the 100 Kensington scheme were forced into a temporary pause due to the administration of Ardmore Group, we are pleased to confirm that the works have now recommenced under a new main contractor, Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd – formed under the management of the SevenCapital Group.”
Moody further explained that the developer had monitored Ardmore’s worsening financial situation prior to its collapse, enabling SevenCapital to draw up a strategy to safeguard the major development.
As reported by BDC Magazine, Moody added:
“We had previously been aware of some of the financial issues facing Ardmore, which allowed us the time to develop a solid contingency plan to secure the completion of 100 Kensington should the effective administration happen, and at the same time diversify and extend SevenCapital’s capabilities for future schemes.”
The developer confirmed that manpower on site will increase steadily over the coming weeks, expecting more than 500 workers to be actively engaged on the build by autumn 2026.
What is the Scope and Timeline for the £500m Scheme?
The masterplan, designed by architectural firm John McAslan & Partners with detailed design by Corstorphine & Wright, aims to deliver what the developer describes as a “vertical village” in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The mixed-use project comprises 462 new homes divided across seven buildings, offering 276 private market-sale apartments and 186 affordable housing units.
Beyond residential units, the masterplan incorporates a health club, swimming pool, gym, event pavilion, concierge amenities, as well as commercial, retail, office, and community space.
The focal point of the construction is The Oria, a 29-storey tower that will house 129 market-sale apartments and luxury penthouses. Topping out of The Oria remains scheduled for October 2026.
Early off-plan sales have already achieved nearly £40 million in agreed transactions for units within The Oria. The Ellery, the first of three mansion-style blocks inspired by traditional Victorian and Edwardian architecture, is scheduled for an early off-plan release in September 2026.
Phased handovers of completed buildings are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, with final build completion for the entire development anticipated at the start of 2028.
How is the Project Being Funded Following the Transition?
Financial backing for the scheme remains stable despite the change in main contractor. Original debt funding provided by specialist lender Maslow Capital remains fully in place.
Maslow Capital previously committed a £258 million four-year development facility to support the joint venture between SevenCapital and MARK Capital Management. As noted by Bridging Soup, this capital facility continues to be drawn down to fund ongoing construction and complete the build.
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Background of the Development
The administration of Ardmore Construction Group in June 2026 was one of the UK construction sector’s most prominent contractor failures in recent years.
As reported by Double Glazing Blogger, Ardmore entered administration on 11 June 2026 after published accounts for the year ending September 2024 revealed pre-tax losses of £42.6 million on a £343.8 million turnover, driven largely by historic building safety liabilities and adjudication awards.
Ardmore’s insolvency halted operations across nine major development sites in London, including schemes in King’s Cross, Earls Court, and Kensington.
For SevenCapital, taking direct control via Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd represents a deliberate strategy to eliminate the lead time required to tender and negotiate with an external Tier 1 contractor.
The 100 Kensington site is subject to complex engineering constraints, including an irregular column grid positioned over an adjacent commercial car park that required a massive 1,500-tonne steel plate girder transfer structure. By stepping into the contractor role directly, SevenCapital aims to protect its construction schedule and preserve buyer confidence across ongoing off-plan sales.
Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Key Stakeholders
The decision by SevenCapital to resume construction directly as the main contractor will have widespread ramifications across several key stakeholder groups:
- Homebuyers and Investors: Purchasers who have committed nearly £40 million in off-plan sales will see reduced risk regarding project delivery. Direct step-in by the developer mitigates long multi-year delays typically associated with replacing a collapsed Tier 1 contractor, helping protect property values and off-plan deposit security.
- Subcontractors and Construction Trades: The deployment of 500 workers on site by autumn provides employment opportunities for trade contractors affected by Ardmore’s insolvency. Subcontractors re-engaged under Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd gain continuity of work, though the broader supply chain remains cautious regarding historical debts owed by the insolvent legacy contractor.
- Local Community and Borough Planning: For the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the resumption avoids a prolonged, unsightly “mothballed” site on a critical West London artery (West Cromwell Road). It also maintains the delivery pipeline for 186 required affordable homes and integrated public community amenities.
- UK Real Estate Developers and Lenders: This developer-led rescue serves as a blueprint for the wider UK property sector facing main contractor fragility. Lenders like Maslow Capital may increasingly require developers to maintain active “self-delivery” contingency plans before committing major development facilities on large-scale urban schemes.
