Westfield White City Expansion

Merit played a key role in the expansion of Westfield White City in London, one of Europe’s largest retail destinations and part of a £2 billion development in West London.

Working under two concurrent contracts, Merit successfully delivered two major mechanical trade packages valued at £15 million, becoming one of the first contractors on site to complete its works. The project showcased Merit’s expertise in delivering complex mechanical infrastructure while leveraging the benefits of offsite manufacturing and prefabrication to drive efficiency, quality and safety.

Merit’s scope included the detailed design, prefabrication and installation of the mechanical pipework distribution network supporting the landlord’s HVAC systems, alongside the supply of five fully packaged prefabricated plant rooms.

A key innovation on the project was Merit’s proposal to use thin wall stainless steel pipework in place of traditional materials such as carbon steel. This approach reduced material weight across the vast site, improved health and safety during installation, and significantly accelerated installation and flushing periods.

To further streamline delivery, extensive pipework modules and the packaged plant rooms were fully prefabricated at our Cramlington manufacturing facility before being transported to London for installation. In total, the team installed over 26,000 metres of pipework, coordinating closely with other trades to ensure seamless integration across the development.

 Key Features

• Comprehensive Mechanical Package: Our team provided an extensive mechanical installation that included all mechanical pipework services, packaged plantroom works and cutting-edge 3D design solutions.
• Pre-Fabrication Excellence: We leveraged our core value of pre-fabrication, establishing a competitive solution tailored for the retail industry, which ensured minimal on-site disruption and streamlined installation processes.
• Modular Approach: The project saw the successful installation of 28,000 m² of SS Tru-bore and plastic pipework, with strategic use of modular SS304 and PVC pipe systems for the HVAC distribution network. We believe this is one of the UK’s largest references for Tru-bore application.

Key Outcomes

• Enhanced Operational Capacity: Through the installation of advanced mechanical systems, Westfield Shopping Centre's operational efficiency and capacity were significantly improved, supporting the increased footfall expected from the expansion.
• Successful Collaboration: The integration of pre-fabricated plantrooms, shipped in two sections from our Cramlington-based factory, allowed for swift completion, demonstrating our strong project management capabilities.