Portal Way, North Acton

Acton, London

End‑to‑end mechanical support for a self‑delivered high‑rise development

Portal Way marks C J O’Shea’s first fully self-delivered project, and for Brymec, it was a chance to support our trusted customer in taking full responsibility for a 36‑storey, 350 apartment scheme, from coordination and procurement right through to installation, and to provide the technical knowledge they needed along the way.

The ability to deliver projects at scale requires partnerships built on consistency, trust, and the capability to provide what is needed, when its needed, alongside tight deadlines, complex structures, and unexpected challenges. That’s exactly what Brymec developed with C J O’Shea for Portal Way.

Main Contractor: C J O’Shea

Location: North Acton

Project Scope: 36 Storey Building with 350 apartments

Brymec Involvement: Manufacturing, distribution, and technical support of M&E products across the development, supporting final installation phases.

Products featured

  • Stainless Steel Threaded Fittings Fittings & Tube

  • Copper Tube & End Feed Fittings

  • Solvent Weld Waste Systems

  • Cast Iron Drainage

  • Brymec Valves

  • Fixings & Supports

  • Brass Compression

Project Overview

With project requirements changing mid-way through the early design process, Portal Way reflects the post‑Grenfell shift in UK high‑rise construction. Every product category now sits within a stricter framework of fire, acoustic and compartmentation requirements. This increases the demand for technical accuracy and for systems that integrate cleanly without introducing risk.

The scheme also reflected a 35% affordable housing provision, including London Affordable Rent, London Living Rent, and Discount Market Rent, which gave this project an important role in supporting accessible urban living.

Designed by HTA Design LLP, the building reflects a shift toward modern, regulation-led construction, combining design quality with advanced building systems and compliance-driven engineering.

Brymec’s involvement

Brymec provided end‑to‑end support across the mechanical systems, beginning with design reviews and take‑offs and continuing through manufacturing, supply, and on‑site guidance.

Our involvement began with drainage. The team at C J O’Shea asked us to review their early drawings and help shape the specification for the cast iron system. From that point, the work grew naturally. New drawings arrived, and our technical team carried out multiple take‑offs, advising on material compatibility across water, waste, and pressure-regulated systems.

Delivering this breadth consistently, on time, in full, and aligned to the project sequence, removed a significant amount of risk for the contractor. It also meant each system was backed by the same technical team, reducing the friction that often appears when working across multiple suppliers.

That early collaboration set the tone for the rest of the project. C J O’Shea needed a partner who understood the realities of building a tower of this scale under today’s regulatory expectations. We became part of that process, advising, checking, adjusting, and helping them move from design into installation with confidence.

Prefabrication Pods

The project also made use of prefabricated shower pods, bathroom pods and utility modules. We supplied the mechanical components for these units, delivered them directly to the prefabrication partner before they were transported to site, and provided on‑site reviews of installation. This meant the contractor received completed pods ready for installation, reducing labour demands and speeding up the build programme.

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“We’ve worked with Brymec for many years, and the Portal Way project has been another great example of why our relationship works so well. The breadth of systems and products available, and the fact they all work effortlessly together, makes a real difference on site. The quality is consistently high, service is always excellent, deliveries are on time and in full, and we haven’t experienced any issues, which gives us confidence when delivering complex projects.

What really sets Brymec apart is that they go beyond just manufacturing and supplying products. On this project, key stakeholders took the time to visit site, on different occasions, which shows genuine care for both the project and the wider team.”

Adam Habib, Project Manager, CJ O'Shea

Key Challenges

One of the biggest pressures on the project came from the timing of new fire‑safety regulations. The design team were already progressing with system selections when the updated requirements were introduced, which meant several core decisions had to be revisited.

To keep the programme moving, coordination across trades had to increase. Teams needed clarity on what the updated requirements meant for sequencing, system interfaces and approved installation techniques. Our role in this phase was to help the contractor understand how the new rules affected the mechanical systems we manufacture, and to ensure the products, manuals and installation details aligned with the revised design intent.

The Result

Portal Way continues to progress toward its planned 2027 completion and stands as an example of how self‑delivery can work at scale when supported by reliable partnerships.

For us, the measure of success is simple: the contractor received the systems they needed, when they needed them, and had direct access to people who could help them move quickly and confidently through each stage of the build.

The project has shown how much value comes from early involvement, clear specification support and a single, integrated approach to mechanical systems. It’s the type of collaboration where our hybrid model; manufacturer, distributor, and technical partner, makes the most difference.