Lee Marley

Project 1: The Exchange 

Location: Watford

Brick Manufacturers: Ibstock PLC / wienerberger Limited / Non UK / Non UK

Brick Names: Katrina Dark Red / Pagus / Corum Stock / Magnolia Light Red / White Glazed Brick

Architect: A&Q Partnership

Project 2: Abbey Road Phase 3

Location: London

Brick Manufacturer: Non UK

Architect: Pollard Thomas Edwards PTE

Lee Marley Brickwork is one of the UK’s leading specialist masonry contractors, delivering complex brickwork, stonework and integrated scaffold solutions for major residential and commercial developments. Operating from London, Reading and Glasgow employing over 1,400 people.

Our specialism is the delivery of high-quality masonry at scale, particularly on large, technically demanding residential schemes where workmanship, programme certainty, safety and assurance must be maintained consistently across multiple elevations, phases and building heights. The introduction of the Building Safety Act has increased the importance of competent, evidence-led delivery, and our growth reflects the increasing need for professionalised specialist subcontractors able to combine craftsmanship with robust management systems.

Quality assurance is embedded from pre-construction through to completion. We work closely with design teams and main contractors to test buildability, agree benchmark standards, coordinate material palettes and sequencing, and ensure that complex details can be delivered safely and repeatedly on site. Our approach combines experienced supervision, structured inspection, technical coordination and disciplined production planning, allowing us to maintain consistent standards across a large portfolio of projects.

Health and safety is central to our operating model. Our Accident Frequency Rate is currently 0.10, reflecting strong supervision, effective training and disciplined site management. We have also achieved RoSPA Gold for five consecutive years, reaching Gold Medal status, demonstrating sustained commitment from site teams through to executive leadership.

Training and skills development are a defining part of the business. In September 2023, we launched the Lee Marley Academy in collaboration with London South Bank Technical College to expand access to high-quality brickwork training and address long-term skills shortages in the sector.  In 2025 Lee Marley was accredited as an Approved Apprenticeship Provider by the Department for Education, becoming a college in our own right. We are currently working with Places for London/Transport for London on securing a larger training space where we can significantly increase provision that will be open to the whole of the industry.

The Academy provides an enhanced apprenticeship route that goes beyond standard provision. Apprentices joining directly from GCSEs can qualify as fully trained bricklayers before the age of 18, accelerating progression while maintaining quality and site readiness. We currently have 87 apprentices across a number of disciplines, including 52 apprentices undertaking Level 2 Brickwork in our own Academy. Approximately 47% come from disadvantaged backgrounds, around 40% are from BAME backgrounds, around 20% are female significantly above the construction industry average. 

Since September 2023, we have invested more than £500,000 in the Academy and apprenticeship infrastructure. Our commitment to training, inclusion and opportunity has been recognised through the King’s Award for Enterprise: Promoting Opportunity in 2026, the Princess Royal Training Award in 2021 and 2024, ABC 2025 Commitment to Training and Development Award and were placed 11^th on the 2026 Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers

Lee Marley Brickwork combines traditional craft skill with modern production discipline, giving clients the confidence that complex masonry packages can be delivered safely, consistently and to a high architectural standard.

Project 1: The Exchange

The Exchange is a major residential development in Watford by Berkeley Homes, distinguished by its extensive and carefully executed use of clay brick as the primary construction material. The scheme demonstrates how contemporary construction methods can successfully integrate with traditional masonry to deliver both architectural quality and long-term performance at scale.

Brick is the defining material across the development, providing a unifying architectural language across buildings ranging from 7 to 27 storeys. Its selection was driven not only by aesthetic intent but also by its proven durability, fire performance, acoustic properties, and low maintenance requirements—making it a highly effective solution for large-scale residential construction.

A carefully curated palette of clay facing bricks creates both cohesion and variation. Tones of red, buff, and dark grey/brown are used to articulate building massing and verticality, while subtle variation in colour and texture introduces depth and visual richness. Glazed brick is applied selectively at key locations, such as entrances and high-traffic areas, enhancing durability and providing a refined contrast to the primary palette.

The brick composition comprises:

• Ibstock – Katrina Dark Red: 50%
• Vandersanden – Corum Stock: 25%
• Wienerberger – Pagus (Grey/Black): 15%
• Vandersanden – Magnolia Light Red: 7%
• Pirineo – White Glazed Brick: 3%

This balanced mix allows for a clear hierarchy across the façades, with darker tones emphasising upper levels and vertical elements, and lighter bricks improving the human scale at street level.

From a construction perspective, the delivery of high-quality brickwork across multiple phases and building heights required rigorous coordination and consistent quality control. The façade strategy was developed to ensure buildability, with repeatable detailing and efficient sequencing aligned to the structural frame. Skilled on-site craftsmanship was essential to maintaining precision across large elevations, particularly at upper levels.

Detailing plays a key role in elevating the brickwork beyond a standard solution. Features such as recessed panels, projecting courses, and varied bonding patterns introduce texture and identity while remaining practical to construct. These details were carefully designed to balance visual impact with efficiency and repeatability.

The inherent performance of clay brick contributes significantly to the scheme’s longevity. Its resistance to weathering, colour stability, and minimal maintenance requirements reduce whole-life costs while maintaining appearance over time. Additionally, the thermal mass of the masonry contributes to improved building performance and resident comfort.

The Exchange demonstrates the versatility of brick in both mid-rise and high-rise applications. Despite its scale, the consistent use of masonry ensures a tactile, human quality at street level. Through a combination of thoughtful material selection, robust construction methodology, and high-quality execution, the development successfully delivers a durable, cohesive, and visually distinctive residential environment.

2 of our apprentices worked on the project, Health and Safety Stats for Lee Marley Brickwork were excellent.

The Exchange has been named in the top 3 places to live by The Vitality Index.

Project 2: Abbey Road Phase 3

Abbey Road Phase 3 was a complex, residential-led development delivered within a highly constrained urban environment. We were appointed as the brickwork subcontractor, responsible for constructing the external masonry façades across multiple blocks. The project demanded an exceptional standard of workmanship to realise the architect’s detailed façade design, which incorporated intricate bonding patterns, bespoke brick specials, B.O.S.S brick panels, feature panels, and precise setting out throughout.

Brickwork played a central role in defining both the character and visual identity of the development, contributing structurally and aesthetically to the overall scheme. Achieving consistency in colour, texture, and alignment across expansive elevations required meticulous attention to detail. This was combined with the careful integration of movement joints, window interfaces, cavity barriers, and bespoke detailing, all in accordance with stringent design and performance requirements.

A key challenge on the project was the restricted site logistics. Limited storage space, constrained access routes, and tight delivery schedules required close coordination with the main contractor and other trades. Just-in-time deliveries and phased work areas were essential to maintaining programme continuity while minimising disruption.

The project also presented a number of technical and programme-related challenges. These included working within tight construction tolerances, sequencing works alongside scaffold adaptations, and managing interfaces with multiple subcontractors operating simultaneously. Adverse weather conditions, limited access, and the complexity of the façade design placed additional pressure on programme delivery, requiring proactive planning and strong on-site management throughout.

Despite these challenges, the brickwork package was successfully delivered to a high-quality standard. The project demonstrates our capability to deliver complex masonry works within demanding site constraints while maintaining productivity, safety, and attention to detail. Notably, over the course of the project, only one minor accident was recorded since April 2024, reflecting a strong commitment to health and safety.

Abbey Phase 3 represents the final stage of the wider Abbey Area redevelopment, which was granted outline planning approval in 2012. The scheme brings together the distinct qualities of three neighbouring conservation areas, creating a cohesive and contextually sensitive development.

The project delivers 139 high-quality new homes alongside flexible commercial space, enhanced public realm, and landscaping. The blend of heritage and regeneration within Camden has created an engaging place to live, work, and visit. Abbey Phase 3 builds on the success of earlier phases while drawing inspiration from the rich architectural context of the surrounding area.

Architecturally, the scheme incorporates corduroy brickwork to add texture at the base of the buildings, helping to frame the ground floor. Stepped brick banding and parapet detailing reference the character and rhythm of the local context.

The wider development comprises:

• 296 residential units
• 1,300 sqm commercial space
• 1,055 sqm business floorspace
• 2,500 sqm community & health facilities

Design objectives for the development include:

• Sensitive response to its location
• Safe, accessible, and high-quality public realm
• Active street frontages
• Strong architectural identity
• High-quality homes for all residents
• A fabric-first response to the climate emergency

Importantly, all residents who lived on the estate prior to redevelopment were offered a brand-new home within the new scheme.