The Great West Road opened in 1925 just before a new wave of industrial development.

Brentford's 'golden mile' of art deco factories, built by the likes of Smith's crisps and Maclean's toothpaste, prompted JB Priestley to liken a drive along the Great West Road to a vista of California.

Before and after the Second World War private builders spread streets of terraced houses across the remaining open land, while the borough council cleared slums and built flats and houses.

The Firestone building in the Great West Road was demolished in 1980 but the Beecham building survived a similar threat.

Several major companies have built new or redeveloped office complexes on the Great West Road and made much-needed landscaping improvements, while residential schemes have included a new 'waterside community' at Brentford Lock.

Some of the biggest companies include GlaxoSmithkline and Sky.