News

Mayor green lights two refused London housing schemes

London mayor Sadiq Khan  has approve two major housing projects previously refused planning by local borough councils.

Palmerston Road (Harrow)
Designed by Moss Architects, the Palmerston Road scheme is for Origin Housing

His decision to call in and then approve the schemes after they were altered to increase the affordable housing element means construction can proceed on nearly 700 homes.

Haringey Council had rejected an application for up to 505 homes, including a 21-storey tower at Hale Wharf in Tottenham, over concerns that it would be too tall and would adversely impact Green Belt land.

The Allies and Morrison designed scheme for joint developer Muse and the Canal and River Trust will now start first phase piling this summer.

Hale Wharf Tottenham

Stace is project manager and Ramboll the civil and structural consultant for the Hale Wharf scheme

Likewise, an application for 186 homes in Palmerston Road in Wealdstone was also rejected by Harrow Council, as the 17-storey development was deemed too high.

Now Origin Housing Association can go ahead with its plans for the £15m project, which is being bid by Galliford Try and Keepmoat.

Khan said: “We’ve worked with the applicant on the Hale Wharf scheme in Haringey to increase the level of affordable housing and ensure the project will not encroach on our precious green belt, as was the case in earlier designs.

“The development at Palmerston Road in Harrow also offers a high level of affordable housing, which is particularly important as we move towards my long-term strategic target of 50% affordable.”

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Go-ahead for London Albert Embankment twin towers

Lambeth Council has given the green light for a pair of 25-storey towers on London’s Albert Embankment.

Albert Embankment

Developer Ocubis aims to build the 166-home twin-tower scheme at 36-46 Albert Embankment at a former Texaco garage site in the heart of Vauxhall overlooking the River Thames.

Designed by architect Make, the scheme will test the appetite in the London market for prime residential in the Vauxhall area.

The design presents several engineering challenges with several sections of the stepped 85m tall buildings cantilevered to break up the profile.

Watermans is both M&E and structural consultant on the project.

Waterman’s Director, Peter Downing said that the complex building geometry presented structural engineering challenges that were solved by adopting reinforced-concrete framing, comprising core-and-outrigger stability systems, balanced cantilever floors and “walking walls” to dramatic effect.

The development for site owner Hotchkiss will use combined heat and power to provide over 70% of the heating requirements and have renewable energy provided by 35m2 of photovoltaic cells.

Albert Embankment

View from Vauxhall Gardens to the south

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Firm picked for £1bn London sink estates revamp

Taylor Wimpey has been selected as preferred bidder to redevelop two neighbouring housing estates in Battersea with over 2,000 homes.

Winstanley York Road

The regeneration project is expected to cost over £300m to build

The vast scheme is being promoted as the flagship project in the Government’s crusade to bulldoze and rebuild the country’s worst sink estates.

The £1bn Winstanley and York Road scheme will regenerate a 32 acre site creating a new better-designed mixed-use neighbourhood of around 2,000 homes with new retail, leisure, community and office space.

Taylor Wimpey managed to beat rival bids from industry heavyweights Berkeley, Balfour Beatty, Lendlease and C&C Properties UK & Pinnacle Group.

Council tenants and owner occupiers are being offered new homes in the development so they can stay and share in the area’s revival.

Tenants have already supported a wholesale redevelopment option for the two estates rather than a revamp of existing buildings.

Winstanley battersea masterplan-overview_v2_r1_web

The estates sit side-by-side between Clapham Junction station and new luxury housing along the river.

Under the favoured option 3 some existing blocks will be refurbished and large areas of the York Road estate will be rebuilt.

The redeveloped areas will be extended further to include Ganley Court, Gagarin House and Shepard House. New housing would be constructed in modern buildings fronting onto clearly defined streets.

Two towers on York Road estate will be retained under present plans but Chesterton House would be redeveloped.

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Precision, Greenwich

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Developer: Weston Homes

Estimated completion: from Q4 2017

Postcode: SE10 0AG

Site map

Development brochure: Brochure

 

Floorplans:

Henley: Henley

Alexander: Alexander

Tomlinson: Tomlinson

Buchanan: Buchanan

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£100m Maidstone resi scheme approved

Developer U+I has gained planning for 310 new homes on a disused former paper mill site marking a gateway to Maidstone town centre.

Maidstone U+I

The planned buildings will vary in height from 8-18 storeys. They have been designed by Guy Hollaway Architect and will boast rooftop allotments.

The Royal Engineers Road plans include 220 flats, which could be delivered as build to rent or speculative homes for sale. 

Richard Upton, Deputy Chief Executive of U+I said: “The project team has worked hard over the past year to develop a creative and compelling vison for Royal Engineers Road.”

“The plans will bring forward a high quality residential-led scheme, which with the inclusion of a build to rent element, providing local residents with greater choice.”

The project is one of four U+I developments within London City Region ‘Huburbs’ and within an hour’s commute of central London.

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Quintain launches London’s largest build to rent site

Quintain is set to transform Wembley Park into the largest build to rent development site in the UK

WembleyParkCGI_small

The developer has revealed a construction programme for 5,000 PRS homes around the National Stadium

Funding and planning is in place and Quintain said “construction will also be at a pace not seen at any other major development site, with 3,000 homes under construction by the end of 2017.”

The 5,000 homes will be delivered in phases over the next seven years.

The developer currently has four contractors on its Wembley framework – Carillion, McLaren, Sisk and Wates. But work could be opened up to new firms.

The homes will be available through Quintain’s build to rent business Tipi which was launched last April.

By the end of this year there will be 3,000 homes under construction, alongside a new seven acre public park, a new landscaped London square, a three-form entry primary school and a wide range of shops, restaurants and workspaces.

Quintain has already invested £900m in the transformation of Wembley Park and has a further £800m of funding secured.

Angus Dodd, Chief Executive of Quintain, said: “Our commitment to build to rent at Wembley Park means we can deliver the homes London needs far faster than if we were selling homes privately and ensures they will be occupied very shortly after they are complete.

“This long term commitment also means we can design homes specifically for the needs of today’s generation of renters and provide fantastic shared facilities and professional management arrangements which our residents love. We will ensure no apartment is left empty.

“Quintain owns the entire 85 acre site – a huge area in the context of London – allowing us to deliver in a co-ordinated manner the apartments, the parks, the outdoor spaces and the commercial, retail and entertainment uses which are such an integral part of Wembley Park.

“We are creating, a 21st century great estate for London, in tune with what all Londoners want today and enhancing and contributing to the wider borough of Brent.”

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said: “To have 3,000 new homes under construction in one location this year shows just how in demand Wembley Park is as a place to live and it is comforting to know that with professional management in place, we won’t have a single rogue landlord.

“I have been hugely impressed with the quality of homes being built at Wembley Park and Quintain has also made a huge investment to upgrade all the public spaces around the area to bring the place alive with events, shops, workspaces and other attractions.”

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Lendlease set to lead £2bn Haringey regeneration

North London’s Haringey council looks set to pick Lendlease to steer a £2bn regeneration scheme of 5,000 new homes in the Borough.

northumberlandpark
Northumberland Park Regeneration Area

The council’s recommendation to select the firm as preferred development partner is set to be rubber stamped on 14 February.

Lendlease was up against rival bids from Morgan Sindall with Clarion Group; and Pinnacle with Starwood Capital and Catalyst

Over the next 20 years the Haringey Development Vehicle joint venture will drive construction of 5,000 new homes and a new town centre in Wood Green.

The development sites proposed for the first phase of regeneration are the former Cranwood care home in Muswell Hill; the council’s civic centre, Station Road offices and library in Wood Green; and the Northumberland Park regeneration area.

Haringey council leader, Cllr Claire Kober said: This 50:50 partnership ensures the Council is involved in all decisions and crucially can ensure that a share of the profits goes back into other regeneration initiatives, affordable housing and funding the services we provide to residents.” 

If the decision to appoint Lendlease is approved a final decision on whether to establish the Haringey Development Vehicle is expected to be made by Haringey council’s cabinet in the summer of 2017.

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Plans unveiled for £1bn glass towers in Greenwich

Plans have been unveiled for a landmark glass building on Greenwich Peninsula.

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Developer Knight Dragon commissioned “starchitect” Santiago Calatrava to design the scheme above North Greenwich station.

He has created a glass galleria and 80ft high “winter garden” atrium surrounded by three towers.

The development will also be linked to the other side of the Thames by a new bridge.

The Peninsula Place scheme will include 800 apartments, 30,000 sq ft of offices, a hotel and around 80 shops, restaurants and bars.

The bus station will be rebuilt while the tube station will remain open during construction.

Mr Calatrava told the Standard: “It is an honour to be designing such a piece of the fabric of London, a city I love. In designing this scheme, I have been inspired by London’s rich architectural heritage and the very special geography of the Peninsula.

“It will be a project that reflects both this and the ambition of Knight Dragon for Greenwich Peninsula.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, said: “Peninsula Place will create a new buzzing, cultural destination in the capital, which I’m confident will attract visitors not only from London, but around the globe.

“The iconic building – designed by world leading architect Santiago Calatrava – will be a truly fitting pathway onto the Peninsula, with the development offering an improved tube and bus station, alongside new shops and homes.

“This investment in key infrastructure in the capital is a vote of confidence post-Brexit and shows that London is open to business, trade and attracting the greatest talent from around the world.”

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Enabling work starts at £6bn Meridian Water scheme

Enabling works are officially launched today to prepare the way for the first 725 homes at the vast Meridian Water regeneration scheme in North London.

Meridian Water
Meridian Water scheme which lies in a dedicated Opportunity Area and a Housing Zone next door to the Lee Valley Regional Park

Ultimately the £6bn Lee Valley scheme, led by Enfield Council teamed up with Barratt as its main development partner, will deliver 10,000 new homes. 

Land remediation specialist Cognition Land and Marine are on site pioneering a new US method for removing oil and non-aqueous chemicals with limited groundwater extraction.

The NET method uses oil attracting fabrics running continuously in a loop on conveyors into ground wells to recover pollutants, reducing the need for expensive water treatment.

A soil remediation contractor will be named by Enfield Council for Meridian Water’s phase one by the end of February to start on site in April.

Once Barratt has achieved detailed planning for the first 725 homes later this year principal contractors will be appointed.

The vast site covers a 210 acres located  between Edmonton, Tottenham and Walthamstow.

FINAL.NewRailStation.MeridianWater.LOWRES

The first homes are due to be completed in 2019 alongside a new station.

Phase One will also include shops and public spaces around a new railway station.

Cllr Doug Taylor, Leader of Enfield Council, said:  “Today is the day that Meridian Water moves firmly from vision to reality.  Many people said ‘it couldn’t be done’ but today we have started works to prepare the site for the first 725 new homes, we have the new railway station funded and being delivered and we have the UK’s largest homes builder as our selected Development Partner.”

Meridian Water Phase One time table

meridianwater-Phase-One

  • January 2017 – Construction enabling works start on Meridian Water’s Phase One, delivering 725 new homes, shops and public spaces around the new railway station.
  • Spring 2017 – Development Agreement signed between Enfield Council and Barratt London, the selected Development Partner.
  • September 2017 – Enfield Council begin construction of the first phase of Meridian Works, a new premises for Building Bloqs and ACAVA (the Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art) creating the largest open workshop in Europe, supporting 300 jobs.
  • Early 2018 – Barratt London on-site constructing Phase One.
  • Early 2018 – Building Bloqs @ Meridian Works and ACAVA @ Meridian Works opens.
  • 2019 – The new Station at Meridian Water is planned to open, triggering the delivery of the first new homes.
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Green light for new £500m Chelsea stadium

Planners at Hammersmith & Fulham council have given Chelsea the go-ahead to build a new 60,000-seater stadium at Stamford Bridge.

chelsea stadium

Plans for the new £500m ground will see the current stadium demolished.

A club statement said: “We are grateful that planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of our historic home.

“The committee decision does not mean that work can begin on site.

“This is just the latest step, although a significant one, that we have to take before we can commence work, including obtaining various other permissions.”

The new stadium has been designed by architects Herzog and de Meuron and construction work is expected to last three years.

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