Wates Residential has been appointed by Notting Hill Genesis to build the first 209 homes and improved outdoor spaces of the next phase of the Grahame Park regeneration
Wates Residential, part of leading privately-owned construction, property services and development company, the Wates Group, has been appointed by Notting Hill Genesis to deliver the first 209 mixed tenure homes of the next stage of the regeneration of Grahame Park, Barnet’s largest housing estate, located in Colindale.
This first plot (Plot A) will provide 60 social rented homes ranging from one to five bedrooms, 149 one- and two-bedroom homes for shared ownership across five new blocks as well as communal green spaces and a small supermarket. The site is currently in the process of demolition with construction work expected to start on site in late Autumn 2021 and to be completed by 2023.
Grahame Park is one of the largest self-funding regeneration projects in Europe. In conjunction with the London Borough of Barnet, Notting Hill Genesis has successfully completed Stage A of the scheme comprising nearly 700 homes, retail units, park improvements, construction of Barnet and Southgate College, a library, a new site for the Centre for Independent Living and Barnet Council’s new offices to accommodate up to 1,000 employees.
Wates’ appointment marks the beginning of Stage B of the Grahame Park project and forms the next part of the wider masterplan for the area, which includes more than 2,000 new homes, half of which will be affordable, new retail, workspaces, private gardens, open space, community and health facilities, a revitalised Heybourne Park and a new main street.
A vision for regeneration
The vision for the next stage of the regeneration is to create an interconnected network of tree-lined streets overlooked by beautiful homes designed with physical and mental wellbeing at its core. It will provide a safe environment with neighbourhoods connected by walking and cycle paths, while investment towards bus services will improve journey times and link Graham Park to the rest of Colindale.
It is hoped that Notting Hill Genesis’ £750m investment in Plot A and the next phases of the regeneration over the next 15 years, supported by the London Borough of Barnet and the GLA, will transform the experience of people on the estate for generations, combining training and employment opportunities and social programmes with improved community facilities and transport links alongside new landscaping, parks and green spaces for residents to enjoy.
Creating social value
Integral to this is the social value that will be created. Notting Hill Genesis leads on a long-term programme of neighbourhood change designed to increase social, economic and environmental inclusion, health and wellbeing.
As part of the development of Plot A, Wates Residential and Notting Hill Genesis have made a joint commitment to leave a positive lasting legacy in the area and will be working closely with local community groups, schools and charities. This includes hosting site visits and providing 14 work experience placements throughout the duration of the project. The social impact of the development during the next three years will significantly benefit the local community, businesses, residents and families alike as well as supporting economic growth and meeting the neighbourhood change social impact framework priorities for Grahame Park.
Wates Residential’s pre-employability ‘Construct a Career’ course will also be offered to residents. This aims to support unemployed people by providing them with the vital construction training and employment skills needed to gain work on site. This includes CV and job interview workshops, training to gain a Level 1 Health and Safety qualification, a live site visit and the cost of a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) test to enable them to work on a site. This builds on the economic inclusion offer for Grahame Park residents.
In addition, 18 apprenticeships will be created and £11m spent with small to medium sized businesses to buy local and leverage the local supply chain.
Adrian Fennessy, Operations Director for Wates Residential said:
“We are delighted to have formed this new partnership with Notting Hill Genesis and look forward to contributing to creating a new and improved Grahame Park Estate for the whole community to benefit from.
“Wates Residential is committed to leaving a positive legacy as part of our presence in every local area that we work, so working with Notting Hill Genesis, Barnet Council and the Colindale community to provide employment and training opportunities as well as support for local schools, charities and community groups will be just as important to us as building these high-quality new homes.”
Tracy Lavers of Notting Hill Genesis said:
“Having obtained planning approval for the Masterplan for Stage B of the regeneration last Summer we are delighted to see our plans now starting to come to fruition. The appointment of Wates to build the first affordable homes in the next stage of the regeneration marks a major milestone in the project’s history and we could not have chosen a better partner.
“Wates has an excellent track record not only as a builder of high-quality homes but also as a company that wants to support our ambitions to achieve social value and lasting improvement in the lives of residents living on the estate. We are very much looking forward to working together in partnership over the coming months and years.”