A masterplan for more than 2,000 homes at Barnet’s largest housing estate has passed its final hurdle after being agreed by the Greater London Authority (GLA).
The transformation of Grahame Park in Colindale, developed by Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) in partnership with Barnet Council, will see 2,088 new homes built over the next 15 years. More than 1,000 of the new homes will be affordable, including 346 for social rent.
Community facilities, including a community centre and a day nursery, will also be provided as well as improvements to Heybourne Park. The proposals include a new high street that will integrate Grahame Park into wider Colindale, improvements to sustainable forms of travel such as buses, electric vehicles, walking and cycling, as well as new green spaces and play areas.
In March, the London Borough of Barnet agreed to give planning consent for 209 affordable homes and a small supermarket, on which work will begin soon.
The masterplan will provide more than enough homes to house all the existing secure tenants at Grahame Park, and that they will only have to move once.
Kate Davies, chief executive of NHG, said: “The GLA’s decision is very welcome and will bring a huge benefit to the area, both in terms of new homes and fantastic new facilities. It is important to us that we go beyond bricks and mortar and help establish a high-quality neighbourhood with the community at its heart.
“Since the Mayor of London’s decision on the previous plan in 2018, we’ve worked very closely with Barnet Council, the Mayor and local residents to ensure designs met the aspirations of everyone involved and this decision is the culmination of those efforts.
“We are committed to providing high quality homes and facilities for new and existing residents and will be investing almost £700m over the next 15 years to ensure the sustainability of this vital project, £35m of which will come from our own reserves.”
Councillor Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the GLA’s decision to approve the masterplan for Grahame Park.
“As one of London’s largest boroughs, with a population forecast to increase by more than 30,000 over the next fifteen years, it is essential that we build for Barnet’s future.
“The transformation of Grahame Park will provide high quality homes and facilities for thousands of residents, creating a family-friendly place, while respecting existing communities.”
This announcement also follows the recent decision by the council to invest an additional £33m on a range of improvements over the next three years to the existing homes on the Grahame Park estate.