Consortium to Deliver South Kilburn Masterplan

 

15.02.2006

 

Bellway plc and Hyde Housing Association are part of a consortium that has been selected as the preferred partner by the London Borough of Brent to deliver the £1 billion regeneration of South Kilburn in London.

The decision follows a rigorous selection process and will involve Bellway and consortium partners working jointly to oversee the entire regeneration scheme. Architects PRP and a specialist team will work to design the scheme with the consortium.

South Kilburn is located in the south of the London Borough of Brent, bordering the Boroughs of Camden and Westminster. The area comprises 61 acres and is defined by high - and medium - sized tower blocks built in the 60’ s and 70’ s.

In 1998 a regeneration team was established to address deprivation in the area.In 1999 the Government announced support for South Kilburn via the New Deal for Communities programme awarding the area £50 million and establishing South Kilburn New Deal for Communities.

Since then, extensive consultation with residents and stakeholders has resulted in the production of an agreed master-plan setting the physical framework for area-wide regeneration. Proposals include new development and refurbishment, transport improvements and enhancements to local streets and public spaces.

Bellway and the Hyde group will work with PRP to a brief laid out in South Kilburn NDC’s masterplan. Proposals will change South Kilburn from a monolithic housing estate back into four high quality neighbourhoods each with their own character and facilities.

Managing Director of Bellway City Solutions, Ian Cox said: “The aim is to provide housing choice and a quality environment that will reinvigorate the area and help bridge the economic divide between south Kilburn and the surrounding communities of Maida Vale and Queen’s Park.”

Delivery of the master-plan will be achieved by adopting a part redevelopment and part refurbishment approach. Approximately 1,500 of the existing properties will be demolished and rebuilt and around 1,500 units are to be constructed for private sale. The 775 remaining council properties will stay with the council and be managed by Brent Housing Partnership, the arms length management organisation for Brent Council. A traditional street pattern will be created with new and reconnected streets as well as replacement housing consisting of medium rise blocks of flats facing onto the street with protected private and communal gardens to the rear. Shops, services and community facilities and public open space will be retained, replaced or newly provided within walking distance to meet the needs of existing and future residents.

ENDS

Notes to editors

South Kilburn includes 3,360 dwellings of which 2,300 are Council owned. The majority of Council properties in South Kilburn are contained within the Kilburn Ward. Housing stock comprises 9 high rise and 18 medium rise blocks of flats providing approximately 21,000 dwellings. The tower blocks were constructed during the mid 70’s; many of the buildings, especially the ‘bison blocks’ are now in need of major capital investment.

The area has one of the highest levels of social housing in London – 78.1%, compared with a Greater London average of 33.6%. The Kilburn ward has been identified as the 23rd most deprived in London and is one of the last significant areas of Brent to receive investment in housing stock.

Bellway plc

Bellway Homes has over 50 years experience in housebuilding and is now one of the country’s largest housebuilders, selling more than 7,000 homes annually. At anyone time Bellway is active on more than 200 sites nationwide and provides a range of house types across the spectrum. Bellway has significant experience in partnering organisations and developing brownfield sites and regenerating inner city schemes.

Hyde Housing Group

Hyde Housing Group is a major housing association group. It is a charity, and it is not for profit – so any surpluses it makes are used to improve the homes of its residents and to build new homes for people in housing need. Hyde is London-based, and does a lot of work in Brent. Hillside Housing Trust, a new member of the Hyde Group, is currently completing the redevelopment of the Stonebridge estate in Harlesdon, and managing the homes there.

For further information contact: Julian Kenyon, Group PR Manager Bellway plc, Tel 0191 2170717, e-mail julian.kenyon@bellway.co.uk