BIG magazine issue 3

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Up for investment

Green for growth

enterprise in global cuisine, grand designs in regeneration

wealth of open space, skills for employment

Bu i l d / I n n o v a t e / Gr o w Ha r r o w ISSUE 3

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Contents

₇ news Development

scene in Harrow can transport diners around the world and attract visitors into local neighbourhoods

₁₂ regeneration Grand plans

₄₀ skills How learning on the

are shaping up to transform Harrow's civic centre site

₁₆ quality of life The

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₃₃ enterprise How the foodie

opportunities in construction schemes, business opportunities, arts and culture and leisure

breathing spaces created by the borough's wealth of green space

₂₄ map What is happening – and

where? Quick guide to the location of developments featured

₂₆ projects The latest

updates on a selection of major regeneration schemes

job can can bring a boost to employment prospects – and give businesses a competitive edge

₄₆ markets Fast facts and quick figures about Harrow

₄₉ housing What is the future

for new housing models in the face of continued demand?

₅₄ sitematch Designs on the

council's civic centre bring farreaching opportunities for growth

Editorial director Siobhán Crozier Editor Debbie Ashford Design Kate Harkus Assistant editor James Wood Production manager Christopher Hazeldine Business development director Paul Gussar Business development manager Harry Seal Project manager Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager Simon Maxwell Managing director Toby Fox Cover image Goats' cheese as served at Friends Restaurant, Pinner Images David Tothill, Heath Robinson Museum, Andy Hay – RSPB, Harrow Council, RCKa Architects, Paul Chesterfield – RSPB, Ben Hall – RSPB, Grim's Dyke Hotel, Land Securities, Barratt London, Hyde Housing Association, Fairview/ Picture Plane, Persimmon Homes, Origin, Hawkins\Brown – Forbes Massie, Pecking Order, Coriander, Only Eggless, Friends Restaurant, Second Cup, Harrow College, Dandi Living Printed by Park Communications Published by 3Fox International, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational.com Subscriptions & feedback bigharrow.com

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© 2016 3Fox International Limited. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of 3Fox International Ltd is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of 3Fox International Ltd.

News

News

national artist comes home The new Heath Robinson Museum, opened in Pinner Memorial Park on 15 October, will be the first purpose-built museum to appear in Greater London for over 40 years.

The museum will provide a permanent home to 900 nationally significant artworks by illustrator Heath Robinson who lived in Pinner from 1908-18. It will celebrate the

life of one of the country’s most innovative artists and cartoonists (1872-1944), famed for depicting wacky inventions.

Funding to build the museum in West House has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which contributed £1.3 million, topped up with grants and donations from charities and local organisations. Fundraising continues to

walk then talk The Enterprise Centre in Harrow College hosted 84 developers and investors at an event that showcased Harrow’s Council’s ambitious plans for the borough and the continuing opportunities for rejuvenation.

Before the gathering, 15 investors took a two-hour walking tour of the borough’s main development sites.

Keith Ferry, deputy leader and portfolio holder for business, planning and regeneration (pictured right), highlighted the range of ongoing developments, including the relocation of Harrow Civic Centre to make way for housing, and the council’s partnership with Fairview Homes on the innovative Gayton Road development.

The guests had met with council officials at the global property conference MIPIM in March. Many are already working on projects in the borough.

“As well as these major developments, there are around another 25 developers working in the borough,” he said. “It’s a very exciting time for Harrow.”

find the last £1.8 million required to support the museum over the next three years.

West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust restored the historic venue in Pinner Memorial Park for community use. The trust is a partnership between Pinner residents and the William Heath Robinson Trust, who are custodians of the artist’s work.

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News

park sparkles After two years of rebuilding and landscaping, Queensbury Park wetland on Honeypot Lane has unveiled its natural beauty as a haven for people and wildlife.

The work, in a joint project between the council, waterways charity Thames 21 and the Environment Agency, has restored local river Kenton Brook to help prevent flooding in the area by boosting physical defences.

Thames 21, which works with communities in London to improve rivers, canals, ponds and lakes, will run activities that include riverside clear-ups for schools and families.

Vicky D’Souza, project officer at the charity, says: “This new wetland in Harrow is a big win for London’s wildlife and communities. Wetlands provide a much-needed home for wildlife such as dragonflies, aquatic life and birds, yet they are also a vital part of the urban landscape.”

new shop pops up Harrow’s Start Here scheme to help local entrepreneurs showcase their products in vacant premises has expanded into the former Rayners Lane library.

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Waverley George, who has been selling her Waverley G urban streetwear at the new shop, said: “It’s such a fantastic scheme for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

The feedback has been great.”

The Start Here project has helped lots of budding businesses test their commercial viability by setting up shop at 1 The Bridge, opposite Harrow & Wealdstone station.

They can use the site for up to four weeks at no cost as a valuable stepping stone to expanding their business.

win-win situation Harrow Council has won a national Planning and Placemaking Award, which recognises good practice in UK planning for its regeneration programme.

The programme was developed in

partnership with Inner Circle Consulting, which also won the London regional award as best planning consultancy.

The consultancy has helped create Harrow’s ‘great estates’ strategy, which involves the creation of 5,500 new homes,

this is a very innovative approach to providing housing for a local authority directly. it covers a range of sites and tenures and could be copied by other local authorities

of which 2,200 are to be affordable, as well as a new civic centre, 3,000 new jobs, three public squares, a school, two regenerated high streets and a district heating system.

The plan is to build 2,073 of the new homes across 10 council sites, 755 by the council and 1,309 by private and third sector developers. The development on council sites is expected to cost around

leading man Harrow Council’s leader, Councillor Sachin Shah, has told BIG magazine he believes the borough’s regeneration programme is one of the most important long-term projects the organisation is delivering.

Shah, who was born and grew up in the area, became leader in May. He says: “With one programme, we have the opportunity to shape what Harrow is going to look like for the next 20 years. That makes it even more important that we get it right, that we listen to people and plan for the future.

“The programme cannot just be about physical buildings, it must be more than that. It must be about the communities that live, work and play in Harrow too. Not only must there be places to live, but also places to relax. Culture, leisure and shopping must be part of the plan. The regeneration programme must also include a purpose: a signature message that will define Harrow for years to come.”

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better by design Harrow’s transformation continues apace with the appointment of design teams for three new projects.

£470 million, most of which will be borne by private developers.

“This is a very innovative approach to providing housing for a local authority directly,” the judges said at the awards.

“It covers a range of sites and tenures and could be copied by other local authorities.”

Adam Khan Architects has won a two-stage contest for a new housing scheme at Vaughan Road car park near Harrow-on-the-Hill station to create around 30 new flats and community facilities. The studio is working with landscape architects Adams & Sutherland, community consultant Daisy Froud, structural engineer MLM and planning consultant Tibbalds.

Gort Scott Architects will be producing designs for the potential development of Waxwell Lane car park in Pinner. Gort Scott is a multiple award-winning practice

whose experience of building in both Oxford and Cambridge makes it well placed to enhance the unique historical setting of Pinner. The team intends to liaise extensively with the local community throughout.

RCKa, winner of RIBA London Emerging Practice 2014, is working on the redevelopment of Roxeth Library in Harrow, drawing up proposals for housing alongside a new library and community facilities (design concept pictured above).

The scheme will replace Harrow’s single-storey library with a community hub, including an adult and children’s library, flexible workspace for start-ups and new technology facilities.

Harrow View - The Kodak Alaris Site In December 2015 outline planning permission was secured for the comprehensive, mixed-use development of the Kodak Alaris site known as Harrow View.

Since Land Securities first entered into contractual agreements with Kodak Alaris in 2007, there have been many milestones that have been achieved. An outline planning consent for the entire Kodak Alaris estate was approved in 2012. There has been a significant shift in planning policy since the original permission, led by the Greater London Authority (GLA),

which has seen Harrow and Wealdstone identified as one of the key areas for delivery of new housing in London.

As such, in partnership with the London Borough of Harrow, Land Securities brought forward a fresh planning application which was approved in December 2015.

Persimmon acquired the western part of the site, known as Harrow View West, from Land Securities in 2015. Construction has now started for the delivery of homes on this site.

The redevelopment of the remaining Kodak Alaris site will deliver a host of regeneration and economic benefits for the wider borough of Harrow.

Land Securities has recently signed an agreement for the development of the front part of the remaining site, known as Harrow View East.

The new 2015 planning permission includes: • Up to 1,800 homes to sit alongside the 3 form-entry primary school, offices and shops already proposed on the eastern part of the site • 15,000 sqm of space for facilities with the potential to benefit the entire community • Leisure centre/ health centre with provisions for GPs, dentists, physio, crèche and pharmacy • Senior living accommodation • Care home providing assisted living • Community centre • Community facility associated with the Kodak Alaris chimney • 28,000 sqm of open space • Play areas

www.harrowview.info

Indicative Masterplan

Wider Economic Benefits The development itself will create significant employment during the construction of each of the phases.

Once completed and operational, the redevelopment of the factory site will create up to 2,300 new jobs in a range of sectors including retail, leisure, business, healthcare and education. The development also has the potential to deliver flexible employment space and small office units, providing suitable space for start-ups and Small to Medium Enterprises.

Land Securities and Harrow Council have developed and agreed an Economic Development Strategy for the site which will extend over the development of each phase. This strategy aims to build Harrow’s reputation, to encourage, enable and support business growth, and to target inward investment and the wider economic development of the borough as a whole.

The Harrow View East development is subject to both S106 contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which goes towards funding a range of local physical and social infrastructure.

This includes schools, health and social care, community facilities, improvements to open spaces, biodiversity, emergency services and the funding of Crossrail.

In partnership with:

In partnership with

Regeneration

Grand Designs ��

THE STAKES AND AMBITIONS ARE HIGH AS A TOP DESIGN TEAM BEGINS CREATING PLANS TO TRANSFORM HARROW’S HEART

Words Pamela Buxton

Below: A community day featuring entertainment from some of Harrow’s cultural groups was the ideal occasion to gather views on Building a Better Harrow.

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rchitects have begun masterplanning the redevelopment of Harrow’s civic centre site to create hundreds of new homes, community facilities and public areas.

The council sees the flagship project as a golden opportunity to create a new high quality quarter in the borough. “We want a visionary scheme that will benefit local residents and businesses,” says Harrow councillor Keith Ferry, portfolio holder for business, planning and regeneration. “This is a very significant development and we have lofty aspirations for excellent design quality as we create a new piece of the borough.”

It’s still very early days for a major scheme that will be delivered in phases over the next five to seven years, starting in late 2017. Led

by Stephen Taylor Architects, the design team is formulating a strategy to redevelop the 4.6-ha site, which will be vacant when the council moves out of the civic centre in 2020, and into a new purpose-built, slimmed-down facility in Wealdstone.

Stephen Taylor Architects has teamed up with fellow London-based architects Allies & Morrison and Sergison Bates. All have considerable experience in large-scale urban regeneration, with further design expertise provided by engineers Peter Brett Associates and landscape architect Jonathan Cook.

This collaborative approach is designed to bring a ‘richness’ and ‘coherent diversity’ to the masterplan, according to Stephen Taylor Architects associate Sam Holden.

The brief is to provide 800-900 new homes along with a primary school, plus workspace, retail and public realm. This will create a

quarter with its own distinctive identity, yet one which knits into and enhances the surrounding area as well, providing lifelong homes for generations of residents.

In particular, the redevelopment, provisionally known as Poets’ Corner in reference to the poet-named streets that historically occupied the site, is an opportunity to rejuvenate Station Road and create better pedestrian links to Harrow & Wealdstone station.

All this needs to be achieved with enough flexibility for delivery by a number of different developers.

housing at the heart The redevelopment will address the urgent housing shortage in the area. Already, the Heart of Harrow area has been designated a housing zone and will benefit from £31.5 million from the Greater London Authority, including £8.8 million of recoverable grant for the civic centre redevelopment.

Tenancies will be diverse, with planning policies requiring 40% to be affordable.

aspirations for excellent design quality as we create a new piece of the borough

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Regeneration

Below: More than 400 people attended the launch community event to tell residents about early development ideas and to introduce the team.

Provision will include 200 homes for private rent that the council will develop and retain.

The architectural team is currently considering the qualities that will define the new quarter, which is surrounded by predominantly low-level, Metroland-style development.

The team anticipates that most of the new development will be between six and eight storeys high, stepping lower in some areas and maybe higher in the significant gateway site at the north-west corner near the railway station. Lower-rise elements might include custom-built housing, which could suit an edge site next to existing two-storey buildings.

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“We’re promoting a medium-scale density with a distinctive urban grain,” explains Holden. “We’re trying to create a sense of community.”

within the new development, which is important to support the busy retail and community facilities. There will also be significant provision for the new homes and businesses within the scheme. Architects are looking at a combination of on-street parking and further spaces within a mixeduse building, possibly to the north of the site.

Design of the various blocks will share some common features to give a cohesive identity, while avoiding the development feeling like an estate.

The architects are considering all these options as they draw up the masterplan this year, taking the views of residential and business communities into account.

This distinct identity is consistent with the site’s history. It was the first in the area to be developed when the rest was just open fields, and then in the 60s and 70s it took on another identity, when it was redeveloped as Harrow Council’s civic campus.

The council has already held a launch community event attended by more than 400 people to introduce the idea of the redevelopment and the design team. Further events will take place, as well as workshops with key stakeholders such as local businesses and the mosque.

At this point in time, all options are under consideration, although it has been decided that a two-form entry primary school should definitely be included as part of the scheme. Council buildings on the site, including the council chamber, are likely to be demolished.

There will be reprovision of public parking

While there is much work to do before the final delivery of this huge scheme, progress is forging ahead, with construction programmed to begin on-site in autumn 2017. It is now, at this masterplanning stage, that crucial work is determining the form and character of Poets’ Corner, which will establish a new quarter for Harrow.

it was the first in the area to be developed when the rest was just open fields

For over 50 years we have been successfully using our expertise and specialist skills to ensure land owners realise maximum value from their sites. We are now actively seeking opportunities in London and the South East.

• All sites considered, with or without planning • Substantial funds immediately available • Purchasing decisions are made quickly • Introductory fees paid For further information please email Nicholas Dulcken at nick.dulcken@fairview.co.uk or Richard Paterson at richard.paterson@fairview.co.uk. Alternatively call 020 8366 1271.

50 Lancaster Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 0BY. DX: 90635 ENFIELD www.fairviewnewhomes.co.uk

Quality of life

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Natural resources HOW CAN HARROW RETAIN ITS WEALTH OF OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND WHILE MEETING THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING?

Words Kirsty MacAulay

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o an outsider it may seem the excitement of living in London is due to the bright lights and buzz of the big city – the bars, theatres and the shopping; but for those living in London, joy can often come from the peace of open spaces and greenery.

London is well served by parks and gardens and these green havens provide a muchneeded break from people and traffic. As soon as the sun comes out, or the snow falls in winter, Londoners head for the nearest patch of grass. The desire to be outside and find some space is strong.

Even in outer London, green spaces are highly prized. Many homes have tiny or shared gardens, or none at all, so a grassy expanse can hold a special allure.

This is perhaps why Harrow’s ‘green grid’ has proved so successful. Created in 2013, a network of continuous, linked cycling and walking routes run to and through the

borough’s green spaces, providing alternative routes along paths that are lined with trees and blackberry bushes rather than traffic and pollution.

The London Borough of Harrow has more than 400 hectares of green space in a variety of forms. If you want to get back to nature, this is the place to do it – one fifth of the borough is green belt land and there are even two farms located within the boundaries.

The green belt in the north of the borough acts as a buffer between Harrow and the neighbouring Hertfordshire towns. It was originally put in place to curtail the urban sprawl but now continues to provide valuable open countryside for the urban population as well as space for sport and outdoor recreation.

Such vast tracts of open land are also essential for improving air quality in built-up areas and for sustaining local wildlife.

Harrow prides itself on its parks and green

one fifth of the borough is green belt land and there are even two farms

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Quality of life

Below: Harrow’s green spaces are home to many species of bird, including Blackcaps (left) and Sparrowhawks (right), which can be seen on the Canons Park bird watching tour.

places, which include five conservation areas, seven scheduled ancient monuments and eight sites of ancient woodland.

The borough has four registered historic parks and three locally listed parks and gardens. Five of Harrow’s parks have green flag status, which recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.

The historic parks include the woods and open space of Grim’s Dyke, which runs three miles from Pinner Green to Harrow Weald Common. The earthwork, now a scheduled ancient monument, is thought to date from the fifth or sixth century, or even Celtic or Roman times although its original purpose is still a puzzle.

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A house set in 11 hectares of land dates back to the 19th century and is now a hotel and restaurant, including a formal lawn with sunken garden and woods surrounding the lake that was added in 1900.

Canons Park covers over 50 hectares of 18th century parkland between Stanmore and Edgware. In the 1700s, it was part of the Duke of Chandos’ grand country estate and has links with Handel, who was the organist at the adjoining St Lawrence’s Church.

It features formal gardens and natural areas, including a walled garden, adventure playground, woodlands, a green gym, allotments and playing fields.

Proof, if it were needed, that these large open areas are popular with residents is the Friends of Canons Park group, which was set up in 2003 and is still going strong. The friends meet regularly and work closely with the council to maintain and improve facilities.

five conservation areas, seven monuments and eight sites of ancient woodland

room for a view Harrow’s historic parks were created centuries ago and were surrounded by open space. The dramatic rise in population coupled with the housing crisis in London means that open space is now increasingly under pressure.

There has been much discussion about relaxing laws to allow housebuilding on green belt land to ease demand. Yet the focus for many is on retaining green spaces, and, unlikely as it seems, some housing developments are creating new areas for nature.

Harrow has found an answer through Land Securities’ development of the former Kodak site, which was closed to the public in the times when the factory was operational. The 23-ha site called Harrow View, which is being redeveloped to provide housing, a school, medical centre, shops and offices, will have a linear park running through its entirety.

Masterplanner BDP’s project manager Gergana Draganova believes green space in urban developments is “very, very important”. She explains: “With increasing density, open space becomes more important. It is critical for quality of environment – even if you have a flat with a balcony there is a different feel if you look out on to greenery.

natural planting, providing a “natural centre of gravity for the community”.

“Of course, it matters how that space is designed and you need to get the scale right. We always see open space as the key element to making successful places. You need a balance and there has been more recognition of this recently. A good quality developer recognises its importance, especially in London.

“We want the space to change along the route,” she explains. “It is formal in some areas and incorporates play areas in others. It is important that these are integrated, not fenced off or too orchestrated.

“The concept for Harrow View was to provide more space than the council’s policy required, as it was critical to have a park running through the scheme.”

The plot of land to the north – where 600 new homes will be built in the first phase – will mark the start of the linear park and will feature

Open space will account for 28,000sq m of this site when it is complete. For Draganova the areas should be viewed not just as a means for walking from one point to another but should have the feel of a park.

“We make sure we provide spaces for all ages – playing fields for older children as well as quiet areas for elderly people.”

Draganova also makes the point that the feature is not just for people moving in, but for existing residents watching the old factory site being transformed into a new green treasure which they can all share.

harrow view will have a linear park running through its entirety

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Quality of life

Picture captions (top to bottom): The Grim’s Dyke Hotel is set in 11 hectares of grounds; the Harrow View development incorporates green space; woodland is part of the mix.

Its monthly bird-watching walks in the park, led by an experienced member of the respected Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, have spotted sightings of kestrels, woodpeckers, waxwings, blackcaps and sparrowhawks, so binoculars are handy.

Bentley Priory open space was originally the park and pleasure grounds of the 13th century estate of Bentley Priory, an Augustinian house associated with the Priory of St Gregory, Canterbury. Located in Stanmore, it offers 66 hectares of open countryside including a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, particularly for its meadows.

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It is not just the flora here that attracts visitors, the fauna is impressive too. As the grass has never been treated with fertiliser, it is much richer in wild flowers than pasture that has been, affecting the insects and birds that depend on them.

In summer, cattle graze the meadows.

The area includes ponds, wetland and extensive ancient woodlands. Heriot Wood dates back to 1600 and, to the west of Summerhouse Lake, sits the ‘master’, an oak tree believed to be over 400 years old and reputed to be the oldest oak tree in Middlesex.

Public green space is a precious urban resource and sharing its use can encourage a sense of community. It provides informal opportunities for residents to meet, from dog walkers, mothers with young children to joggers, teenagers and nature lovers.

That community spirit is alive and well in the Friends of West Harrow Park group – a like-minded bunch who work together to keep the park in good order. The Friends meet regularly, organising planting days

it is not just the flora here that attracts visitors, the fauna is impressive too

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and litter picking, and have even renovated a disused cafe that they run for the local community.

As well as making Harrow a pleasant place to live and work, the great outdoors can play an important role in protecting us from urban overheating and floods.

The project to restore Stanmore Marsh will create four hectares of wetlands providing vital natural water storage to help prevent flooding. It aims to improve the currently underused wetland to encourage a more popular habitat for both wildlife and local people. The restoration, due to be ready next year, will include nature trails, a pond-dipping

stanmore marsh will create wetlands providing vital natural water storage

platform, play area and woodland walks, as well as an area for local school children to find out about the wildlife on their doorstep.

They have already joined the restoration team at weekends to help clear the marshes and ponds.

The wetlands of Queensbury Park have already been restored after a two-year improvement project and are proving a popular beauty spot as well as a vital flood defense.

By extending or even creating new green havens, not easy to achieve in a city where space is at a premium, the value of open space is priceless in making Harrow a place where people want to be.

HARROW MEANS BUSINESS

Hatch End

Harrow Arts Centre

Headstone Lane Waxwell Lane

“Great things are happening in Harrow, and you can be part of it. Building a Better Harrow is transforming our borough, creating new homes for our families and workplaces and spaces for the 21st century.

We understand that new communities need new opportunities and jobs just as much as they need homes and schools.

“We’re already the most businessfriendly borough in London – and whether you’re an entrepreneur or a multi-national, there’s something for you here in Harrow.

Come and join us!”

Councillor Sachin Shah Leader of Harrow Council

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© Crown copyright and database rights t t 2016 Ordnance Survey 10001920

Harrow

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Harrow Council Projects

Private Sector Projects

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Canons Park

Artisan Place Haslam House

New Civic Centre

Queensbury

Palmerstone Rd t

Harrow Harrow & View Wealdstone

20 minutes to Baker Street

Byron Quarter

Poets’ Corner t

Greenhill Way Lyon Rd College Rd

Cumberland Hotel

Kenton

Gayton Rd Vaughan Rd

Harrowon-the-Hill

Northwick Park

20 minutes to Baker Street

14 minutes to London Euston Grange Farm

Roxeth Library t

Map watford heath

Locations WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHERE? THE LOCATIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITES FEATURED IN BIG

hatch end

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featured projects 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

51 College Road Gayton Road Artisan Place Harrow View Northolt Road Cumberland Hotel Palmerston Road Grange Farm

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Kings House and Queens House Anmer Lodge Haslam House Caulfield Gardens Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Harrow School Civic Centre (featured on pp 12-14) Greenhill Way Leisure Centre Stanmore Place Lyon Road Harrow Arts Centre

pinner

pinner

additional opportunity sites rayners lane

ruislip

a4090

raf northolt

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₁₀ stanmore

a410

edgware

a4140

₂₀ canons park

harrow weald

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headstone lane

belmont a409

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colindale

harrow & wealdstone

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north harrow

₉ west harrow

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a404

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₁₆ ₁₉ ₆ ₁ ₂

harrow-onthe-hill

preston

₁₄ ₈ south harrow

₅ sudbury hill

wembley

Projects

Projects ��

UPDATES ON THE BUILDING PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS PLANNED OR UNDER WAY ACROSS HARROW

Words Debbie Ashford

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college Road

₁ Barratt London and Hyde Housing Association have started building 318 new homes in an important development for Harrow town centre.

The completed development on the site of the old post office will provide 267 new homes for sale, 21 for shared ownership and 30 for affordable rent.

The scheme, designed by SOM Architects, is centred around a new public square with a range of shops, restaurants, bars and offices. It will also house a new central library, study areas and space for business incubation and support. The homes will be on sale from the end of this year with the overall development due to complete in 2019.

scheme is centred around a new public square with shops, restaurants, bars and offices

Projects

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gayton road Fairview Homes has received planning permission for the Maccreanor Lavington-designed redevelopment of the former Gayton Road library and car park site in Harrow town centre.

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The scheme for 355 new homes and new flexible commercial space is part of a council deal to retain part ownership. It will offer 72 homes at affordable rents and 53 will be

private rented housing, which will be transferred on a long lease to the council. The remainder will be for private sale. Construction on the site is expected to begin in early 2017.

The new commercial area will provide affordable workspace, offering local residents a springboard for establishing startup businesses and other entrepreneurial initiatives, as well as a cafe.

the new commercial area will provide affordable workspace for establishing startups

artisan place All 189 homes in the new mixed-use development at Artisan Place, on Ladysmith Road, Wealdstone, have been sold and a number of the creative industry studios are now in use. The scheme by Barratt Homes is on the site of the old Winsor and Newton manufacturer of artist materials and offers a range of one, two and three-bedroom flats and three and four-bedroom houses. It includes seven homes for shared ownership and 12 for affordable rent, managed by housing association Origin Housing.

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metering to help monitor use of energy, photovoltaic panels that harness free electricity generated by solar power and water-saving measures. The design and construction have been put forward for several awards and accreditations.

The homes include energy-saving features with systems fitted with smart

harrow view west Persimmon Homes has launched the first phase of its eight-hectare development of Harrow View West, which is part of the rebuilding of the huge Kodak site in Wealdstone.

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It is marketing 60 houses: nine that are two-bedroom, 12 with three bedrooms and 39 with four bedrooms.

The housebuilder expects to complete the first homes from November 2016 and has planning permission to develop more than 300 homes.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes North London said: “Harrow View West will provide a mix of much-needed properties for the area. London Help To Buy will be a massive boost for potential purchasers wanting to get on the property ladder. The development will provide public open spaces and create a community within Harrow, all within easy reach of public transport and access to London and beyond.”

Together with the site of Harrow View East, the development managed by Land Securities represents one of the biggest opportunities to regenerate Wealdstone in decades and is roughly the size of Harrow town centre.

Plans include building up to 1,800 homes on the eastern part of the site, as well as shops, offices, workspace and a primary school. There will also be a retirement and supported care home, a community centre, health centre, parks and landscaping improvements.

development will provide public open spaces and create a community within harrow

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Projects

origin housing Work is starting to create new homes on a site in Northolt Road in South Harrow. Social landlord Origin Housing is building 116 new homes which comprise 69 for private sale, 29 for shared ownership and 18 for affordable rent.

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Origin Housing is submitting an additional planning application for construction of 50 more homes on the Cumberland Hotel site in the Heart of Harrow housing zone. The proposal for a second phase supplements previous permission given to build 121 new homes. The scheme incorporates the redevelopment of the Victoria Hall sites, including new community space.

Harrow Council is considering a planning application for another Origin scheme to build 187 mixed-tenure homes at Palmerston Road near Harrow & Wealdstone station, with more than 40% affordable homes.

The plans include workspace for small businesses that would be rented out on a flexible membership basis.

plans include workspace to be rented out for small businesses

grange farm Harrow Council has submitted a planning application for the comprehensive redevelopment of Grange Farm housing estate in South Harrow in the first project of its kind in a generation.

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The proposed development would provide modern housing in 19 distinctive new buildings, varying between two and 11 storeys in height. It will replace the 282 poorly insulated homes with 549 dwellings, divided into market and affordable rented housing.

Plans in the £100 million scheme include a community centre of 1,023sq m and a hierarchy of open spaces, both public and private. The existing blocks were built in the 1960s as temporary housing to address a shortage in the area, so have survived much longer than intended.

The new scheme, designed by architect Hawkins\Brown, aims to strengthen and reinvigorate the surrounding area and provide residential choice and mix.

More than 100 residents contributed their views at a community meeting held earlier in the year and a steering group of 16 will continue to help shape the project.

The site will include 261 residential car parking spaces, and 954 long-stay and 12 short-stay cycle spaces. There will also be an on-site energy centre, which will utilise combined heat and power technology for the benefit of residents and the wider South Harrow area.

The regeneration is planned to take place in two phases over four years, with the first delivering 246 units (95 affordable and 150 for market sale). Phase two is seeking outline planning consent for up to 303 units, including 162 for open market sale.

more than 100 residents contributed their views at a community meeting

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TIMES

www.harrowtimes.co.uk/homes

TIMES TIMES

www.harrowti

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www.harrowtimes.co.uk/homes

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To advertise Winkworth are very proud to announce their appointment as the sole agents for the letting of your properties here, ͙͋ǡ͘͘͝ Ǧ ͙͋ǡ͛͘͝ ͙͋ǡ͘͘͝ Ǧ ͙͋ǡ͛͘͝ contact Pat McDonagh: Harrow’s newest prestigious development Kirkfield House, comprising of 45 luxury apartments.

07423 291261

pat.mcdonagh@london

These contemporary flats are finished to a very high standard and they are located within very easy access to both Harrow.newsquest.co.uk ̹

Also available to ǡ read online at www.harrowtimes.co.uk/eedition on-the-Hill and Harrow & Wealdstone stations as well as all local shopping facilities and restaurants. It is also very well situated ̹ ͜͝ Ǥ for students studying at Westminster University. ǡ

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Mount Capital and SAV Group are proud to be developing in Harrow. Please contact us with land and development opportunities on 02078 398 999 ͙͋͘͘͝ ͙͋͛͘͝ To advertise your properties here, contact Pat McDonagh:

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pat.mcdonagh@london .newsquest.co.uk

ǡ Ǥ Also available to read online at www.harrowtimes.co.uk/eedition To advertise

your properties here, contact Pat McDonagh:

07423 291261 pat.mcdonagh@london .newsquest.co.uk

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Enterprise

World on a plate THERE’S NO NEED TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH TO FIND A GLOBAL CHOICE OF CUISINES

Words Suruchi Sharma

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Enterprise

Below and opposite: Pecking Order serves a wide variety of American-influenced food and drink in a comfortable, modern setting.

I

f the title of celebrity chef could be tagged to any cook in the 1800s, it would have been given to the doyenne of a range of culinary delights, Isabella Mary Beeton. The Hatch End resident produced the famous Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management in 1861, offering more than 900 detailed recipes and tips on Victorian values.

More than 150 years on, what would she think of Harrow today? Just as Mrs Beeton represented the period she lived in, it seems the plethora of places to eat in the borough mirrors its citizens. Harrow’s cuisine originates from all corners of the world, linked to the many groups that have settled here in past or recent times.

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There are, for instance, many superb eateries in the borough from the Indian subcontinent, including Coriander, based in the heart of Hatch End, offering authentic South Asian dishes. This multi-award-winning restaurant opened in November 2012 and has won many accolades, such as 2013 Newcomer of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards, and the 2014 Curry Life Business Achievement Award.

Owner and chef Salim Chowdhury, says: “What makes us stand out is that we know many of our customers and value them. It’s not just about having a nice meal but also having an experience in an environment that they feel comfortable in. I think the key to our success is getting the basics right. We have high quality ingredients, first-class cooking and excellent customer service.”

Hatch End is famous for its wide range of restaurants and Chowdhury puts this down to the range of communities based there, as well as the “good footfall of customers”, adding: “You have a lot of people in the area who want

harrow’s cuisine originates from all corners of the world

�� to try diverse cuisines. Many will have lived and worked abroad and visited various places overseas. This creates an environment where people will try new things, including different types of food. I would recommend a visit to the area to anyone.

“I thought for a number of years that Hatch End was a vibrant area and there was a gap in the market for a good quality Indian restaurant. I think Coriander has filled that gap.”

Finding that gap in the market is essential when creating the best business model – and a successful example is the work of two young entrepreneurs Dhilon Solanki and Vishav Roma in Stanmore. The award-winning Pecking Order in The Broadway opened its

Enterprise

Left: Only Eggless offers egg-free options.

RIght: The award-winning Coriander in Hatch End.

doors last year on Easter weekend offering American-influenced food.

Solanki says: “What we tried to do initially was to bring a snippet of what’s happening in the West End, and the likes of Shoreditch and Dalston, to the suburbs.

“My partner and I grew up not far from here so we know the area quite well. Rather than going to where rents and rates are a lot higher, this site was a tester for the concept to make sure it worked. The fact that we have a year under our belt shows that it is working.”

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Solanki acknowledges the hard work involved in setting up a restaurant but is grateful for the nearby tube station, which brings in customers and he’s appreciative of the locals, including family and friends, who have helped shape the ideas.

Pecking Order won a public vote for the Harrow Times Best Restaurant of the Year last October. Solanki says that achieving this was “overwhelming” adding: “We have a loyal customer base and we’re looking to grow that day by day.

“The local authorities, Harrow Council in particular, were great in taking us through the process of setting up our business, helping us with everything from licensing to food safety.

Hopefully when we look at a second site it will be an easier process to replicate.”

As Solanki points out, each area of Harrow is “quite distinct and they all have their unique selling points”. Coriander benefits from being based in a restaurant-heavy road in Hatch End, while Stanmore has a busy high street that attracts potential customers.

each area is quite distinct and all have their own unique selling points

The pull of Pinner in the northern end of the borough is its quaint atmosphere. A popular attraction is Friends Restaurant run by Savoytrained chef Terry Farr, offering British and French cuisine. Farr has run the restaurant since 1992 and is firmly entrenched in the community.

He says: “Pinner has a lovely village-like atmosphere and has maintained that despite its evolution over the last 20-odd years.

Having been involved in a lot of community events I’ve been privileged to meet many local people and well-known names, which has enriched my own life here in Pinner.

“A good restaurant only needs three things to be right: quality of food, service and ambience.

I think where we set ourselves apart from a lot of other restaurants is that we treat customers

as individuals rather than numbers, and what they think matters. There’s always room for other types of cuisine, but the watchword should be quality. Get it right and it’s much easier.”

Another destination massively involved in the lives of its customers is Barracuda Takeaway and Restaurant, in Headstone Drive, owned

by Yiannis Christofis. Raised in the area, he is as familiar a face to his customers as they are to him. He has held birthday parties, charity events and even weddings at his restaurant.

Christofis was “humbled” this year by winning the Takeaway of the Year – West accolade in a public vote at the inaugural Food Awards London.

He initially bought Peter’s Fish Bar takeaway in 1998, adding the restaurant and changing the name to Barracuda in 2009. Today it

gongs and gold stars Harrow’s food sector is rich in restaurants that are winners of regional and national awards: The Food Awards London 2016 Finalists Café/Bistro of the Year Cafe Cafe, Harrow on the Hill Takeaway of the Year Barracuda Takeaway & Restaurant, Wealdstone Best Italian Establishment Trattoria Sorrentina, Harrow town centre Pan Asian Restaurant of the Year Cooper Thai Restaurant, Wealdstone Best Mexican Establishment Hombres Mexican, Rayners Lane

Ambient Food Manufacturer of the Year (shelf stable foods) Gold Star, Harrow town centre

Good Food Award 2016 Melissa Ocakbasi, Edgware Incanto, Harrow on the Hill AA Rosette Winning Restaurants Incanto, Harrow on the Hill Friends Restaurant, Pinner Grim’s Dyke Hotel Best Western Plus, Harrow Weald

loyal customers who grace our doorstep are just phenomenal

offers meals beyond just fish and chips, with dishes including crab cakes and mixed seafood salad.

Christofis says: “The name change was a very big step. I was young when I bought the shop and people kept telling me not to change anything. I honestly had a really tough time at the beginning. The previous owners were there for years before me, and I thought where do we go and what do we do?”

With a heavy responsibility on his shoulders Christofis made the top 20 in the prestigious national competition Young Fish Fryer of the Year in 1999, which was “nice promotion” for the shop. He adds: “Customers that had left came back in again and we grew from strength to strength. Those loyal customers who continue to grace our doorstep are just phenomenal.

“All the products we sell are fresh and it’s more like home cooking in a restaurant. My passion for cooking comes from a young age and the community is almost like a second family.”

In a clear sign that Christofis listens to his regulars, he has added gluten-free fish and chips to his menu after chatting to a customer who is coeliac.

Paying attention to customers is also a feature of the owners of bakery Only Eggless. Two hard-working brothers, Karsh and Vikash Patel, opened the branch in the vibrant Kenton Road in 2011, offering a menu catering for members of the Asian community and beyond who do not eat eggs or meat.

Over the past five years the siblings have established a restaurant with eggless Indian

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Enterprise

Below: The bustling atmosphere at Second Cup, a popular haunt in St Ann’s Shopping Centre.

“There is huge opportunity here and it’s a great area to come in and experiment. We still have many untold ideas.”

Someone who is taking that leap to open a business is Shereen Jivraj and her husband, Shafin. They started a family business in May 2016, which invoved opening a branch of Canadian coffee shop Second Cup at St Ann’s Shopping Centre. A homely destination with a library and fireplace, it offers food and drinks such as green tea lattes and caramel corretto coffees.

The centre of Harrow could be seen as a challenging place to invest in a catering business, as even with a lot of passing trade, eateries have to fit in with the habits of visitors and workers.

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and English food, combined with a bakery that creates fresh, bespoke handmade cakes for any occasion. Once ordered online, the cakes can be collected or delivered free to London customers in an hour.

Father-of-two Karsh Patel says: “A customer can order a cake and it can be ready within 20 minutes. It can be customised to different flavours, colours and with images printed onto it. We are constantly listening to our customers and really understanding what they are after. We now deliver thousands of cakes every month.”

Only Eggless has launched a sister brand, an online cake shop called Cakes Today.

Patel cheerfully adds: “One thing we love about Kenton and Harrow is it has people from all different faiths, nationalities and cultures. It just has a really good mix. It’s the same with our team of 50 staff, which, being based in this area, has allowed us to grow the business.

Jivraj says they were very lucky to have been able to secure such a central location with high footfall. “As a new brand, we had to ensure we were in the right place to attract people and spark the interest needed when a new business opens,” she says.

“We felt it was very important for us to contribute to the local economy wherever we were. Harrow provides us with the perfect opportunity to do this. We have a space and ambience which lend themselves well to events. What better way to get to know the local community than being a part of it?”

A real benefit of Harrow to foodies is that it has many established places to eat. Venues that can stand the test of time, costs and cultural changes are to be commended but the area is also evolving, with more new places opening. Business is booming in the borough. If she were alive today, surely Mrs Beeton would be impressed.

Harrow Council supports the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which rates restaurants, takeaways and food shops on their hygiene standards www.ratings.food.gov.uk

Skills

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Earn and learn BUSINESSES ARE REAPING THE REWARDS OF SCHEMES TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS OF THEIR WORKFORCE

Words Ruth McKee

R

unning nurseries is Sarah Stent’s passion. The businesswoman runs three children’s nurseries – two in Harrow and one in Hertfordshire – with a staff of 50. She knows the kind of people to employ to provide the best possible care for the hundreds of babies, toddlers and children attending her nurseries.

However, with changes in the population in Harrow in recent years, many of Stent’s employees can be fluent in spoken English but their written skills can present challenges for the nursery. As she explains: “Written work in nurseries is very important. We teach children early stages of reading and writing and so we can’t send reports home to parents that have mistakes in them. And although staff may speak English really well, their written work means they can’t progress in their career.”

While some staff struggle to study for their NVQ level 3 Childcare without GCSEs in

English and Maths, others find it difficult to move up through the pay scales.

So when Stent got an email from the Harrow early years partnership promoting a new skills improvement programme run by the council, she seized the opportunity.

She says: “I explained to the business engagement and skills broker for Harrow, Sangeeta Meghji, that English as a second language tuition would be really useful for my staff. I knew that boosting their skills would benefit the children, the nursery and the staff members themselves. We jumped at the chance to take part.”

Stent had four members of staff in her two Harrow nurseries who she felt would benefit from improving their written English.

Meghji and Stent agreed that the best training programme would be a functional skills course, which would get them up to a level

boosting skills would benefit the children, the nursery and the staff members

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Skills

Top row: Developing the right skills is key to supporting business in the future. Bottom: The Enterprise Centre at Harrow College nurtures budding entrepreneurs.

of written English where they could begin studying for their GCSEs. Obtaining English and Maths GCSEs would also pave the way for them to start studying for their level 3 Childcare qualification.

Stent confirms: “It helps me as it means I don’t have to worry about correcting reports and letters going out to parents; it helps the children and it helps the employees get the qualifications that boost their earning potential,” she says.

The course and training were free for the nursery staff as the council provided funding as part of its programme to improve the qualifications and prospects of residents who are on low incomes.

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Helping workers progress and improve their earnings is a key aim of the council’s activities. Although Harrow only has a 4.7% unemployment rate, low wages in entry level jobs, combined with wage stagnation and rent increases, mean that one in five of Harrow’s residents claim housing benefit.

Further and higher education can be a lifeline to many who may have come to London for work but can go no further often due to lack of the necessary skills.

Head of economic development and research at Harrow Council, Mark Billington, explains: “Being employed has an impact on everything.

It affects how people feel about their area, how they engage with other people, how they invest in their homes and their health and mental wellbeing.

“Our work has shown that working residents are far more likely to be active and healthy than those who aren’t working.”

sectors where skills will be in demand in the future taying connected S ICT and communications I nvesting in the borough’s infrastructure Construction and highways anaging supply chains M Procurement dapting to population change A Social care romoting health and wellbeing P Leisure

and training providers finding out what they need in practice. She also found that participants were looking for career changes or progression within their current business environment and needed guidance and support to start their journey.

The programme has been so successful that west London boroughs will be rolling out similar schemes over the next year.

“Barnet and Brent for example are looking at our progress with interest. It would be fantastic to collaborate with them in the future, depending on funding models,” Billington adds.

Care worker Georgiana Alexandra Barna also felt that her written English skills were holding her back in her career.

His team’s approach is to deliver community learning to promote employability and to supplement this with courses for people who are already in work. Consulting with many employers in the borough, they discovered that employers wanted to support staff as long as it didn’t impinge on work time too much. They developed courses that fit in with existing work commitments where possible, like organising classes in the morning and evening so shift workers can work them in around their jobs.

Sangeeta Meghji used the council’s existing business engagement networks as well as sourcing her own leads and developed strong business partnerships with Harrow SMEs

the council has adapted the support around my personal needs and my job

With a degree in International Economics from her Romanian university, she has ambitions to progress from working as a care assistant at PHC Home Care, an independent agency providing care and support for people in their homes, into administration of the business.

Her employers at PHC alised that she would be an ideal candidate for the council’s upskilling programme, in particular the functional skills course, which would boost her English skills and get her ready to take higher qualifications.

Since starting in April, Barna has already been able to get involved with the business side: “I have written more emails, letters to client and memos to staff. I would not have had the confidence to do this before.” She added: “The council has adapted the support around my personal needs and my job.”

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Skills

Below: Students can choose from a wide range of courses and in-work studies to improve their employment propects

An adult apprenticeship in business administration beckons once she has completed her course and will bring her one step closer to realising her goal of becoming a business administrator.

on the employment ladder An adult apprenticeship is proving the ideal route for Nikesh Thakrar to progress up the career ladder. He wanted to go straight into work when he left school but knew he also wanted to develop his education.

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The 19-year-old is currently undertaking a sales and enterprise telecommunications apprenticeship through BT and Harrow College. He works as an account manager for BT and goes into college for weekly assessments. He says: “I’m learning all about product lines in BT such as their broadband and telephone systems.”

He also gets a chance to improve his Maths GCSE grade as it is included in the apprenticeship.

“This will really help my earning power,” enthuses Thakrar. “As part of the apprenticeship I get the chance to learn so much about the company and I think this will help me rise up through the ranks.

“I hope to be able to become a field manager one day and for that I will need really indepth knowledge and I can get that through this apprenticeship.”

Harrow College is working with more than 100 businesses to provide apprenticeships as well as bespoke training for companies.

It offers full apprenticeships in subjects as diverse as business administration,

harrow college is working with more than 100 businesses to provide apprenticeships

accounting, childcare, hairdressing, customer service, construction and IT. Harrow Council recognises the value of modern apprenticeship schemes and has supported more than 340 young people into employment and apprenticeships in the last two years. This has been through a variety of routes: within its own supply chain, working with developers and contractors on Harrow’s regeneration sites, as a direct employer, and working with local businesses.

As an employer, it has taken on apprentices in legal services, communications, economic development, highway engineering, adult social care and procurement and is looking to recruit more young people in learning and development and finance.

Other employment sectors in the borough include construction, childcare, information technology and leisure. Experts see these as growth areas and are keen to ensure that skills can match the expansion that is expected.

Investing in the education and training of young people now is getting Harrow ready to meet the demands for new skills in the future – and put it in pole position to benefit from the anticipated opportunities.

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The

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With over 12 million shoppers a year choosing St Anns as their centre of style, we have everything you need for local, fashionable, convenient shopping. Just a few steps from Harrow on the Hill Underground, and beside Harrow’s busy bus terminal, St Anns is conveniently located in the heart of the busting town centre with quick and easy transport links.

Markets

66.2%

Harrow

home ownership in the borough – higher than the national average (64.3%) and the london average (49.5%)

Market fact-f ile

11.1% annual house price rise to july 2016 (UK House Price Index 2016)

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£31.5 million

1,800

funding from the greater london authority for the heart of harrow housing zone

homes planned at harrow view

£451,643 average house price (UK House Price Index 2016)

30 startups given space at pop up shops

850 businesses supported by the council in the year to september 2016

£32,536 average annual income of a full-time working resident

(ONS annual survey of hours and earnings)

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82.1 years england’s highest life expectancy in men

85.5 years one of the highest in women

(Fair Society Healthy Lives report, UCL Institute of Health Equity)

13,300 businesses in the borough

67.3% population with an nvq3 qualification and above (ONS annual population survey)

Developers – meet councils 8 February 2017, The Shard, London

Visit sitematchlondon.com or contact the Sitematch team on 0207 978 6840

SITEMATCHLONDON.COM Advisers

Partners

C85 M21 Y0 K0

Organiser

R0 G152 B219

Capita Real Estate

Housing

Hurrying Home WITH INCREASING DEMAND AND PRESSURE ON SPACE, WE FIND OUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR HOUSING IN HARROW

Words Lucy Purdy

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Housing

Pictured: Dandi Living specialises in designing apartments which maximise the potential of the available space using a modular, campus-inspired approach to living.

T

he housing squeeze has been plunged into sharp focus in recent years, especially in the capital. Property prices are beyond the reach of many, millions wait for council housing and the availability of social housing has dropped markedly.

Demand for housing across all tenures in Harrow is increasing, but particularly for affordable housing. There is a need for family homes but also for contemporary flats for young people.

Yet there are solutions, and local authorities like Harrow Council are looking ahead and finding creative answers.

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“Like anywhere in the capital, we need to provide homes for local people at affordable costs and we are short on social housing stock,” says Paul Nichols, divisional director of regeneration and planning at Harrow Council.

“However there are plenty of opportunities to increase density and promote high quality design while respecting Harrow’s communities and its suburban nature. The council owns some prime land and is actively pursuing development, including building rental homes to address gaps in the market.”

accommodation more than doubled in a decade. Some 20% of households in Harrow rent their home from private landlords, although it is below the London average.

So how are providers meeting the broad range of housing needs in the borough?

The council is putting its efforts into progressing a coordinated regeneration programme, including the Housing Zone, and it has to deliver fast.

According to the 2011 census, home ownership is higher in Harrow at 66.2%, than both nationally, where it is 64.3%, and in London, at 49.5%. Harrow is ranked fourth in London for outright home ownership and ninth for households that buy with a mortgage or loan.

“For the first time in a generation, Harrow is well on the radar of the development industry as a place to do business,” says Nichols. “Our Housing Zone partners Origin and Hyde are registered social landlords.

We’re working very closely on delivery and design to make sure these projects set a high benchmark. We don’t just do the big projects. Our council infill programme is making use of under-used small sites, employing smaller building contractors.”

The borough’s largest tenure change has been in the private rented sector: the number of households living in private rented

Harrow has long enjoyed strong partnerships with housing associations and the Greater London Authority, enabling the building of

harrow is well on the radar of the development industry as a place to do business

a range of high quality, affordable housing in the borough. However, demand far outstrips supply and the council expects all new developments to maximise the affordable housing contribution. It will be setting the benchmark on its own development sites.

Unlike many places in London, the majority of new residents are buying homes to live in, rather than as an investment, attracted by the excellent schools, strong sense of community and the relatively affordable price for London.

Harrow is taking a proactive approach to the build-to-rent market: the council has committed to deliver directly more than 600 units on its own land.

It is also working in partnership with Fairview to create privately rented homes at Gayton Road in Harrow town centre. The council has formed holding and letting companies and is working with experienced architects, including Karakusevic Carson, Allies and Morrison, Maccreanor Lavington and Stephen Taylor.

“One ambition is to secure stable income in the face of reductions in government grants,”

says Nichols. “We are defining our private rented sector target market, rental levels and management at present.”

As part of its commitment to this end, the council has set up its own independent private lettings agency. Smart Lettings aims to bring an ethical approach to the private lettings business with transparent and responsive services for both landlords and tenants.

The benefits for landlords will be to offer fair charges and reduced business risks with competitive letting offers suited to their business needs; for tenants, the scheme offers a safe, warm home in good repair. The agency commenced trading in January 2016.

Developers can also play a part in increasing the pace of delivery and the number of units.

Dandi Living, an award-winning architecture, design and development management company, offers a radical approach: designing campus-style living in small units with communal social spaces. It is converting two former office blocks, Queens House and Kings House in the town centre, into innovative flats. Their spaces will offer Wi-Fi,

the majority of new residents are buying homes to live in, rather than as an investment

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Housing

Below: Artist’s impression of the Gayton Road development in Harrow town centre where Faiview Homes is creating a range of private rented homes.

concierge, 24/7 CCTV, large sociable spaces, complementary refreshments, launderettes, conference and meeting rooms.

The company is also taking control of the supply chain, having invested in hi-tech, modular-build workshops in Park Royal.

“We challenge our peers to rethink their complacent approach to the provision of micro-living apartments to Londoners,” says Eva Siskinova, lead architect at Dandi.

“As such, we rely heavily on our ability to implement improved designs and ideas and measure their effect for tenants and for stakeholders’ commercial viability. It’s a fine balance to achieve.

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“Our workshop in Park Royal acts as a hub for innovation where we can realise ideas. Our models revolve around the varying needs of their occupants: eating, working, entertaining and relaxing,” adds Siskinova. “We manage the space to present itself like a genie: ‘your wish is my command’. It’s a kind of magic.”

The company’s designs free up space in otherwise confined environments, in order to avoid inducing claustrophobia which Siskinova describes as being “endemic with the current archaic provision of micro units”.

She vividly recalls seeing tenants in the mid-80s spending their time in local cafes and pubs, an observation that helped trigger Dandi’s birth.

Their pragmatic products can be made in thousands and installed in hours, helping to accelerate the delivery of quality housing.

Siskinova says: “Dandi is about attention to detail, spoiling our tenants and making

dandi is about attention to detail, spoiling our tenants and making luxury inclusive

luxury inclusive: this is our motto. We are not complacent. It’s been a labour of love for our team to make a difference in a truly meaningful way.

“Although it has taken us almost 12 years of research and development to get here, it’s rewarding to hear our tenants say: ‘I’m bringing friends to see where I live.’ No longer are they ashamed to show their studios and there is no more staying out because they cannot stand to stay in.

Mission accomplished.”

Dandi’s approach chimes neatly with Harrow Council’s open door policy. Nichols explains: “We think there is a place for higher quality, smaller units and Dandi has an appealing approach to creating a sense of identity.”

“Conversions are not without challenges but we seek strong partnerships and use our leverage to enable and accelerate delivery.”

Siskinova concludes: “It’s all about feeling welcomed – and welcomed we felt. The people we saw at Harrow Council were approachable, available and amenable: this triple A is a must for Dandi to commit in a meaningful way with local authorities, and Harrow ticked all the boxes.”

BIG Partners

St Edward Sales & Marketing Suite Stanmore Place sales.stanmore@stedward.co.uk

Joining together to support Harrow

Dandi Living Eva Siskinova Partner / lead architect eva@dandiliving.com Chamberlain Commercial Tony Chamberlain Managing director tony@chamberlaincommercial.com Preston Bennett in association with Hamptons International development@prestonbennett.co.uk For partner opportunities contact 3Fox International Harry Seal Project manager harry@3foxinternational.com

For more information about these companies visit bigharrow.com

Sitematch

Below: The current civic centre on the Poets' Corner site, which refers to the poet-named streets which once ran through the area.up

An award-winning, multidisciplinary design team, led by Stephen Taylor Architects, was appointed in January 2016 to create a masterplan and detailed designs for phase one.

Sitematch opportunity

Poets’ Corner

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SITEMATCH RESEARCH MANAGER HUUB NIEUWSTADT INTERVIEWS TOBIAS GOEVERT, HARROW COUNCIL’S HEAD OF REGENERATION AND DESIGN

Can you provide a brief overview of Poets’ Corner and how you see it redeveloped?

Poets’ Corner is the flagship project in Harrow’s multimillion pound regeneration programme. The site currently houses the offices and civic centre for Harrow Council, and is close to Harrow & Wealdstone station.

We’re proposing that the 4.4-ha site will be developed, in a minimum of two phases, into a residential-led, mixed-use urban quarter.

The project involves demolishing the existing buildings and delivering 850 new homes across a range of tenures, including at least 200 build-to-rent units to be retained by the council, a new school, commercial and community space, and high-quality public realm and landscaping.

How will the site be brought to market and what are the timelines?

The current delivery approach is based on the ‘great estates’ model: the council retains freehold, controls and designs the masterplan, achieves planning permission and directly delivers phase one. It provides serviced plots to be sold to third-party developers who will develop the remainder of the site according to a design code locked in at the planning stage and through any development agreement.

How does this site sit within the council’s wider regeneration strategy?

The Heart of Harrow area action plan identifies the comprehensive redevelopment of the current civic centre site as key in the regeneration of the borough. Building a new civic centre releases this site for that purpose.

The council intends to leverage its role as landowner, acting as client and developer to transform the site into an exemplar compact urban quarter with more than 800 new high quality homes, including private ones for sale, affordable and council-owned private residences with the potential for custom build, and a new school. It also plans for community facilities and new retail, work and commercial space to increase local economic growth and create jobs.

The council's aim is to create more than 500 jobs, as well as supporting young people into apprenticeships and employment, encouraging adult learners and helping unemployed residents back into work.

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Prices from £375,000 Show apartment open 7 days a week Call 020 3538 4982 or email lyonsquare@redrow.co.uk

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Bu i l d / I n n o v a t e / Gr o w

ENJOY LIFE IN STYLE

25 minutes to King’s Cross St. Pancras Fully integrated kitchens All apartments have private outdoor space Residents’ only gym1 and concierge service

Lyon Square is a distinctive collection of high specification homes located within walking distance from the sought after area of Harrow On The Hill, North London.

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Ha r r o w

WELCOME TO LYON SQUARE A DISTINCTIVE NEW COLLECTION OF LUXURY HOMES IN HARROW

Prices from £375,000 Show apartment open 7 days a week Call 020 3538 4982 or email lyonsquare@redrow.co.uk

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2:16

Marylebone Station

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Canary Wharf via Crossrail

Paris via Eurostar

hours

HELP TO BUY NOW AVAILABLE ON SELECTED PLOTS WWW.LYONSQUARE.CO.UK 1 Plans are currently in place for residents’ gym. Travel times taken from TfL. Help to Buy is a Government-backed initiative in partnership with housebuilders. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help to Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme. It is highly advised, for a swift, smooth transaction that an IFA/Solicitor advised by Redrow Homes is used. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer.

CGI image is indicative only. Prices correct at time of going to press. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.

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