West Hendon
Overview
The West Hendon regeneration scheme is centred round the existing West Hendon estate and the section of the A5 known as the Broadway which runs alongside the estate. The scheme forms part of the Cricklewood, Brent Cross and West Hendon Regeneration scheme but will progress independently of the larger scheme. The proposals for West Hendon will see the creation of a new integrated community and the replacement of the existing estate with new mixed tenure housing, a new town square, improved transport links, a range of new community facilities and economic and social regeneration initiatives.
The regeneration scheme is being carried out in partnership with Metropolitan West Hendon (MWH) which is a consortium made up of Metropolitan Housing Partnership and Barratt Homes.
In July 2005 the council granted outline planning consent for the scheme and construction work is likely to begin in 2007/08.
Background
The West Hendon area sits separately from the rest of Barnet and north west London. It is sandwiched between the M1 motorway and the Midland main line railway and the Welsh Harp reservoir. The town centre needs rejuvenation and there is a high turnover of businesses based on the Broadway. The local road network needs improving to provide better access to the estate. The 680 homes on the West Hendon estate, built in the 1960s, no longer meet contemporary standards and the communal areas need redesigning. Some residents believe the estate is not safe.
There are a range of existing community facilities in the area not all of which are well used.
The area does have good transport links to the M1 and to central London and is within easy reach of Brent Cross shopping centre. It has the advantage of one outstanding local amenity - being situated beside the Welsh Harp reservoir and adjoining open spaces much of which are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Metropolitan Open Land and Site of Metropolitan Importance.
Barnet Council has adopted "The Three Strands Approach" for the development and regeneration of the borough. The approach is based around the three strands of protection, enhancement and growth. West Hendon is identified as an area of growth.
The proposals
The outline planning consent allows for the building of up to 2,171 new homes which will meet a wide range of housing needs. The homes will be mainly apartments provided in medium rise blocks. Some higher blocks are planned as well as some houses. A total of 680 homes will be affordable, mainly for rent but with some shared equity/ownership homes. All the remaining homes will be for sale on the open market. The new additional homes in the new neighbourhood will lead to a stronger and more sustainable community with a broader range of economic activity.
The new homes will be well designed, meet current standards and will be required to meet a very high environmental standard.
The new town square will provide the principal gateway to the residential areas and to the new park and the amenities around the Welsh Harp. New shops including a supermarket are being provided along the Broadway. The increased size of the neighbourhood’s population will help make the new shopping centre more sustainable
Transport
The proposals are to remove the gyratory one-way system which currently runs through the estate. This makes the area both unattractive and difficult for pedestrians to negotiate. New junctions and pedestrian crossings will help ease traffic movements along the Broadway and encourage people to walk to the West Hendon station. A new cycle route is being provided as well as a circular footpath and two new foot bridges to open up the spaces around the Welsh Harp.
Community facilities
New community facilities will be provided including a new health centre with up to six GPs, a new community centre and a new youth sailing base.
The existing park situated between the estate and the reservoir will be replaced with a new park which better meets the needs of the local community. The landscaping around the new housing and the new town centre public space will be well designed, attractive and safe.
Social and economic regeneration
The regeneration scheme proposes a number of social and economic initiatives. These include creating training and employment opportunities, establishing a neighbourhood management partnership which will provide an integrated management service and will involve residents and other local stakeholders, providing a “dowry” to subsidise service charges for existing residents and promoting community participation in the new neighbourhood.
When will it begin?
Outline planning consent for the scheme was granted in July 2005 and detailed planning of the first phases of the scheme will take place throughout 2006. The first building works will begin in 2007 and the whole building programme will take at least 10 years to complete. All existing secure tenants will be re-housed within five years of the first homes being completed.
Consultation
Extensive consultation has been carried out with local residents, the Residents Regeneration Group and stakeholders and there will continue to be significant consultation throughout the life of the project.
For more information contact:
Roger Arkell
Project Director, London Borough of Barnet
Email: roger.arkell@barnet.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8359 7130
Angela Latty
Project Officer, London Borough of Barnet
Email: angela.latty@barnet.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8359 7188
Partners
Metropolitan Housing Trust which is part of the Metropolitan Housing Partnership, is Barnet Council’s partner in the West Hendon Regeneration Scheme. Metropolitan Housing Trust is a charitable housing association providing high quality homes and support for tenants by building or improving homes at affordable rents. It is a not for profit organisation regulated by the Housing Corporation.
For more information contact:
Sheila Morcombe
Senior Project Manager
Metropolitan Housing Trust
Email: westhendon@mht.co.uk
Tel: 020 8976 1171
Metropolitan Housing Partnership website
Residents Regeneration Group
The Resident Regeneration Group (RRG) has been meeting monthly for the last three years and will continue to meet. Sub-groups of the RRG also meet when required and have worked on specific areas such as housing management and design.
Both the council and Metropolitan West Hendon wish to actively encourage as many local people as possible to become involved in the designing and planning of the new West Hendon neighbourhood.
The RRG are supported by Independent Tenant Advisors Aldbournes Consultancy. The role of the Independent Tenant Advisor is to provide information and support to residents and their representatives.
If you are a tenant or leaseholder and would like to get involved in the RRG please contact:
Rob Williams or Aine Hayes
Resident Independent Advisor
Solon Community Network
Freephone: 0800 169 4406 (between Mon-Fri from 9:00am to 5:00pm)
If you call in the evening or weekend, please leave a message and we will return your call.
Email us at info@solontp.org.ik or visit www.solontp.org.uk
West Hendon Regeneration Newsletters
- Download April 2008 Newsletter
(PDF: 527KB) - Download October 2007 Newsletter (PDF: 3.62MB)
- Download June 2007 Newsletter (PDF: 671KB)
- Dowoload March 2007 Newsletter (PDF: 388KB)
