Barnet regeneration scheme given outline planning permission

Mon 23 Nov 2009

A regeneration scheme which could result in 7,500 new homes being built in Brent Cross Cricklewood moved a step closer when Barnet Council granted outline planning permission.

Brookfield Europe, Hammerson and Standard Life Investments hope to redevelop a 250-acre site in north-west London in order to create a new town centre for the area.

The £4.5 billion regeneration plan includes a £109 million investment in healthcare facilities and local schools, a new mainline train station and £200 million worth of road improvement work.

Those involved in designing the regeneration and housing scheme held consultations with community groups before submitting plans to the local council, and the public was again given a say during a two-evening session of Barnet Council's planning committee.

Although the developers succeeded in obtaining outline planning permission, they still have a major obstacle to overcome before the project is given the green light - securing the approval of the Mayor of London and Government Office London.

Roger Fitton, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood commented: "Large Schemes of development have to go through many processes of public consultation and approval and whilst it is quite right that schemes of strategic importance should be reviewed in the context of a City or Regional plan, more efficient ways need to be found to speed up and run them in tandem."

Boris Johnson recently gave his backing to a regeneration scheme in the Nine Elms district of central London, which will lead to 16,000 new homes being built.