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Bu i l d / I n n o v a t e / Gr o w Ha r r o w issue 1

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

COMING SOON 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom luxury apartments

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Ha r r o w

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Contents

₇ news Awards won and grants

allocated – community and cultural facilities develop, housing and schools are set to expand.

₁₂ quality of life Characterful

neighbourhoods, cultural diversity and plenty of enterprise.

₆

₁₉ connectivity With excellent

transport links already, new infrastructure is in the pipeline.

₂₂ map What is happening – and

where? Location of featured development sites.

₂₄ projects A summary of

regeneration schemes across the London Borough of Harrow.

₃₀ housing Getting the plans

right – Harrow is among the first of London’s authorities to be designated as a housing zone.

₃₈ economy Entrepreneurs in

Harrow find opportunities for expansion and export business.

₄₃ education High standards

and development of the skills that employers need.

₄₈ markets Fast facts and

quick figures – statistics from Harrow, the story in numbers.

₅₀ sitematch The council’s

senior regenerators – interview with Paul Nichols and Tobias Goevert.

Editorial director Siobhán Crozier Deputy editor Maria Shahid Head of design Rachael Schofield Design Kate Harkus Chief reporter James Wood Production assistant Christopher Hazeldine Business development director Paul Gussar Business development manager Harry Seal Office manager Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager Simon Maxwell Managing director Toby Fox Cover image 51 College Road – Hyde Housing Images Andy Spain, Heath Robinson Trust, Headstone Manor & Museum, Shutterstock/Frank Wasserfuehrer, St Edward, David Tothill, Heinrich Klaffs, © TfL from The London Transport Museum, Harrow Arts Centre, Bystrup Architects, Heathrow, Harrow-on-theHill station roundel – Oxyman, HS2 Ltd, Dandi Living, Land Securities, Harrow School, Harrow Council, Redrow Homes, Barratt Homes, Weston Homes, Harrow College, Hawkins/Brown | Siobhán Doran Printed by Bishops Printers Published by 3Fox International, 375 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational.com Subscriptions & feedback investharrow.com © 2015 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

© Andy Spain, courtesy of Adams & Sutherland

arc house opens in park A performance and community space is scheduled to open in summer at a regenerated park in Harrow. The project was delivered in a partnership between Harrow College, the mayor of London and Harrow Council.

Arc House, designed by award-winning architects Adams & Sutherland, is located at Lowlands Recreation Ground next to the college’s Harrow on the Hill campus.

The project includes improvements to the park, outdoor performance space, a cafe, new equipment, furniture, more direct paths and an amphitheatre. Arc House will host events such as theatre productions, birthday parties, exercise classes and coffee mornings.

Speaking at the launch event, the council’s deputy leader, Councillor Keith Ferry, said: “This has been a long journey. We started in

2010 when we looked at Lowlands and we thought we could do something with this space. With our limited resources we decided to make a bandstand. We made a bid for money from the mayor of London and we’ve ended up with an excellent new performance space and leisure venue for the town centre.”

The project was partly funded by the Outer London Fund.

heath robinson returns Fundraising is under way for a new museum at West House in Pinner Memorial Park. It will host a nationally significant collection of 410 artworks by illustrator and former resident Heath Robinson (1872–1944 ), whose name applies to wacky inventions and innovative fixes. He moved to Pinner in 1908.

The permanent collection, which includes many of the illustrator’s best known works from the first and second world wars, has been acquired by the William Heath

The WHRT is inviting individuals or companies to sponsor the restoration of a specific illustration.

The “Adopt a Picture” scheme is based on the amount of work required. From the existing collection, six await a sponsor, at costs ranging from £130 to £280.

Robinson Trust (WHRT) and made possible by National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund grants. Some of these new works are in need of conservation before going on permanent display.

Harrow Council fully supports the project and provides temporary accommodation for the collection while it has to remain in storage. The opening is scheduled for spring 2016.

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News

housing zone for harrow Harrow Council’s bid to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for parts of the borough to become a housing zone has been accepted, meaning it will be given £31.3 million to accelerate housebuilding projects.

The bid was one of the first nine to be agreed for London.

The GLA and government initiative invited councils to submit applications for housing zone status,

museum’s £3.6m restoration

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Harrow Council has received £3.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore a medieval building and create a museum.

medieval water-filled moats in the country, along with one of the earliest surviving timber framed buildings.

The Headstone Manor building will display Harrow’s historic collections, including items from the former Kodak factory, Whitefriars glass factory and archaeological items from the Roman period.

The site also includes The Granary building, which will become a learning centre for families, groups and schools to discover their own history in Harrow. A small barn will display the archaeological collection.

The museum is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017. It will also host a programme of family activities, special events, conservation days, festivals and educational school visits.

Hundreds of volunteers and members of the community will work together to help develop the content for the permanent museum between now and next summer.

Headstone Manor is a Grade I-listed building, which dates back to 1310 and was once owned

by Henry VIII. The site itself dates from 825AD and has one of the last remaining

Cabinet member for community, culture and resident engagement, Councillor Sue Anderson said: “This place is steeped in history and is an ideal place for us to tell the story of the people and places of Harrow.”

schools expand to meet demand Design proposals for 15 primary schools in Harrow have been granted planning permission. The extensive expansion project follows the council’s application to the Targeted Basic Need Programme, an initiative by the Department of Education to fund new school places.

Significant refurbishment work has

taken place in a number of schools since 2013 to create classroom space for the growing numbers of children from Harrow’s families.

Keepmoat is working on the second phase, a £40 million contract to upgrade and redevelop the schools, with work expected to complete by September 2015.

marshland wins vote An under-used Harrow wetland is to receive funding to improve it as an environment for more diverse wildlife, plants, habitat and ecology. The Stanmore Marsh Restoration scheme will receive £175,000 from the London mayor’s Big Green Fund II, following a London-wide online vote for the proposals.

The project will see over four hectares transformed into a more attractive space, with new nature trails and woodland walks. The investment will also help to prevent flooding across London through the creation of 3,000sq m of wetlands as a natural water storage area.

Councillor Keith Ferry, portfolio holder for business, planning and regeneration, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our application for funding to redevelop Stanmore Marsh. This will make it possible for us to restore the historic marshlands in Harrow. We hope to have it open by the end of next year.”

with successful bids setting out the commitment to accelerate the progress of schemes through the planning process.

The council will use the funding to build 1,679 homes, just under 40% of which will be affordable. Investment will also go towards two new primary schools, two town squares, a central library and other infrastructure improvements.

The GLA awarded Harrow the funding

because of the strength of its bid and because several of its sites are ready to go.

In addition, the GLA was impressed with the £1.75 billion Heart of Harrow plans.

will be building 5,500 much-needed homes, which will go some way to addressing the chronic housing shortage in our borough.

Councillor Keith Ferry, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for business, planning and regeneration, said: “Receiving this funding is great news for the people of Harrow and this will allow us to kickstart our ambitious regeneration plans. In the next decade we

“This level of investment from the GLA is testament to the strength of our bid and recognition of our development plans for the borough.

We will be speaking to residents about these plans to ensure they are given a say on the future of Harrow.”

redevelopment for council hq development scoops double award Stanmore Place, a 798-home scheme in Harrow, has won the gold award for best landscape design at the What House? national property awards.

scheme also features cycle paths, a children’s play area, a residents-only gym and 24-hour concierge.

Stanmore Place developer St Edward also won silver in the category for best development in the country.

Paul Vallone, executive chairman at St Edward, said: “These latest awards are testament to the thoughtful design, skilled landscaping and community atmosphere.”

The gold award was for the project’s landscaped gardens and a lake with fountains. Water features at the site are illuminated at night and the

Prices of the newest homes being marketed at Stanmore Place start from £385,000 for a threebedroom apartment.

Harrow Council will downsize its headquarters to make way for housing.

The council is currently looking at sites to build a new Civic Centre within the Heart of Harrow opportunity area. This has been given a funding boost after the council’s successful bid for it to be designated as one of London’s first housing zones.

“The Civic Centre and surrounding car park is one of the largest and most important redevelopment sites,” said David Sklair, regeneration project manager at Harrow Council. “There is a chronic shortage of affordable homes in Harrow – of good quality market homes for rent and of new homes for sale. We have pledged to deal with this and the regeneration strategy sets out how we will deliver 5,500 homes over the next decade.

“Our focus is on the Heart of Harrow area.

That’s Harrow town centre, the whole length of Station Road, Wealdstone High Street, Kodak, the Leisure Centre and the current Civic Centre site. This is the heart of our business and commercial life, as well as an important high-density residential area. It’s where we have most of our main redevelopment sites. And it’s a very well-connected area, attractive to investors and developers.”

the civic centre and car park is one of the largest and most important sites

₉

Harrow View - The Kodak Site In December 2012 outline planning permission was secured for the comprehensive, mixed-use development of the Kodak site known as Harrow View.

This permission followed extensive consultation with local communities, stakeholder groups and statutory consultees. In December 2014, Land Securities then successfully gained consent for a S73 application changing the location of the school on the site to ensure its delivery at an early stage of development. In April 2015, Land Securities signed an agreement with

Persimmon to build homes at the western part of the site, known as Harrow View West. The agreement will see Persimmon proceed with a detailed planning application for 314 new homes at Harrow View West. Construction is expected to start this year and finish by 2019.

There has been a significant shift in planning policy since 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 is now bringing forward a fresh planning application.

The proposed redevelopment of the Kodak Site will deliver a host of regeneration and economic benefits for the wider borough of Harrow.

This 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 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 will be 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.

Land Securities will submit the new proposals to Harrow to be determined In in partnership with: late Autumn 2015.

In partnership with:

In partnership with

Quality of Life

₁₂

Heart land Urban centres, a multicultural mix, diverse villages and neighbourhoods – Harrow abounds in contrasts. The next decade will see growth transform the borough

Words Jane Thynne

A

sk many people what springs to mind when you mention Harrow and they will immediately suggest the famous school – the alma mater of such luminaries as Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Robert Peel and Lord Byron – and now a dynamic, growing business. Impressive enough historically, but in contemporary times, there is so much more to the area that gave the school its name.

The borough, spanning 19.49 square miles – population 243,400 – is home to the bustling town of Harrow with its shopping centres and leisure facilities, but also to the urban villages of Pinner, Hatch End and Stanmore, which boast some quaint buildings, contemporary boutiques, coffee shops and award-winning, independent restaurants. Popular Metroland suburbs offer comfortable homes at good value around Rayners Lane and North Harrow. The south of the borough quarters the leafy hamlet of Harrow on the Hill, where many of the buildings have listed status – it is also home to the aforementioned school.

“Each part of the borough offers its own opportunities,” says Chris Frimley, senior sales consultant at Woodward estate agents in Harrow on the Hill. “Yes, there are houses in Hatch End that are selling for over £2.5 million, but there are also apartments and three-bedroom houses available in other parts of the borough for under £300,000 – a great price for London. Harrow really does have something for everyone,” Frimley adds.

“For me,” says Netmums’ Harrow editor Yamie Boakes, “The best thing about Harrow is its sense of community. It is truly multicultural and a great place to live.”

Even by London standards, Harrow is highly diverse. According to the last census figures, more than 69% of residents are of black, Asian and minority ethnic origin. In the 1950s and 60s, many Indian families made their home in the area and now 26.4% of Harrow’s residents are of Indian origin. The area also has the country’s largest

the best thing about harrow is its sense of community, it is truly multicultural

₁₃

Quality of life there are good schools and a good mix of cultures and faiths in many of them

Sri Lankan-born community. As a result, there is a combination of religious faiths – Harrow has the largest number of Hindus in the country and the most by proportion at 25.3%. The borough’s Jewish community is the sixth largest nationally, while 37.3% of residents are Christian and 12.5% are Muslim.

Harrow’s residents benefit from this rich mix which generates vibrant street life, a busy calendar of festivals and events, along with great choice in world foods and restaurants.

Harrow embraces this diversity. “The schools have a lot to do with this,” explains Boakes.

“There are good schools and a good mix of cultures and faiths in many of them.”

₁₄

The schools are indeed worth celebrating – 38 of the 56 primary and nursery schools in the Harrow Local Education Authority area were deemed ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ in the latest round of Ofsted inspections. And of the 24 secondary schools, nine qualified for top honours. As Harrow is also home to two further education colleges – Harrow and Stanmore – and with London’s universities in easy reach, the whole of the education spectrum is well catered for.

Lifelong learning is also provided, as the council runs the Harrow Adult, Community and Family Learning Service, based at Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End and offering courses and activities through a number of providers around the borough.

The area’s rich diversity is also reflected in its burgeoning arts offer. Harrow Arts Centre provides an eclectic mix of cinema, visual arts, dance, music and family entertainment.

“We work in close partnership with many local organisations and community groups to deliver an inclusive, educational and Top left: Pinner’s High Street, where Friends Restaurant has been established for 23 years. Top right: Leafy Harrow, connected to the city. Above: Performance space and cafe, Arc House. Right: Harrow School and its chapel.

numbers game 4% of Harrow’s residents are 5 married, the highest level in London wo-thirds of Harrow ‘s T residents own – or are buying – their own home arrow is the 12th largest London H borough by area 8% of all Harrow pupils achieved 8 Key Stage 2 Level 4 and above in English in 2012, above the national and London averages of 86% and 87% he average age of Harrow residents T is 36 years

₁₅ accessible programme of events and activities for the diverse community of Harrow,” says Joanna Minch, heritage and cultural activities officer. And in line with the council’s commitment to the arts in the borough, Arc House situated in Harrow’s Lowlands Road, is a brand new performance space that will host everything from pensioners’ exercise classes to theatre productions. Speaking ahead of its opening in April, Helen Galliford, Arc House events manager, said the Arc would provide a “platform for local groups and corporate entities” and would bring employment opportunities to the town.

The council has hosted its Under One Sky festival since 2005, showcasing the arts and including a programme of dance, world music, sports, youth music and the spoken word. “It’s a great chance for people to come together and have some fun,” says Boakes.

Quality of life

famous names heo Walcott, Patrick Moore and T Peter Andre were all born in Harrow ete Townshend of The Who (left) P first smashed his Rickenbacker guitar at the former Railway Hotel, next to Harrow & Wealdstone station arrow School featured in the Harry H Potter films ivienne Westwood attended V Harrow Art School – briefly – and her parents owned the post office in Station Road artoonist Heath Robinson C lived in Pinner where a museum commemorates his work

₁₆ But let’s get down to business. The borough’s proximity to central London is an obvious advantage and its excellent train, tube and bus links mean it also offers a perfect base for commuters. Further transport improvements – with consideration of Crossrail for Harrow & Wealdstone station and enhancements at Harrow-on-the-Hill station – would boost the borough further. Add to this the fact that the M25 and Heathrow are all accessible and you have the ideal location for work or home.

scientific and technical sectors, followed by construction and ICT.

According to the Harrow in Business (HiB) Advice Centre, the business community is characterised by a high number (some 11,500) of micro-enterprises (employing fewer than five people), which account for almost 80% of all businesses in the borough. But there are around 20 businesses that employ more than 250 employees. Most are in the professional,

In April 2015 the council launched its regeneration strategy for the Heart of Harrow.

This will transform Harrow town centre, Station Road, Wealdstone High Street, the former Kodak site, the Leisure Centre and the current Civic Centre site, as the council makes way for housing and downsizes to smaller offices on a new site.

nationally, harrow is recognised as an enterprise hotspot

“Nationally, Harrow is recognised as an enterprise hotspot, reflecting the entrepreneurial diverse community,” says Ash Verma, chair of HiB. “With good schools and transport links, a wide range of housing, a well-educated and skilled local community, and a comparatively safe environment, Harrow offers stability for local businesses.”

market facts Average house prices according to property website Rightmove in: Harrow Harrow on the Hill West Harrow Wealdstone

£385,137 £400,417 £360,630 £268,291

During 2014, prices in Harrow were up 16% on the previous year and 25% up on 2012 when the average house price was £308,802.

Left: Charles Shepard’s 1926 design, advertising a Metroland booklet. Below: Harrow Arts Centre’s varied programme includes events produced and performed by young people.

In the next decade, the council aims to attract some £1.75 billion in development value to the area, and provide a total of 5,500 new homes.

With several sites assembled and ready for construction, the council won firm backing from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and was awarded £31.3 million in January, as one of London’s first housing zones. This funding will be used to kickstart Harrow’s ambitious housebuilding programme, with more than 1,600 new homes in the first phase.

The council’s lead on business, planning and regeneration, Councillor Keith Ferry says: “We will have the full support of the GLA in guiding these schemes through the planning system, refining final designs and delivering the developments without delay. The housing zone bid includes the Hyde Housing scheme on the Old Post Office site, projects in

Wealdstone and Harrow owned by Origin Housing and the Land Securities scheme at Kodak/Harrow View. These are some of our highest profile – and long stalled – sites.

“The bid provides up to £8.8 million directly to the council, to help us deliver three key regeneration sites in the Heart of Harrow,” adds Ferry. “The time is right to redevelop the Civic Centre: we make poor use of this big prime site and we no longer need such a large building, which is expensive to operate. It’s a very attractive site for new housing development and could provide up to 800 new homes in a mix of affordable, market rent, shared ownership and homes for sale. We also envisage a new school on the site, some retail and a new public square.”

Could the character of Harrow’s neighbourhoods disappear under brick, glass and steel? Not a chance. All new development is on brownfield land – poorly utilised, stalled urban sites, which will be transformed by the new schemes. According to the GLA, just over a third of the borough is green space – an area equivalent in size to eight Hyde Parks! Five parks have been awarded Green Flag status.

From Stanmore’s Canons Park in the north to Roxeth Recreation Ground in South Harrow, there is always somewhere to get away. “The parks are really lovely,” says Boakes. “Lots have very good children’s play areas and many now have exercise equipment for older children or adults. They are all well-used.”

The final word goes to award-winning chef and restaurateur Terry Farr, owner of Friends Restaurant in Pinner. “I opened 23 years ago and I have enjoyed fantastic support from the local clientele in the good times and the bad.

It’s a great place to live and it’s a great place to work. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

₁₇

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Land for SaLe? For further information please contact one of our land buyers: Nicholas Dulcken – nicholas.dulcken@fairview.co.uk Richard Paterson – richard.paterson@fairview.co.uk Alternatively telephone on 020 8366 1271.

Connectivity

West side story with talk of HS2 and Crossrail, west London could see new infrastructure, with well-connected Harrow at the heart of developments

Words James Cracknell

₠₉

Connectivity

I

f it were not for its excellent rail connections, the London Borough of Harrow might not exist. Two months after Armistice Day, in January 1919, Robert Selbie announced the creation of Metropolitan Railway Country Estates (MRCE). The new property company’s task was to develop land the Metropolitan Railway no longer needed. It gave the Met line, at that time still independent from London Underground, the chance to become closely involved in property construction.

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Pictured below (top to bottom): Heathrow Airport; Harrowon-the-Hill station; an artist’s impression of the new railway interchange at Old Oak Common.

Selbie had been the first to coin the term “Metroland” in promotional material for the line’s extension in 1915. Now with large land holdings, the MRCE developed a string of new housing estates near stations in and around Harrow. The area surrounding Rayners Lane station was predominantly farmland prior to this development, but was quickly rebranded “Harrow Garden Village” as part of an intense marketing campaign aimed at Londoners who wanted to live in the countryside but still commute to the city.

Harrow’s population soared by 50%. In a single decade some 12,000 houses were built in Metroland, the north-west London area between Brent and Uxbridge, with Harrow at the heart of this activity.

What attracted Londoners to Harrow still applies today. As well as the Metropolitan line, the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines all traverse the borough, with 10 tube stations in total. Of the outer London boroughs, only three can boast more stops on the underground map. There are three stations in Harrow which are served by the London Overground line between Euston and Watford, while Euston can also be reached in just 14 minutes using London Midland services from Harrow & Wealdstone.

funding has been pledged to make harrow-on-the-hill step-free and accessible to all

Two international airports are within easy reach. Journeys to Heathrow can take 38 minutes on the Piccadilly line from Sudbury Hill, and Luton Airport can take just over an hour via Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone.

Harrow-on-the-Hill opened in 1880 and is on the Chiltern Main Line, 15 minutes from London Marylebone. There are plans to modernise the entrance as part of Harrow Council’s investment in the town centre.

Funding has been pledged by the council to make Harrow-on-the-Hill step-free and accessible to all, with Transport for London considering the best way to make it happen.

Gareth Powell, director of strategy and service development at London Underground, says: “We recently completed a feasibility study for step-free access at Harrow-on-the-Hill and welcome the funding of £3.1 million the council has identified. Making the station step-free would require additional finance and we are continuing to work with the borough to seek extra funding sources for the scheme.”

This adds up to Harrow being among the capital’s most well-connected outer boroughs.

And if the government implements plans set out by the coalition, its connectivity could be even better. In 2014 the Department for Transport announced its intention to link Harrow to the rail hub planned for Old Oak Common via an extension to Crossrail.

With development plans of £1.75 billion set out in the council’s Heart of Harrow strategy and one of the first housing zones announced, Councillor David Perry, leader of Harrow Council, welcomed the prospect of further necessary investment in infrastructure: “The potential extension of Crossrail could bring a boost to the area and the economy.”

If this comes to fruition it would mean that journeys from Harrow – already a prime location for enterprise – will be even faster to central London. It would also open up access to Milton Keynes and Birmingham, the latter via the new high-speed rail line, HS2. The housing zone will increase demand on infrastructure, but when in coalition, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “We’ll examine how we can run extra services direct into the City and through to Canary Wharf from stations like Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Harrow and Watford.”

regeneration has been focused on the east, but this is now shifting to the west This could include Old Oak Common, planned to open in 2026, being brought forward by a mayoral development corporation (MDC), in an area less than three miles from Harrow.

At the heart of a 950-ha redevelopment zone, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is set to deliver 24,000 homes and 55,000 jobs. An MDC was last used to speed up the work to deliver London 2012 – with applications being decided by City Hall instead of borough councils.

In previous decades regeneration has focused on the east of the city but the next 20 years will see development to the west. The coalition government claimed that Old Oak, with investment in HS2 and Crossrail, will deliver economic regeneration worth some £15.5 billion. The current government will have its own view but the OPDC is one indication of the shift that is taking place from one side of London to the other, with the housing zone confirming Harrow’s position in accelerating this new focus on north-west London.

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Map watford heath

Locations THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW

hatch end

â‚

22

pinner

pinner

featured projects 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Caulfield Gardens Gayton Road 51 College Road Kings and Queens House Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Harrow View Harrow School Grange Farm rayners lane

additional opportunity sites 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Civic Centre Peel House and Palmerston Road/Dellers Greenhill Way Leisure Centre Cumberland Hotel Stanmore Place Artisan Place Lyon Road

ruislip

a4090

raf northolt

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stanmore

a410

canons park

harrow weald

₁₅

headstone lane

₁₄ belmont

a409

23

₁₀

₆

a404

edgware

a4140

₁₂

colindale

harrow & wealdstone

₉

north harrow

₄ west harrow

₁₁ ₁₆ ₁₃ ₃ ₂

harrow-onthe-hill

preston

₇ ₈ south harrow

sudbury hill

wembley

Projects

Projects â‚‚â‚„

We summarise some of the main schemes under way or proposed for development throughout Harrow

caulfield gardens

₁ Residents of the former Mill Farm council estate in Pinner saw their 1960s homes demolished in October 2014, as the final phase of a five-year, £22 million regeneration project began. Residents were closely involved in selecting Catalyst as the housing association, choosing the architect and renaming their estate Caulfield Gardens. The last stage of the development, which has already delivered 114 homes, will create an additional 45 units. Once completed

in summer 2015, Caulfield Gardens will become a mix of new homes for Catalyst tenants living on the estate; shared ownership properties and homes for private sale are being marketed. Catalyst has also invested over £250,000 in community development initiatives, which created 13 apprenticeship places for Harrow residents, many from the estate. The funding contributed to the REACH Programme which helped 155 people find work.

gayton road Fairview New Homes’ 383-home development will transform a council car park on the edge of Harrow town centre.

₂

The scheme is being built in five blocks of between four and 10 storeys, designed by architect Metropolis.

The site is bounded by mature trees, including the street side and the adjacent underground line, which help to integrate

residents have been closely involved in the project and renamed it caulfield gardens

the new development with the existing mixed scale buildings.

Retention of the trees has allowed the design to evolve as an internal garden, accessible to all the blocks.

The development includes a nursery at street level under the tallest building. Basement level parking was designed to leave more space for landscaping.

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Projects

51 college road

₃ The Hyde Group has submitted a planning application to redevelop 51 College Road, following public consultation in October 2014 and January 2015. Hyde plans to develop the old Post Office site, providing 317 new homes, of which a minimum of 51 will be affordable.

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The site has the potential to contribute to the night-time

economy, as it will include restaurant and cafe units, and high quality retail, with a central public space for community use.

The development will also feature a new central library for Harrow, which will include a multi-use space, flexible exhibition area, study area, dedicated children’s library, as well as a garden and pavilion.

kings and queens house Architecture, design and development management company, Dandi Living, bought the freehold of Kings House and Queens House in Harrow, and an adjoining car park in December 2014. Property website CoStar reported that Dandi Living paid £23.8 million for its acquisition. Queens House comprises around 4,459sq m of vacant offices, with consent for change of use to 64 residential units, which are expected to be developed for the private rental sector. Dandi Living specialises in multifunctional space that can be adapted to suit the user.

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in harrow dandi living will redevelop vacant offices into new residential units

royal national orthopaedic hospital The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and the NHS Trust Development Authority have confirmed that the next phase of rebuilding at Stanmore has been unconditionally approved.

₅

A new inpatient facility is the first phase in long-term plans for redeveloping the site, where many buildings are pre-second world war. The new hospital will provide 124 beds, the majority of which will be in single rooms, providing patients with privacy and helping

reduce the transfer of infection. Landscaped gardens will surround the hospital, and a main entrance with a children’s activity centre and cafe will be built.

Better location of areas within the hospital will reduce travel times and make it easier for patients and visitors to find their way, as well as allowing staff to work more effectively. Ease of access for all patients will be central to the design, but especially for those with reduced mobility or wheelchair users.

harrow view Land Securities received outline planning permission for the 23-ha former Kodak site in 2012, and is now preparing a fresh application for the huge project to build up to 1,800 homes, a primary school, medical centre, shops and offices.

Persimmon Homes has won a bid to develop the first homes at the site. It has an eighthectare plot called Harrow View West, where planning permission is in place for more than 300 homes.

₆

A minor material amendment was submitted to Harrow Council in 2014, proposing revisions to elements of this consent. The revised plans sought to move the proposed

primary school away from the busiest part of the Kodak factory. As a result the new leisure and community centre will be moved to this space. A Land Securities spokesperson said the adjustments will ensure timely delivery.

The developer has held public sessions to give people information about the revised plans.

Land Securities estimates the project, which includes a community centre, student accommodation, and a retirement home, will create up to 1,500 jobs. The scheme also includes parks and a combined heat and power system for the district, where all homes and businesses will be provided with heating from a single unit.

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Projects

harrow school The internationally known independent school has worked with Harrow Council on a supplementary planning document (SPD), a framework for development proposals over the next 15 to 20 years. The plans are necessary for the school to maintain current standards, and meet the changing demands of its academic and accommodation requirements.

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Harrow School is one of the borough’s dynamic enterprises; with around 600 staff, it is a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Its facilities are used extensively

by local schools and the community. The estate includes buildings and landscapes of environmental and heritage value.

The school needs to construct new facilities, including a science building and music auditorium. An extension to the Ryan Theatre is also proposed, as well as a new sports centre due to structural concerns regarding the building that houses the old sports facility.

The draft SPD was available for public consultation until 31 May.

grange farm Harrow Council is to select an architect for an £85 million regeneration project at the Grange Farm estate. The project is planned to begin in 2016, and will see 260 ageing flats and bungalows replaced with almost 500 mixed-tenure homes. The architect will work with the council, residents and stakeholders to develop a planning application. The South Harrow estate was designed by the council's

₈

architects’ department and built in 1968. PRP Architects has completed a feasibility study for the project.

Working with Local Authorities The Hyde Housing Group is an award winning provider of homes and makes a significant contribution to meeting housing needs and improving people’s quality of life.

Hyde is one of the largest housing associations working in England, owning or managing circa 50,000 homes with a focus on London, Kent and the South Coast of England.

Hyde built high quality new homes for 4,413 people in 2014/15. Of these, 83% pay a subsidised price, with 3,643 people housed in a new Hyde affordable home.

Hyde is committed to tackling the housing shortage and reducing some of these impacts by: • Developing 1,000 mixed tenure homes a year with a focus on increasing this further • Delivering quality management services across all tenures and uses • Maximising life chances for residents through Hyde Plus’ support service • Retaining a strong financial covenant and commitment to invest for the future We believe that the answer to delivering more homes, particularly ones that are affordable or are available for low cost ownership, is to work collaboratively with local authorities. A partnership approach allows local authorities to match their assets with our experience of mixed tenure development and regeneration, to create housing and communities in the most cost-effective and sustainable way.

True partnerships can be achieved in a number of ways: • A joint venture model with sharing of risk and reward • Sharing the build programme: Hyde develops and sells the commercial elements of a mixed tenure scheme and the local authority develops and retains some or all of the affordable/ social homes, to deliver an ongoing revenue • Hyde acts as the development and/ or sales agent for the local authority • Traditional regeneration projects • Stock transfer opportunities We have the financial capacity, A1 Moody’s credit rating and the highest validation from the Homes and Communities Agency. Equally, our reputation for innovation and creativity in designing new solutions for delivering affordable homes means we are an ideal partner for local authorities.

We are committed to communities and places for the long term, supporting our developments with high quality, coordinated management services.

These core objectives as a registered provider distinguish us from other market housing developers.

We are open to ideas, so let’s do more to work together, pooling resources, ideas and ambitions, to create homes for people that need them the most.

We look forward to working with you in the future. To arrange a meeting, please contact: Mike Johnson Development Director, London and Kent mike.johnson2@hyde-housing.co.uk

Housing

Home brew First there were nine. Heart of Harrow was among the leading bids, as the GLA announced the scheme as one of London’s first housing zones

Words James Wood

₃₀

I

t is all over the news. Demand for housing across the capital is soaring and with so many people being priced out of the London market, some councils in the outer boroughs are looking to solutions that will offer a robust, diverse and progressive housing policy for residents.

Harrow Council has implemented measures to tackle the pressure of some 800 households, people who are eligible and on its housing waiting list. The 2011 census showed Harrow had the lowest concentration of social housing in London – the council as landlord has some 5,000 units. The authority is now overseeing the construction of more than 500 new council properties – the first in the borough for more than 20 years. They will form a part of the £1.75 billion regeneration programme, which will see 5,500 homes built at 13 sites.

This project has been given a significant financial boost following the council’s successful Heart of Harrow bid, named among the first nine housing zones in London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) had invited local councils to submit bids which, if successful, would allow special designation for housebuilding in some areas, providing funding and accelerating the planning process to speed up delivery.

Each successful bid has received a slice of the £262 million allocated to the housing zones.

Harrow has been granted £31.3 million of funding, which will be used to build an extra 1,679 homes, just under 40% of which the authority says will be affordable. New neighbourhoods will be established, along with two primary schools, two town squares, enhanced playing pitches, sports facilities and other infrastructure improvements.

The GLA congratulated Harrow on the strength of its bid – approved partly due to the fact that it has several sites ready for development. According to the council, it will lead to the biggest housebuilding programme the borough has seen since the 1980s.

The authority is also planning to introduce the idea of offering houses in the private rented sector with the council acting as landlord, as well as developing more affordable housing for potential new residents. For this, Harrow has set up a housing enabling team to monitor and ensure the delivery of affordable units in Harrow.

The council's housing lead, Councillor Glen Hearnden, says: “Housing is crucial to meet demand posed by Harrow’s increasing numbers. Since 2003, its population has grown by 13.9% and the focus is on developing the undeveloped south of the borough and Wealdstone.

“The private rented market is over-heating and it’s absolutely essential that we not only influence the market but get the right sort of affordable housing built in the right places.

“We’re aware of the areas that need to be pulled up in the borough and we’re certainly going to be increasing the pressure to get the homes that are needed built,” says Hearnden.

“There are development schemes in London where rents are at 80% of the market rate – and calling these affordable is wrong. At the moment it needs to be 50% and this is where we’re aiming to be. Developing temporary lettings for those in need of housing is another important agenda. When you have 150 families in bed and breakfasts, this is an imperative.”

housing is crucial to meet demand posed by harrow’s increasing numbers

₃₁

Housing

One major housing scheme is the redevelopment of the Grange Farm estate in South Harrow, where 470 homes will be built in the town centre. Housing association, the Hyde Group, has planning permission for 318 homes, 836sq m of retail space, a public square and library at a site on College Road.

Hyde is seeking a joint venture partner to take the scheme forward.

Other strategic sites under way include Barratt’s Artisan Place in Wealdstone – the redevelopment of the former ColArt/Winsor and Newton factory will include 195 homes – and Redrow’s Lyon Road in Harrow town centre will provide around 300 units.

₃₂

Elsewhere, the Harrow View development – a site formerly occupied by Kodak – was the subject of further public consultation in April, following the area's designation as a housing zone. In partnership with the council, Land Securities is now bringing forward a fresh planning application for up to 1,800 homes to sit alongside the primary school, offices and shops already proposed on the eastern part of the site. Land Securities has signed an agreement with Persimmon to develop more than 300 new homes on the west of the site.

Estate agency, Preston Bennett, is marketing schemes across the borough, acting as land and development consultant to public, private and charity landowners and identifying sites for residential, commercial and mixed-use schemes. The wide variety of housing is not the only attraction for new residents. “People like living here for all sorts of reasons,” says Richard Henley, the firm's development director. “The quality and range of housing, the schools and open spaces attract people of all ages and backgrounds.”

But the challenges of Harrow’s increasing population means developers have to approach regeneration carefully, he adds: “We need to think more creatively, a little more laterally. Whether this means using land more intelligently or not being afraid to build up is something to think about. We have architects bringing forward excellent, modern designs, which can benefit people from all walks of the community and this needs to continue.”

Facilities for older people are an increasing priority for developers, adds Henley, who thinks it is likely that more schemes with this demographic in mind will be brought forward: “Harrow offers a good quality of life for older people,” he says.

The borough attracts new residents from all over the world and Harrow has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the country, with 69% listed as being from an ethnic group in the 2011 census.

Ron Cole, branch manager of Andrews estate agents in Kingsbury, over the borough border in Brent, has noticed a mix of cultures moving into Harrow in recent years and believes this adds to the vibrancy of north-west London: “In the last three to five years, we’ve seen a lot of eastern European people settling in next door to second or third generation Indian people and this makes Harrow really culturally diverse,” he says. “The borough’s schools, parks and transport links are just some of the benefits that have widespread appeal.”

Housing is not only crucial to meet demand, but those in the property industry such as Henley believe bringing forward new schemes can act as a catalyst for further regeneration across Harrow.

the quality and range of housing, schools and open spaces attract all ages

lyon road, redrow homes Redrow Homes is developing around 300 apartments on a one-hectare site along Lyon Road in Harrow town centre, as part of a scheme which the developer says will include around 50 affordable homes.

criteria that provide a model for building accessible and adaptable homes, as well as Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The development will feature a large community garden and two children’s play areas.

The one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments will be built to the Lifetime Homes standard – a set of 16 design

This project will also incorporate office and commercial space alongside the new homes.

artisan place, barratt homes The first phase of homes at Artisan Place, Wealdstone, is now sold.

Properties for the next phase will be released in the summer.

The developer, Barratt Homes, says the scheme has the advantage of being 14 minutes by train from the centre of London, but residents will still have easy access to enjoy the countryside.

₃₃

Housing

aura, weston homes Weston Homes has had longstanding plans to redevelop the White Lion Ground site in Harrow, the former home of Edgware Town football club.

Amendments to the original planning application gained consent in 2014 for 178 apartments and 11 houses.

Aura provides 189 homes of mixed tenure, in sizes from one to five bedrooms. Work started in March 2014, and the project is due to be completed by spring 2016.

stanmore place, st edward

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St Edward, a joint venture company between the Berkeley Group and Prudential, is bringing forward the What House? award-winning, 798-home, Stanmore Place scheme.

Marketed as being in “a cosy and intimate neighbourhood setting”, homes in the first phase launched in early 2015, targeted towards an older generation of homebuyers looking to downsize. It is four years in development, and is due to be completed by 2017.

Featuring one, two and threebedroom apartments, the scheme also includes landscaped gardens and a gym for use by residents only. Prices for apartments start at £395,000 and many include a balcony or terrace.

Adjacent access to the Jubilee line at Canons Park allows for easy access into central London.

bentley priory, barratt homes Barratt Homes’ Bentley Priory scheme is a collection of 95 luxury homes in Stanmore, Harrow.

Built on the site of the Grade II-listed former RAF Bentley Priory and designed by multi-award-winning ADAM Architecture, the development also features a concierge service, gated entrance and two residents’ tennis courts, as well as 4.85ha of parkland.

Homes are a mix of apartments and houses with gardens, and won the award for Best Architecture Multiple Residence at the UK Property Awards.

The new housing replaced disused RAF structures, the design and layout of the new buildings having been informed by the historic landscape and the simple, restrained architecture of the mansion designed by Sir John Soane.

the spectrum, home group The final phase of properties at The Spectrum on Rayners Lane began in November 2014.

This phase comprises 152 one and twobedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses for private sale. Each property includes outdoor space – a balcony or patio area for the apartments and private gardens for the houses. There is also an allocated

parking space for every property.

Three and four-bedroom homes have two bathrooms, while two-bedroom apartments include en suite facilities.

The Spectrum is within a 15-minute walk of Rayners Lane tube station, which is served by the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines. Harrow-on-the-Hill tube station is two stops away on the Metropolitan line.

₃₅

Economy

Business cool Entrepreneurs head for Harrow, where companies set up and stay the course, with a thriving BID and support to break into export markets

Words Maria Shahid

₃₈

H

arrow has proved to be an attractive location for entrepreneurs. With just over 11,000 businesses, around 90% are small enterprises with up to four employees. And this number is growing fast.

The borough’s Local Economic Assessment states that Harrow is the only west London borough to show continual growth in business formation since 2006. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics in February recorded an 18% increase since 2010 in the number of small businesses registered; one of the highest increases in the UK. Recent business initiatives are helping to foster entrepreneurship. Harrow College was awarded the Gateway Asia II project in May 2014. The scheme is a partnership of public and private sector organisations, all with extensive experience of enterprise support, development and exporting. It aims to assist local SMEs to enhance their knowledge and help develop export skills in emerging markets. This builds on the success of the

original Gateway Asia programme, which was designed to provide export advice and support to SMEs seeking new marketing and business opportunities in Asia, and particularly, India and China.

Alf Desire, business development manager at Harrow College, says: “At its crux, Gateway Asia II is aimed at helping promote business within the Asian diaspora. We received £600,000 from the London mayor’s office via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The programme was launched in late February, and we have until September 2015 to complete it. We are looking at peer mentoring and trade delegations.”

The project’s target is to engage with and support at least 110 SMEs in the local area.

Desire explains that Harrow College took over the running of the project from West London Business as part of its international agenda. “We have an imperative to do more with the businesses around us. We want to

gateway asia ii is aimed at helping promote business within the asian diaspora

₃₉

Economy

Below and right: Artisan coffee and cakes at Miriam’s Munchies – in business since 2007 and after steady growth, opened its Station Road premises in 2014.

miriam’s munchies Mother and daughter team, Cathy and Miriam Smith, are artisan cake makers, who started Miriam’s Munchies in 2007 with a passion for baking. Initially just a monthly stall at Pinner farmers’ market, the business grew steadily, and by 2009, it expanded to the extent that Cathy could leave her job in marketing to run it, and Miriam was helping out on weekends. Miriam’s Munchies opened a cafe at the end of 2014 on Station Road, and it’s been incredibly well received.

“There’s no other artisan coffee and cake shop in Harrow,” says Cathy, adding that the company is passionate about

₄₀

be at the forefront of this type of training, as it improves our links with them, as well as developing apprenticeship opportunities for our students.”

Harrow’s Business Improvement District (BID) has played a pivotal role in making the town an attractive location for business. After a successful ballot in late 2013, it went to work in April 2014. The aim of the BID was to raise £2.43 million to be spent exclusively in the area over its five-year life.

The BID’s action plan for 2014–2019, following feedback from businesses, included promotion of the Harrow area as a shopping destination, improving the pedestrian experience and town centre management.

One year on, the BID’s achievements have included events such as the Christmas switch-on, which attracted footfall of 60,000 to the town, and a four-day Christmas market.

Improvements have been made to St Ann’s Road, Harrow’s most important retail street.

staying local and using local ingredients.

“We use a farm in Harefield for all our dairy products, and source our honey from a local beekeeper. Our coffee is supplied by Monmouth, also a Londonbased company.”

Jay Patel, owner of the Chocolate Room on Station Road, explains: “Since I’ve been working with the BID my shop was featured on BBC London News and I am going to be making savings on my portable appliance testing and telecoms bills. The BID events bring extra customers to our businesses and put smiles on people’s faces.”

Others are impressed at the BID’s achievements. Pieter Strömbeck is the centre manager at Harrow’s St Anns shopping centre, a 25,084sq m retail space with an annual footfall of 12.5 million, and 940 car parking spaces, located opposite Harrowon-the-Hill station. “The establishment of the BID in 2014 has brought a number of improvements and it is reassuring to know that we have a great team looking after the interests of businesses within the town centre,” says Strömbeck. “The BID is an important part of the long-term plan to regenerate Harrow.” He adds that the centre, anchored by Marks and Spencer

franchi seeds

accord healthcare

This Italian seed supplier dates back to 18th century Parma, and the business has been in the same family ever since. Director Paolo Arrigo promotes the local economy in creative ways: “We have a little private theatre here in Harrow, where we showcase gardening and Italian-themed events.

On 24 May, we hosted a concert, attended by the Italian ambassador.”

Arrigo says he is a Harrow boy who is proud of his Italian roots. The company’s award-winning Roman Garden was displayed at Hampton Court flower show.

Accord has been based in Harrow since 2008, when the pharmaceutical company had only three European offices; it is now active in over 30 continental markets, and its portfolio has grown to over 180 products.

Head of marketing, Celia Serra, says the Harrow office benefits from cost efficiencies compared to a central London location. “It also provides easy access to Heathrow airport, which is great for international visitors,” she adds. “At the same time, central London can be reached in just 40 minutes by train.”

and BHS, is an “integral part of the local community; we see ourselves as the retail hub of Harrow”.

“We recently completed a £2.2 million refurbishment, including modern fullheight shop fronts, new lighting, plus two key restaurant chains: Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s.” With a footfall of nine million, current retailers include H&M Kids, Boots and TK Maxx, as well as Fitness First. “We are trying to reinvent the shopping centre all the time,” says Gregory. “We are focusing on attracting more fashion retailers, which fits in with the demographic; we have the secondlargest shopping population in Greater London. Our long-term strategy is to create the leisure and retail destination of choice within the wider catchment.”

A Metro Bank was due to open at the centre in May. “The bank spent £1.7 million on the refit, which will act as a catalyst, opening developers’ eyes to the centre’s potential.

Moss Bros is also carrying out a £120,000 refurbishment of its store,” adds Strömbeck.

Nick Gregory is a senior retail asset manager at UK REIT, Redefine, which owns the 19,974sq m St George’s, Harrow’s other main shopping centre, which has around 650 spaces and 40 units across three levels.

Gregory explains that St George’s USP is its 12-screen Vue cinema, one of the most successful in London. “When we bought the centre during the recession in 2011, it was slightly unloved. The architectural style was out of date, and the tenant mix was unusual.

There was no complementary restaurant offer alongside the cinema.

we have the secondlargest shopping population in greater london

Already one of the top retail destinations in the UK, and one of the safest bets for retail investment, Harrow has been surprisingly resilient and adaptable to competition from Westfield and other retail destinations. Big plans are afoot, and in this north-west London borough, it looks like the pace of change is unlikely to slow down any time soon.

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Bromley

Investment opportunities in the London Borough of Bromley

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Behind the North East’s largest housing led regeneration is New West Development Regeneration New neighbourhoods, access to Tyne markets Company, a public-private partnership comprising Newcastle City Council and developers Celebration Cultural events and community cohesion Barratt Homes and Keepmoat.

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#1 | Winter 2014

issue four/ autumn 2014

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CULTURE DRIVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATES A DESTINATION

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WAKEFIELD AND LEEDS CHIEF

Derby’s regeneration magazine

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eTO proud to be TOmaking the UK’s BRING MORE INVESTMENT THE REGION t important development and structure projects happen

Derby’s regeneration magazine /issue number seven

hi-t 175

It doesn’t matter whether you’re renting, living with family/friends or you’re at the stage where you’re looking to move up the property ladder or just need more space for you growing family – the Governmentbacked Help to Buy scheme could be the key. You require just a 5% deposit and it is available to both first The magazine time buyers and homeowners.

A: LEADING THE UK’S OMOTIVE AND INEERING RESEARCH

Street wise – urban art Wish you’d built here? Round table – clear thinkin

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Excellent connections, good growth, relocations and festival buzz

EAST ON FILM HACKNEY’S ELBA: LUTHER TO MA

Education

Chalk it up With a multimillion pound expansion programme and strong business links, Harrow is at the top of the class

Words Lucy Purdy

M

any parents seeking a top-notch education for their children head for Harrow. Results are consistently high, but the borough’s schools and colleges keep an eye fixed firmly on the real world too, linking educational provision with the needs of business. Such success brings its own challenges, with 2014 figures showing Harrow needs to create 4,303 primary places – 23% of its capacity – by 2017/18.

Basic Needs Programme, which is supporting the council’s second phase of its primary expansion programme.

While this demand reflects the quality of education on offer in Harrow, it also arrives alongside the borough’s new wave of housing, emerging from a portfolio of ready-to-go sites which have developers licking their lips. And it corresponds with the general picture in the capital. Undaunted, Harrow is taking action to equip pupils with a 21st century education.

“Our community investment team has carried out hoarding painting and poster competitions for pupils, monthly newsletters to pupils and local residents, sponsoring school events, and conducting mock interviews to help with Harrow’s [aim] to get young people into work,” says a spokesman.

The local authority has secured millions in government funding to expand its high quality schools. Compelling bids helped Harrow net £34.3 million from the Targeted

A £40 million partnership with Keepmoat has seen the development of designs for 15 schools across the borough, with the community regeneration specialist investing time and effort in involving the schools and communities in the plans.

The borough’s further education provision is not lagging behind either. Harrow College is upgrading its estate across the two main campuses, creating an enterprise centre at Harrow on the Hill. The 2,800sq m building

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Education

Below: An enclosed garden is a feature of Harrow College’s specialist facility for students with learning difficulties and disabilities, at the Harrow Weald campus.

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will replace two 25-year-old temporary buildings and become the first new permanent college building since 1987. At a cost of around £9.5 million, funded with the aid of a grant from the Skills Funding Agency, it brings together IBI Group architects, project management by AA Projects and construction by Morgan Sindall, a team working to BREEAM Excellent standards.

“It is scheduled for completion over the summer, and will be in use for the next academic year from September,” confirms Judith Abbott, the college’s director of finance and resources.

“It will provide a professional working environment for our students on business courses including BTECs, A-levels, HNDs and for students referred by Jobcentre Plus who need to develop certain skills to be ready for work and gain employment.”

The new flagship building – blending traditional classrooms with more flexible, modern spaces – has enabled the college to partner with the Career Colleges Trust to offer a more innovative vocational curriculum with closer employer engagement, particularly in the fields of professional and business services, IT and digital media. Here, the college is fostering an enviable employer engagement link with Tech City, the technology startup hub in east London.

Abbott says the new building will also house an incubation centre for eight startups and a hub for employer engagement and apprenticeship recruitment.

“We have also partnered with BT to put in an application for Local Enterprise Partnership funding to create a digital communications centre within the new building, and we’re awaiting the outcome of this.”

the college is the training provider for a number of high profile, blue chip companies

Below: Harrow College is creating a new enterprise centre at its Harrow on the Hill campus, replacing two 25-year-old buildings with a 2,800sq m flexible, modern space.

The college’s plans don’t stop there. A specialist facility for students with learning difficulties and disabilities is being created at the college’s Harrow Weald campus.

The approximately 950sq m, purpose-built facility is costing around £3 million and has been funded by a grant from the Education Funding Agency. Again, IBI Group and AA Projects will work together, this time alongside Huttons on the construction side.

The project is due for completion in the summer, for use in September.

It has been carefully planned. Abbott says: “We have followed best practice guidelines from the National Autistic Society in selecting the location of the new building at the perimeter of our site in a tranquil and secure location.

The building will include a kitchen-diner with a living room area, where independent living skills can be taught.”

Local businesses, picking up on the sense of dynamism at the college, are keen to play a part in its success story. Abbott says: “The college is the preferred training provider of a number of high profile and national blue chip companies. We visit around 15 local businesses a week to discuss how we can support their training needs, including placement of apprenticeships.”

The college also has international links via its work with the British Council, and is promoting opportunities for local businesses to improve links with Asia via its European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Gateway Asia II project. The college received £1.2 million of funding from the London mayor’s office via the ERDF for the project, which will engage SMEs to enhance their knowledge and export skills. Some 110 businesses will be helped in accelerating

export and bilateral trade opportunities in emerging markets among the Asian diaspora and in east and west Africa, delivered by the college alongside Gateway Business Consultants and Harrow in Business.

At Stanmore College too, vocational provision is special because of the high quality and dual professionalism of the teachers, says principal Jacqui Mace. “Most of the teachers have worked in an industry or business setting. The college has very good relationships with a wide range of employers and businesses. These links include a range of work placements as well as guest speakers, industry visits and, a speciality of Stanmore, working for employers on real ‘briefs’ and specifications to practice the skills that students learn in the classroom.”

Mace says the college is constantly scanning the local economic environment – which is

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Education

Below: Hawkins/Brown designed new facilities at the University of Westminster’s Harrow campus, which is just across the borough boundary in neighbouring Brent.

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the whole of London and south Hertfordshire – to ascertain the industries which have skills shortages and gaps and the kinds of skills with which it should be equipping its students.

“We have regular conversations with employers to find out about their needs. Stanmore College is STEM Assured – we had to convince assessors that we have real relationships with science, technology, engineering and maths employers. We have a particularly strong relationship with early years partnerships.”

New resources which will greet students in September include bright and well-equipped laboratories, the Rowan Tree Beauty Spa, new art and design facilities, a fitness studio with state-of-the-art equipment and a customdesigned area for early years and healthcare education, including a creche and industry standard accommodation for digital media.

At third level, Harrow’s transport links make it well connected to London’s prestigious institutions. And just over the boundary in neighbouring Brent at Northwick Park,

the University of Westminster’s Harrow campus is being refurbished, with phase one delivering fashion and art facilities, and music performance space. The second phase will provide a new social space.

Proximity to the heart of London allows the university to build on close connections with leading figures and organisations in these thriving fields. Its Career Development Centre allows businesses to communicate with its student and graduate pool, and Talent Bank – the dedicated recruitment agency. The university trains businesses too, with staff from Arcadia/BHS, Coast, Harrods, Boden, Selfridges and The White Company learning workplace skills – confirmation of its success as a conduit between education and work.

Across Harrow, education provision meets children and young people’s need with vigour and pragmatism in the face of challenges, genuine industry knowledge, openness to and engagement with an increasingly complex global market. Evidence indeed – Harrow is a smart place to be.

we have regular conversations with employers to find out about their needs

big Partners

Joining together to support Harrow

St Edward sales & marketing suite stanmore place sales.stanmore@stedward.co.uk Dandi Living eva siskinova partner / lead architect eva@dandiliving.com Chamberlain Commercial tony chamberlain managing director tony@chamberlaincommercial.com Origin Housing gareth Jones director of development gareth.jones@originhousing.org.uk Preston Bennett in association with Hamptons International richard henley mrpti planning and development director richard@prestonbennett.co.uk For partner opportunities contact 3Fox International harry seal project manager harry@3foxinternational.com

For more information about these companies visit investharrow.com

Markets

Harrow

12,000

Market fact-f ile

people employed in harrow town centre, almost one-fifth of the borough’s total jobs

243,400 population

(2013 ONS Mid-Year Estimate)

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£1.75 billion

16%

investment programme for the heart of harrow, delivering 5,500 homes, two schools and 3,000 jobs

annual price rise in property

(Land Registry House Price Index, April 2015)

diversity

69% of harrow’s residents belong to black, asian and minority ethnic groups, 26% are of indian origin (2011 Census)

2/3 of harrow residents either own or are buying their home (Census 2011)

11% of businesses involved in international trade, in a sample by startup britain in 2013

average property price is

£380,073 (Land Registry House Price Index, April 2015)

₄₉ big borough for small business

87% of harrow’s businesses employ up to four people, 11,000 businesses are registered

top 10% in uk for higher skills

46% of harrow’s working age residents held a degree level qualification in 2013

1st place harrow is the safest borough in london (Metropolitan Police)

Sitematch

H

arrow Council supports the Sitematch events programme and has one of London’s first housing zones and development on a massive scale. Sitematch research manager Huub Nieuwstadt meets Paul Nichols (right), divisional director, regeneration and planning, and Tobias Goevert, head of regeneration and design.

governance, developable land and the clear vision to make a difference in Harrow means we are ‘good to go and ready to grow’. We have recently been awarded a significant amount of money from the Greater London Authority (GLA) under one of the first tranches of funding for the housing zones. We are looking for mutually beneficial partnerships with developers and occupiers.

Which are currently Harrow’s key regeneration projects? pn There are already a number of projects well under way, which are being delivered Tobi, as you’ve recently in collaboration with private sector joined Harrow from partners. Over the past five years, the GLA, what has more than 5,000 units have attracted you to received planning consent, the council? including the Kodak tg Over the last decade site. As a council we I have had the are focusing on our opportunity to work on Words area of opportunity, which a number of significant Huub Nieuwstadt is defined as the Heart of development projects and Harrow. This includes the Civic regeneration programmes across Centre site on Station Road, which London. Similar to Harrow, the key is a key catalyst for regeneration in to the success of these projects was not the borough because it opens only to make sure they were well designed opportunities to build hundreds of but also that the benefits of investment spread much-needed homes, including to the wider community. Harrow’s plans are affordable ones, a new school and a very ambitious, so this is a great time for me public square. to get involved from the start.

Inside track

50

What does the council see as the main opportunities for developers and occupiers? tg There are a number of opportunities for developers across the borough, so this is a great time to get involved. We have strong political leadership, including a very supportive council leader. We are also working closely with the local community through a new residents’ panel. This mix of strong

Why should a developer or investor do business in Harrow? pn The potential for growth in Harrow is massive and there is the political will to make it happen. Our regeneration areas are only 15 minutes from Euston, and Harrow is also one of the greenest and most liveable boroughs. There is a big variety of sites, from large to small, which means there is an opportunity to create a great mix of housing types, new workspace for local jobs – and bring huge benefits to local communities.

Sitematch London is an event enabling public sector landowners to engage with private sector developers, investors and occupiers.

For more information, visit sitematchlondon.com

Booming for business

Large for lifestyle

outer london borough with international connections

housing zone, good schools, connectivity, green space

Bu i l d / I n n o v a t e / Gr o w Ha r r o w issue 1

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

COMING SOON 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom luxury apartments

0203 5385708 redrow.co.uk/lyonsquare

Ha r r o w

Details correct at time of going to press. Computer generated image.