London,
06
November
2017
|
15:34
Europe/London

New Camden council homes are looking 'Ab fab!'

Residents and Councillors celebrate the 'topping out' of the Abbey Area development
New homes in the Abbey Area
Cllr Beales inspects the project

It’s full steam ahead for the Abbey Area project - one of Camden Council’s most ambitious schemes in its Community Investment Programme (CIP) – as residents and councillors gave a helping hand in a ‘topping out’ ceremony on Friday, 3 November 2017.

The first phase of the new Abbey Area development, which is due to be completed in late 2018 and is centred around the junction of Abbey Road and Belsize Road in Kilburn, will include 66 new council homes, 75 homes for private sale, a supermarket and two other shops.

Residents of Abbey Co-op (Tenant Managed Organisation) are being given first preference on the new council homes through a local lettings policy.

Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities at Camden Council, said: “The Abbey Area project exemplifies what Camden Council wants to do – invest in building much-needed social and affordable housing and develop these as part of a real community, working hand-in-hand with residents at every stage.

“Only 2% of our capital funding comes from Government grants, so in Camden, we have to work with our communities to find solutions to pay for much needed investment ourselves. The CIP uses the receipts of private builds to fund what our communities are crying out for – council and affordable homes. Overall, CIP will build over 3,000 homes, improve 48 schools and children’s centres and invest in much needed community facilities to equip Camden for the future.”

Paul Nicholls, Managing Director for Wates Residential South, said: “The topping out represents a key milestone in delivering this exemplar scheme, providing new homes for local communities within Camden. The collaborative approach seen by Wates, Camden Council, our consultants, supply chain and surrounding community demonstrates the benefits of working in partnership to deliver this logistically challenging project well. Wates is proud to be part of a project that will help deliver much needed new homes in 2018.”

Over the next year, Camden Council will work with residents of Abbey Co-op to design and deliver over 500sqm of new play space on the green area behind Snowman and Casterbridge towers for residents of the estate to use.

The Abbey Area project has the potential to be a three-phased development. The development of phase 1 will enable phase 2 and 3 to go ahead. The existing uses on the site of phase 3 will move into new buildings on phases 1 and 2.

Overall the scheme could deliver up to:

  • 241 new energy efficient homes: 102 council homes, 12 affordable homes and 127 for private sale
  • New community and health facilities
  • Improved open and play spaces
  • Improvements to the junction of Abbey Road and Belsize Road including pedestrian crossings.

Phase 2 is adjacent to Snowman and Casterbridge towers, which are managed by Abbey Co-op (TMO). This phase includes new expanded health and community facilities, a new office for the TMO, 500m2 of new play space and improvements to open spaces.