Harrow Council have announced the development partner for the largest investment and development opportunity in Harrow’s history.
The programme will change the Wealdstone landscape adding 100,000sq ft of mixed use development, including a new civic centre (pictured), school, commercial premises, public green spaces and over 1,500 new homes.
Wates Residential have been named as the development partner for this £600m regeneration programme. The Council’s cabinet has approved the decision to select Wates as the development partner for the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) joint venture.
The partnership is the largest investment and development opportunity Harrow has seen and will, the council hopes, create an inviting, attractive and thriving Wealdstone high street that generates apprenticeships, training and wealth in the borough.
The partnership will work with hundreds of young people at schools and colleges across the borough to provide school curriculum support and help raise aspirations; invest in employment, skills and training initiatives including providing construction training for over 130 unemployed adults to help kick-start their careers; and deliver 220 apprenticeships.
Local businesses will also benefit – a spend close to £100m with Harrow businesses will help the local economy while a Pop-Up Business School session will support the growth of existing local businesses and start-ups.
Cllr Graham Henson, Leader of Harrow Council says: “During these difficult times it is important to have something to look forward to – our ambitious plans will give families an affordable place to call home, create jobs for local people, build a new Council HQ, and re-energise Wealdstone town centre.
“Through our partnership with Wates we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of our residents and boost the local economy. Now is the right time to redevelop these three sites and build a better Harrow for our residents and businesses”.
The announcement comes 15 months after the council launched their search for a development partner. Cllr Keith Ferry, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Harrow Council said: “When we launched our search last summer, we were looking for a partner with the experience, expertise and commitment to deliver these projects – and to share our aspirations for what we believe Wealdstone can become. We have found that in Wates.”
Kate Ives, Development Director for Wates Residential, said “Wates Residential is delighted to have been chosen as Harrow Council’s partner to help deliver its ambitious vision to Build a Better Harrow. We look forward to working with the Council as we build more than 1,500 much-needed high-quality homes and a new civic centre at the heart of the local community.
“We believe that everyone deserves a great place to live and, as a fourth-generation family-owned business, we are committed to ensuring that our presence allows us to give something back to the places that we build in. As part of our partnership with the Council, we will not only provide crucial additional housing, but also leave a positive legacy for the community through investment in skills, training, education and jobs to help local people thrive.”
Kim Grieveson, Director of Development Consultancy at Avison Young, who advised the council on the partnership, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside the Council to secure a development partner who shares in their vision for Harrow. It is so important in the current climate to see the public sector still fully committed to ambitious projects of this nature and this sends a strong message to the market. We look forward to these plans coming to fruition over the coming years.”
The Harrow Strategic Development Partnership is due to start in February 2021 with the first homes built in 2022.
