The London Development Panel is looking for developers for part of the Metropolitan Police Peel Centre training headquarters in Colindale.
The 22ha site, owned by the Police training arm MOPAC, is deemed suitable for 1,650 new homes, a new primary school and shops. The sale of this portion of the site would fund the building of a new MOPAC Training centre, plans for which have already been submitted.
The site is the first major scheme to be procured through the new Panel, set up by the Mayor to fast track the disposal of public land.
The site has been home to the renowned Met training centre since 1934, but is now considered outdated, expensive and underused. The proposals for the site would see it become a new residential quarter with a minimum of 1,650 new homes, cycle routes, retail units and a primary school and nursery, as well as a substantial amount of open green space.
Key to the redevelopment of the site is the requirement that any capital raised through the sale of the land will be ploughed back into funding a new modern and fit-for-purpose operations and training centre at a smaller part of the site. Currently the Met Police only uses around a fifth of the space provided by the 22 hectare Peel Centre site.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This regeneration will create much needed jobs and homes to drive growth in a vital area of north London, as well as bringing schools and parks to a thriving new neighbourhood.
“The iconic Peel Centre has been at the heart of the Met for almost 80 years, and these proposals will cement Hendon’s future as one of the best police training grounds in the world.”
The sale of the site is part of a wider strategy by MOPAC to dispose of underused land and buildings in its vast and expensive estate, which will save £60 million in running costs.
Jane Bond, Director of Property Services for the Metropolitan Police, said: “We are undertaking the most significant transformation of the police estate in order to reduce running costs whilst investing in modern facilities that are fit for our officers, staff and the public.”
The London Borough of Barnet has identified the Peel Centre site as one of the essential sites for the regeneration of Colindale in its action plan for the area, driving jobs and growth in the borough.
Leader of Barnet Council Richard Cornelius said: “I am delighted to see MOPAC moving forward with the redevelopment of this site.
“The Peel Centre is a key employer in Colindale and this will enhance the effectiveness of a major police asset. It will also see the construction of new homes which both Barnet and London desperately need.”
