What a difference a year makes… from new murals to a new eco-visitor pavilion opening, we look back at the major milestones across the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme this year and what’s to come in 2022.

Brent Cross Town Visitor Pavilion Opens

A three-storey eco-friendly community hub was the first building to be completed at the 180-acre park town, which opened in November. Based at Claremont Road, it is not only the go-to destination for anyone who wants to find out more about the project but also brings an exciting new cafe to the area. In keeping with our net zero vision for Brent Cross Town, the Visitor Pavilion has been built using sustainable construction methods and materials.

Claremont Way mural unveiled

In September we unveiled our first community mural. The large-scale mural covers the gable wall on the parade of shops on Claremont Way. Finnish-born London-based artist Annu Kilpeläinen was commissioned to create it and, taking ideas from the local community, drew inspiration from the work of botanist William Cattley, who lived in Barnet at the turn of the 19th century. The piece has been designed to inspire positivity, celebrate the local community, and encourage people to be active. You’ll find a video with the artist about its creation on our website.

We welcomed Kosher Outlet to the area

Kosher Outlet, the not-for-profit kosher supermarket opened a 9,500 sq ft temporary supermarket in the car park of the vacant Toys R Us site on Tilling Road in September. A not-for-profit business, Kosher Outlet supplies a wide variety of goods at cost price to consumers, including groceries, toiletries, household and baby products, meat and poultry.

Brent Cross Studios announced

Brent Cross Town also announced the signing of a new deal with Troubadour Theatres to create Brent Cross Studios. Not only will this be Troubadour’s largest single studio space in London it will feature offices, workshops and a skills academy that will enable residents to be trained in the film and television industry.

The third round of community funding shared

The Brent Cross Community Fund supported another 10 local groups with a share of £35,000. From canoeing and women’s basketball to book exchanges and murals, grants of between £500 and £5,000 will support good causes based in and around Childs Hill, Golders Green and West Hendon.

Our construction teams’ community make over

Teams also took time out from building Brent Cross West, Barnet’s new train station due to open next year, to volunteer at North Road Community Centre where they painted the main hall and corridors. The team also organised a collection of food and essential items for Child’s Hill Food Bank, which joined a generous donation of £10k to the food bank from Brent Cross Town developers Argent Related and their contractors Galldris.

Many jobs created for local people

Over the year we’ve created all kinds of opportunities for local people across the programme. From ground worker apprenticeships to kickstart roles that create six-month placements for 16 – 24-year-olds not in education or training. We’ve also been championing women into construction. These are all some of the ways we’re delivering on our commitment to ensure 20% of people working across the project are from Brent, Camden or Barnet. You can keep up to date on the roles and grants available on our opportunities page.

Many milestones reached at Brent Cross West

In march, the new sidings were completed as part of a £180 million package of railway works to make way for the new station. With up to 300 people working on sidings construction at any time, the project was a massive undertaking. In April and May, work then continued to move the existing rail lines and rebuild sections of the track, before installing the first part of the station’s eastern over bridge over the mayday bank holiday weekend. The local landscape changed again in August when the western over bridge was lifted in to place.

Work began on Plots 53 and 54 

Construction got underway in June to build the first new homes of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme. These 47 new homes  will be for secure tenants and resident owner-occupiers who currently live in the nearby Whitefield Estate. The properties will be built and managed by our partners L&Q.

Modernised junctions for Cricklewood

Our programme of highways improvements at the A5 Cricklewood Broadway junction with Cricklewood Lane and Chichele Road was completed in October. The project has created additional traffic capacity at the junction, installed new pedestrian crossings and improved footways. We are now considering how to improve the appearance of the corner of Cricklewood Lane and Cricklewood Broadway (the former pharmacy) as well the long term use for this site. Updates will be posted on our highways pages about the next steps in this part of the project and the community will be involved in the plans.

But it doesn’t stop there…

Exciting new shops are coming soon to Claremont Way, next to The Exploratory Park, with Karma Bread bakery, Cricklewood Coffee Roasters and a new pizzeria to open early next year, right next to the new Visitor Pavilion.

The first permanent park, Claremont Park, will also open in spring. The park will include a new kiosk, basketball hoop, a skate area, pond and playground.

And of course, Barnet’s newest train station, Brent Cross West, is due to open next year. Once open it will zip residents into St Pancras International in just 12 minutes.

Keep up to date with everything happening across the Brent Cross Cricklewood programme by signing up for our e-newsletter.