Barnet’s new neighbourhood, Brent Cross Town, reached new heights this week when it celebrated the ‘topping out’ of its first two buildings across the 180-acre development site.

‘Topping out’ which is a well-known construction milestone, means the structural frame is built and teams can move on to the new phase of construction.

The first of the buildings, currently known as Plot 12, consists of 120 affordable homes, with three retail units on the ground floor.

The milestone was celebrated by our development partners, Related Argent, Barnet Council’s Cricklewood Ward Members, L&Q and one of the residents that will be first to move into the new homes on completion. Together they smoothed the last piece of concrete on the top of the building.

 

 

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader of Barnet Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, said: “At the heart of Brent Cross Town is our commitment to provide a range of much needed quality housing for the people of Barnet. I am pleased to see the progress on site as the first new homes move closer to completion. We look forward to welcoming the first residents to Brent Cross Town next year with social housing the first to be completed across the new development.”

When completed next year, Plot 12 will provide new homes for existing secure tenants and leaseholder residents of Norden Point, Clare Point and Whcycote Point in the Whitefield Estate. The homes have been designed by award-winning architects, Maccreanor Lavington and Whittam Cox. Plot 12 will be owned and managed by housing association L&Q.

Members from the Whitefield Estate Resident Steering Group have also been a core part of the planning and delivery process for the affordable homes.

Eileen Douglas of the Whitefield Estate Resident Steering Group, said: “I have lived in the Whitefield Estate for over 40 years and have been involved all the way along as the plans for Brent Cross Town have evolved. The Brent Cross Town team have been fantastic in keeping me and other residents up to date as our new homes are built. I feel the development has so much to offer for the future. It’s long awaited and long overdue, so it is more than welcome to see the progress that is now being made and the quality of the design and construction. I am looking forward to moving in!”

The other residential plot to reach ‘topping out’ stage is The Delamarre, which will provide 170 homes and will include a mix of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments for private sale.

The two blocks will include a new local park to the south, and the neighbourhood high street will be to the north. There will be two or three retail units on the ground floor of the buildings. The occupiers will be agreed closer to when the building is completed.

In the construction of the two residential buildings up to 350 people are working on the sites at peak time. Our commitment across the regeneration scheme is to ensure at least 20% of our workforce are from Barnet, Brent and Camden. We are also focused on bringing more women into our construction teams.

Barnet’s new neighbourhood, Brent Cross Town, is being delivered in partnership by Barnet Council and Related Argent and is fulfilling its promise to provide affordable homes alongside new public parks and community infrastructure first.

For further information on Brent Cross Town click here for more information on Plot 12.