It’s been another transformative year for the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme and our teams have been working hard across the development to continue bringing this new neighbourhood to life.  

Read on to find out how things have shaped up in 2024. 

Welcoming our first residents into their new homes  

In July, we welcomed residents into their brand-new homes on Brent Terrace. The new homes were the first to be completed anywhere across the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme and provide replacement social housing for residents living in the nearby Whitefield Estate.  

Keeping track of our award-winning station 

As one of the first local authorities in England to deliver a rail infrastructure project, we’re extremely proud of the way that Brent Cross West has better connected communities, not just in and out of central London but by making it much easier to get around the area too.

Here’s our favourite milestones and moments at Brent Cross West this year:

• Alongside our station operators Thameslink, councillors and residents, we celebrated the station’s one year anniversary. 
• Approximately 575,000 journeys have been made to and from the station since opening. 
• The 189 bus now stops outside the eastern entrance of the station, improving connectivity. 
• Six ‘mini reporters’ from the Claremont Primary School set out from the station for a fun day out in central London and wrote about their adventures.  

We think Brent Cross West is brilliant, but don’t just take our word for it. This year our work to build the station has been recognised in several industry awards, including  New London Awards 2024 in the ‘Transport & Infrastructure’ category;  the London Construction Awards 2024 in two categories, ‘Excellence in Community Engagement’ and ‘Project Team of the Year’; and won a Pineapples 2024 Awards in the ‘Infrastructure’ category, which celebrates projects and places that make a positive social, environmental and economic impact. 

Community Calendar: Looking back at this year’s events  

Community is at the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme. This year, we held two ‘meet your neighbour’ events that brought residents together over food, music and activities. 

It’s been a fun-filled year at Brent Cross Town, including busy spring, summer and  autumn programmes which all included free activities, ensuring as many people as possible could benefit. With thousands of locals and visitors participating throughout the year.  

Events included: 

• The opening of The 108 baseball centre, which is already a well-established hub in the local community, not only bringing people to the area, but also supporting local groups and organisations such as Sport Inspired who brought together schools in the area for a games’ day in the summer.  
• Brent Cross Town’s first ever Carnival celebration led by community group JustInCarnival, Summer in the Park  with Claremont Primary School, and the ever popular Winter Lights switch on.  
• More events for adults this year, including a women’s running group, free ukulele workshops, yoga and sound bath classes.  
• The London Mural Festival  had residents take part in a fun ‘Paint the Maze’ workshop. 
• Also joined by residents, was an informative panel event and walking tour starting from Brent Cross West station as part of the London Festival of Architecture. It looked at the ways we are building a town where everyone can thrive.  

Creating opportunities for local people  

Across the regeneration programme, we want to ensure that existing residents benefit from the changes happening in the area. This year, we helped promote and connect local people with jobs and skills opportunities. Here’s a few stand out programmes.

Brent Cross Town’s  Women into Construction employment programme helped five local women receive employment and participants improved their understanding of careers in construction.  

Brent Cross Town’s estate team worked with Mapledown (SEN) School to provide an opportunity for students to learn more about gardening and agriculture. Through monthly sessions, students have been able to look after their own mini garden at the Exploratory Park. 

We also launched our sixth year of the Brent Cross Town’s Community Fund , with a focus on providing local people with employment, education, training and skills opportunities – look out for the winners of this year’s fund to be announced in January.  

Your feedback shapes what we do 

Your feedback is important to us and has helped shape the development of the design proposals, including Brent Cross Town’s first later living homes, future student accommodation, improvements to transport and an open green space.   

We also received over 500 responses to our call out for your ideas for names for future roads and squares at Brent Cross Town, stay tuned for name announcements next year.  

We had a great response to our Flourishing Index sessions, which brought focus to the impact of the development on people who live in and around the area, and how we can ensure it benefits the local community.  

Lastly, we’ve been working with residents and local groups to help shape a community space at Brent Cross Town which will open in 2025. Nearly 200 people have told us about the events and activities they would like to see provided there, as well as the types of events you’d like to see in our community programme in the future. There’s still time for you to have your say. The deadline is 31st Dec 2024. 

New building plans for the area 

Announcements for future buildings at Brent Cross Town reflect how momentum is building across the development and adds to the growing mix of housing options available. Announcements include a new student accommodation, co-living apartments and 50 homes for social rent. 

Looking ahead to 2025 

There are several exciting milestones coming our way next year, including: 

• Announcing Community Fund 2024 grant winners 
• Welcoming residents to Brent Cross Town 
• The opening of a new Brent Cross Town’s community space  
• Launch of Brent Cross Recruit, which is a programme that will provide skills and employment opportunities at Brent Cross Town, specifically for those who live in and around the area.

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