Big Height Increase Proposed for Friary Park Towers

Developer consulting on plan to build a 37 storey high building

CGI from the developer of the new bigger towers planned at Friary Place
CGI from the developer of the new bigger towers planned at Friary Place

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Allegations of Duplicity Over True Scale of Friary Park Redevelopment

Private Developer Brought in to Friary Park Project

Tower Blocks For Friary Park

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A range of 'enhancedments' to the massive Friary Place development currently being consulted on includes a significant increase in the height of the tower blocks proposed.

One of changes would see the height of one tower (B3), that has already been consented to be built up to 22 storeys, increase to 37 storeys. This building would be redesigned to have a predominantly brick design. Another tower (B1) would be increased from 24 storeys to 29 storeys.

The new proposals would mean the addition of another 154 flats in the development. 90 of these would be for open market sale bringing the total number of this kind to 400 in these block. The other 64 new units would be Shared Ownership and therefore classed as affordable.

The 1980s estate next to Acton Mainline station currently consists of 225 social rented which Catalyst and Mount Anvil have been granted planning permission to demolish and replace with around 930 new ones in tower blocks. The scheme has been controversial since it was first conceived back in 2014 and objectors have claimed, even before the latest increases in height, that the developer has not given a true picture of the scale of the proposed towers.

The new plan for the Friary Park development The new plan for the Friary Park development

The consultation also details a number of other changes to the approved scheme which the developer says are to ‘proactively address how COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work’. These include a new community square at the centre of the development with a Cycle Hub which will be run is associated with Sustrans. One of the commercial units is to be turned into a ‘Creative Space’ which will provide affordable space.

Friary Park Redevelopment CGI
CGI of development produced by opponents of the scheme before proposed height increase

Catalyst says that the proposed changes will not delay the completion of the development or the availability of housing for existing tenants and service charges will be unaffected.

Completion of the project is currently scheduled for 2027.

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August 11, 2021

 

 

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