Green light from Ealing Council for updated Friary Park plans

Updated plans for the 1,228-home Friary Park estate regeneration in Acton have received a resolution to grant planning approval at Ealing Council’s Planning Committee.

Published: 21/10/2022

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The proposals – put forward by London residential developer Mount Anvil and housing association Catalyst, part of the Peabody Group – will deliver more desperately needed new affordable homes in London than the previously consented scheme, which was given planning approval in 2019. The transformation of Friary Park is the first partnership between Mount Anvil and Catalyst.

Mount Anvil and Catalyst have worked closely with Friary Park residents to ensure local people have had their say and that the development provides both current residents and new members to the community with the homes and facilities they need.

The updated scheme will deliver 238 additional homes, increasing the overall total from 990 to 1,228 homes. Of the additional homes, 50% will be affordable (by habitable rooms).

Across the whole scheme, 455 homes (46% by habitable rooms) will be affordable with 315 of these homes will be social rent and London affordable rent, 140 will be intermediate tenure, a split of 74% low cost rent and 26% intermediate.

Alongside this, there will be more resident amenity and community facilities such as a community kitchen, cycle hub and enhanced community square, revisited in accordance with changing needs and views from the community post-COVID.  Green spaces and biodiversity are a crucial component of the designs. More than a third of the six-acre development will be landscaped green space, with a series of courtyard gardens, woodland pockets, allotments and an eco-walk, all designed in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

As part of Mount Anvil and Catalyst’s commercial placemaking strategy, the new facilities will include improved commercial spaces, of which 40% will be affordable workspace with 6% dedicated to local independent businesses. The Creative Land Trust has taken on a 999-year lease, providing a permanent home for Ealing’s creative community.

Mount Anvil has spent 30 years focused on London, striving to become its most respected developer. Catalyst already own and manage around 5,000 homes in the borough, including over 400 in Acton Central.

They have a combined expertise in placemaking and developing tenure-blind neighbourhoods, as well as shared commitments to creative design, quality homes, and a long-term interest in the neighbourhoods we work in.

The first affordable homes in the masterplan are due to complete in early 2023 with private for sale homes expected to be delivered in Spring 2024.

Richard Smith, Regional Managing Director for London at Catalyst, said: “Ealing Council’s endorsement of our plans is great news for Acton. Like many areas of the country, demand for new homes is high and our plans for Friary Park will provide affordable solutions for many local people while also supporting local businesses. With our partners at Mount Anvil, we’ve listened to the community, and have made changes to our proposals to deliver more homes and enhance the neighbourhood for everybody to enjoy. We’re pleased that this superbly located scheme, just a short walk from the Elizabeth Line, will connect people both within the neighbourhood and beyond,”

Marcus Bate, Partnerships and Community director at Mount Anvil, adds: “We are truly excited to bring forward this scheme with our partners at Catalyst. We have worked very hard to listen to Friary Park residents to create a place that will be a huge asset for the local area. Whether you are looking for a fantastic place to call home, a green space to socialise with friends in, or a creative affordable space to work from, our proposals will provide something special as part of an outstanding healthy working community at Friary Park.”