Ealing Council has granted planning permission for the third and final phase of transformation at the Friary Park estate in Acton, west London – a joint venture by housing association Peabody and developer Mount Anvil.
This follows the successful completion of the first phase, during which 135 affordable homes were built. Of these, 85 homes were provided to residents already living on the estate, while 50 were allocated to people from the council’s housing waiting list.
With the construction of the second phase already well underway, planning consent for the final phase enables the long-term partners to deliver their vision for more affordable housing in Ealing with access to green, open space and high-quality, public amenities.
Designed by housing architects HTA Design, the updated plans for the third phase of the scheme will comprise 693 of those homes, equivalent to 32% of Ealing’s annual housing target.
The plans take the total number of homes across the wider development to 1,345, of which 470 are affordable. As a result of the transformation of Friary Park, 325 full time jobs will be created.
Peabody and Mount Anvil have undertaken extensive community engagement with existing residents throughout this process, all of whom have been given the option of moving into a new home on the estate.
Resident feedback has been received through multiple channels, including an independent resident advisory panel, monthly resident meetings with the JV partners and more than 400 community events totalling 700+ hours. The final plans also include a new 450 sq m Community Centre, co-designed with existing users, ensuring flexibility for current and future uses.
This feedback has informed the development’s final design, with plans including improved public realm and an increased amount of public open space, in addition to nearly 1,300 sq m more community space than the original estate.
Sofia Fernandes, member of the Friary Park Residents’ Steering Group, said: “I’m delighted that Ealing Council has approved the third and final planning application to deliver more affordable homes in our new Friary Park community.
“This regeneration is a chance to improve the lives of all residents, and to give them a better future.
“It hasn’t been easy. Change can be hard. There has been opposition from people who don’t live here, saying these homes aren’t needed.
“I’m grateful to Peabody and Mount Anvil as they’ve taken the time to understand us and to respond to our feedback- I’ve seen a real willingness to listen.
“As a Friary Park resident of 19 years, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Thank you to those who have made it happen.”
Phil Jenkins, Chief Investment Officer at Peabody, added: “Friary Park has already come a long way, and this decision from Ealing Council is another big step forward.
“With new social homes, a fantastic community centre, and big improvements to the estate, it’s clear the regeneration is having a positive impact – not just for existing residents but for the wider community too.
“The response from residents has been really encouraging. People are happy in their new homes and feel safe, supported, and heard. We’re truly grateful for their trust and input, and we’re excited to get started on this final phase.”
Marcus Bate, Partnerships, Planning, Communities & Sustainability Director at Mount Anvil, said: “Ealing Council’s approval of our third and final planning application for Friary Park is the latest milestone for our multi-scheme, repeat partnership with Peabody.
“I couldn’t be more delighted for Friary Park’s residents – many of whom I know personally and who are hugely excited for these proposals to become reality.
“This win for residents is testament to the collaboration that’s taken place over many years in Acton – with the Residents Steering Group, the Council, the GLA, the expert team of design and planning consultants, my teammates at Mount Anvil and our JV partners Peabody.
“We’ve remained laser-focussed on delivering on our promises made to residents at Friary Park by treating people with respect and decency, listening to their feedback and incorporating their views into our design proposals.
“I can’t wait to see our delivery teams get to work in bringing these proposals to life and to see many more smiling faces on Friary Park residents in the months and years ahead.”
Features include a community square, a 5,000 sq m play area, outdoor gym, cycle hub, climbing wall, a basketball court, a new community kitchen and allotments for gardening.
Green spaces and biodiversity are a crucial component of the designs. Designed in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, more than a third of the six-acre development will be landscaped green space, with a series of courtyard gardens, woodland pockets, and a woodland walk.
This is expected to deliver a biodiversity net gain of 35.9% across the scheme.
The wider development includes 780 sq m of commercial space, of which 40% are affordable units with some dedicated to local independent businesses.
The joint venture has been supporting local organisations into this space, including the Creative Land Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that has taken a 999-year lease on 430 sq m of studios for up to 30 local artists from the borough.
The planning success is the latest in Peabody and Mount Anvil’s growing joint venture pipeline, which includes the transformation of the 266-home Watermeadow Court estate; the delivery of 307 new homes at One Clapham on the St Johns Hill estate; and 327 homes at their Three Waters scheme in Bromley-by-Bow.
Image credit: HTA Design
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