TfL brings forward 100 per cent affordable homes in Harrow

Transport for London (TfL) has announced today that it is bringing three car parks in the London Borough of Harrow to market. The car parks at Canons Park, Rayners Lane and Stanmore Tube stations will support the creation of a minimum of 400 homes, of which 100 per cent will be affordable.

The sites will be brought forward using the GLA’s new ‘London Development Panel 2’, enabling TfL to bring the sites forward sooner and alongside a partner with a sound and tangible track record of delivering housing on public sector land.  Once a partner has been appointed, TfL will start detailed design and will consult the local community before submitting a planning application in 2019/20.

The homes will be built alongside retail, commercial and leisure spaces as well as improved pedestrian and cycling connectivity for the local area.  TfL plans to retain commuter car parking at the three sites, and looks to build housing above. TfL will also work with the London Borough of Harrow and the selected partner to improve the step free access at Stanmore station making journeys easier for thousands of passengers.

Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development at TfL, said: “Located in prime locations, immediately adjacent to Tube stations, these sites present an exciting opportunity for us to provide 100 per cent affordable homes for Londoners who desperately need them. This is one of a number of examples of how we’re working with the Mayor to transform neighbourhoods across the capital and generate hundreds of millions of pounds to plough back into the transport network.”

Cllr Keith Ferry, Deputy Leader of Harrow Council, said: “The delivery of affordable housing is a crucial part of our plans to build a better Harrow, and we welcome this initiative from TfL. The opportunity to improve step-free access at Stanmore station is particularly important to us. We look forward to working with TfL and the selected developer to make sure these developments are of good quality and improve their neighbourhoods.”

There is the potential to deliver at least 10,000 homes on TfL land. Since 2016, TfL has brought to market sites which can deliver almost 5,000 homes, 50 per cent of which will be genuinely affordable.  In 2018/19, it expects to bring forward sites across London offering an additional 3,000 homes,‎ half of which will again be affordable.

Sites are being brought to market through a number of different routes, and we are working with everyone from major developers to SMEs and Community Land Trusts. In many areas, our sites will play a key role in unlocking development and regeneration opening up new spaces, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.