Planning for Finchley Road O2 Centre retail park in North London, a significant new neighborhood of 1,800 homes has been obtained. This comes after design refinements to incorporate second staircases into high-rise residential blocks. The regeneration of the Finchley Road O2 Centre retail park will see £1bn invested in the area. Thus, a vital mixed-use urban neighborhood at the 14-acre site will be built.
The Landsec development is the largest project approved by Camden Council since King’s Cross Goods Yard and will be built over ten to fifteen years, supporting an average of 350 jobs per month. The client’s professional team includes Mace, Landsec’s program advisers. M&E consultant is Hoare Lea working alongside structural and civil consultant Pell Frishmann.
The proposals for the strip site from Finchley Road to West Hampstead railway stations had to be rejigged because of the London Mayor’s move to make second staircases mandatory in all new high-rise residential blocks. Every substantial housing complex will have a double staircase, a separate lobby for the evacuation lift, and a fire service alert system.
An underutilized parking lot behind the O2 shopping center will be transformed into new homes and green public spaces. It is part of the proposal created by architect AHMM. The hybrid planning application also includes the demolition of a sizable Homebase store. Furthermore, it has detailed planning approval for over 600 homes in the first blocks, N3-E, N4, and N5.
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Development of the Finchley Road O2 Centre retail park in North London
The O2 Centre’s above-ground structures and the car showrooms will be demolished as part of the development plots N1, N2, N3, N6, N7, S1, and S8. The project includes constructing 180,000 square feet of retail, leisure, and other community space and 1,800 energy-efficient homes. The program will pay about £44 million in Community Infrastructure Levy.
Mike Hood, CEO of Landsec‘s regeneration division: “Our O2 Masterplan brings our purpose to life. It is also an important step for our business as we focus on shaping more mixed-use urban neighborhoods. These areas will champion communities, the environment, and quality of life.”
“As long-term investors in the neighborhood, we want to contribute to the area’s long-term success. Thus, we are thrilled that Camden Council has decided to grant planning permission for the master plan. We hope to repay the trust the Council and the neighborhood have placed in us. This is by collaborating with them to create a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood.”
