Hill and Origin Housing unveil second JV partnership on £70m residential scheme in Harrow

An additional 204 new homes will be delivered in Harrow as housebuilder Hill and Origin Housing extend their strategic joint venture partnership.

The £70m new development is the second to be announced by the partners and involves the redevelopment of the former Cumberland Hotel and existing Victoria Hall in Harrow town centre.

The scheme is part funded by the GLA, which has committed £25m from the Mayor of London’s £600m Housing Zones initiative.

The former brownfield site will be redeveloped to offer a range of new homes along with community facilities, retail space and a new pedestrian link between Sheepcote Road and St John’s Road.

The new development will include 123 one and two bedroom apartments for private sale, along with 54 shared ownership and 27 affordable rent tenures, which will be managed by Origin.

This upcoming development is part of Harrow Council’s £1.75bn Heart of Harrow regeneration drive for the area, which aims to transform the town centre and deliver 5,000 new homes.

As part of Hill and Origin’s proposals, a new 6,000 sq ft community facility will be provided for the trustees of Victoria Hall which will complement the adjacent St John the Baptist church.

The development will also include landscaped communal spaces along with a children’s play area, cycle stores, a basement car park as well as retail facilities.

David Eardley, regional managing director of Hill, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Origin to deliver our second joint venture project together in Harrow and are thrilled to have secured funding from the Greater London Authority.

“We are proud to specialise in delivering joint venture and regeneration projects and our expertise in developing underutilised land can be a real asset to those organisations who need help in releasing more value to their local communities.”

Construction of the development is due to begin in summer 2018, while sales are expected to launch in summer 2019.

Gareth Jones, development director of Origin Housing, said: “Origin is excited to be providing much needed new homes, in partnership with Hill, as part of our continuing commitment to the regeneration of Harrow town centre.

“The scheme contains 40% affordable homes, which will make a significant contribution to housing need in the borough and replaces a popular community facility.”