The government is to build at least 1,500 new homes on brownfield land in Harlesden and Park Royal, the prime minster has announced today.
The proposals earmarked for Old Oak Common are part of a ‘radical’ move by the government to commission the building of more than 10,000 homes on public brownfield land across the country.
Brownfield land is an unused site which can be used for development once it has been checked for any contamination and cleaned up.
David Cameron said it is the biggest of use of the policy since Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine started the regeneration of London’s Docklands in the Eighties.
He added: “This Government was elected to deliver security and opportunity - whatever stage of life you’re at. Nothing is more important to achieving that than ensuring hard-working people can buy affordable homes.
“Today’s package signals a huge shift in government policy. Nothing like this has been done on this scale in three decades - government rolling its sleeves up and directly getting homes built.
“Backed up with a further £1.2 billion to get homes built on brownfield sites, it shows we will do everything we can to get Britain building and let more people have the security that comes with a home of their own.”
Last year the regeneration plans for Old Oak Common were approved by the government.
Drawn up by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, the scheme promises to boost the economy in the area by £15billion through the creation of up to 24,000 homes, more than 55,000 jobs, a new high street, schools and leisure facilities.
The regeneration of the 950 hectare site that straddles Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Ealing will take place over a 30-year period and includes the construction of a vast High Speed 2 (HS2) and Crossrail Station by 2026.
It is one of the largest regeneration schemes in London.
Work on the new ‘affordable’ and ‘starter’ homes, which will be built on brownfield sites around the transport ‘superhub’ off the HS2, Crossrail and National Rail interchange, will start this year.
The construction of the first wave of the new homes will also take place in Dover, Chichester, Gosport, and Northstowe in Cambridgeshire.
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