A small scheme to build 41 houses and 12 apartments on a football pitch site has heralded the start of a major estate regeneration project in Neasden, north-west London. Over the next nine years, 730 homes on the Resiform estate will be demolished and 530 new ones built.
The initial scheme, called Neasden Open Space, has been organised by Fortunegate Community Housing to allow tenants to be decanted from the larger Resiform estate while it is renewed.

This preliminary phase will allow some of the open space to be retained around a high-density combination of terraced housing in the form of a crescent and apartments. "The crescent makes a backdrop to the open space," says Sabrina Budalica, architect with PRP Architects.

Because of tenants' disaffection for the 1970s-built, timber-frame Resiform estate, it is being replaced with traditionally built and designed houses. "People want something that is known and familiar," says Lesley Gibbs, associate with PRP Architects. The new design even reinstates some of the former street layouts.

Partnering relationships are being established to smooth the progress of the £40m renewal of Resiform. In particular, Fortunegate, which is part of Ealing Family Housing Association, has entered into a strategic partnering agreement with contractor Willmott Dixon, following its participation in the first phase of the scheme.

Credits

Client Fortunegate Community Housing Contractor Willmott Dixon Housing Architect PRP Architects Project manager Dearle & Henderson engineer Baldock Quick Partnership Services engineer PJR Services

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