‘Major milestone’ as two buildings signed off for 300-home scheme in west London
Vistry and L&Q have finally received gateway 2 approvals for a 336-home scheme in west London 13 months after putting in their first application to the building safety regulator.
The two approvals are Vistry’s first under the new building safety regime with the consents described by the housebuilder as a “major milestone”.
Gateway 2 is an approval stage under the new building safety regime needed before construction can start on so-called higher-risk buildings (HRBs), which are defined as above 18m in height and containing at least two dwellings.
Severe and ongoing delays to gateway 2 approvals have been impacting the construction of HRBs since the establishment of the new regime in 2023, with sign offs regularly taking more than a year despite initial promises by the regulator to turn the applications round in 12 weeks.
>> See also: The plan to cut the gateway 2 backlog: Key points from Tuesday’s parliamentary hearings on the BSR
Vistry and L&Q filed separate gateway 2 applications for the scheme’s two buildings, with one taking 11 months to get signed off and the other taking 13 months, according to the two housebuilders.
Known as Acton Gardens, the scheme has been designed by architects Stitch and is part of a wider 3,500-home development spanning 52 acres. It is described by Vistry as one of its flagship schemes, with 50% of the homes classed as affordable.
Around 2,200 homes on the wider development have already been delivered, with the scheme also containing a community centre, nursery, medical centre, sports and play facilities and 500,000 sq. ft of public space.
Vistry managing director for west London Nick Churcher said securing the two gateway 2 approvals was a “major milestone for Vistry and a testament to the strength of our design and technical teams”.
He added: “These are our first approvals under the new regime, and to achieve them on a single project speaks volumes about our collaborative approach and commitment to building safety. We’re proud to be leading the way in delivering safe, high-quality homes at scale.”
L&Q regeneration director Caroline Pillay added: “Resident safety is paramount to everything we do at L&Q and we are delighted to have secured these two Gateway 2 approvals for Acton Gardens and unlocking the delivery of more, much-needed homes locally.”
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