Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that London-based construction company, Kuropatwa Limited, has begun work on the first of TfL’s small sites at Beechwood Avenue
The project will deliver 97 homes, of which 50% will be affordable. The affordable homes at Beechwood Avenue include a high proportion of housing with more than one bedroom, making them more suitable for families.
There will also be a balance of shared ownership and affordable homes for rent, including those at social rent levels.
The design, led by Peter Barber Architects, has already been recognised as the winner in the Unbuilt Housing category of the 2019 New London Architecture awards.
Kuropatwa was selected to develop the Beechwood Avenue site, as well as three of TfL’s small sites in Wapping that will deliver more than 50 homes, including 50% affordable housing, as part of the Mayor of London’s ‘Small Sites, Small Builders’ programme.
This programme was set up in response to London’s homebuilding sector being dominated by a small number of large developers that build the vast majority of homes across the capital.
The number of small builders has halved over the last 10 years, and the Mayor of London wants to make small plots of publicly owned land more accessible to London’s small and medium-sized builders.
Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at TfL, said: “We are unlocking development on dozens of sites to support the Mayor’s ambitions to create thousands of new homes for Londoners.
“It’s exciting to be working with award-winning small and medium sized developers like Kuropatwa Limited and see work begin on the first of our sites through the GLA’s programme at Beechwood Avenue in Barnet.”
Oliver Kuropatwa, director of land, planning and finance origination for Kuropatwa, added: “It is a pleasure to work with TfL and the GLA and we look forward to continuing to work with them on delivering the homes that the Capital desperately needs.”
Councillor Daniel Thomas, leader of Barnet Council, explained: “Transport for London has already put 18 small sites through the programme in two phases. The first phase of small TfL sites, including Beechwood Avenue, were located in seven different boroughs, and launched in February last year as part of the pilot.
“Partners for the second phase of eight sites – which are located in Richmond, Ealing, Newham, Bexley, Hounslow, Lambeth and Waltham Forest – have been selected subject to contracts and will be announced shortly.”
TfL’s ambition to deliver 10,000 homes
These proposals form part of TfL’s ambition to deliver 10,000 homes by March 2021 as well as a commitment to deliver 50% affordable housing across all sites brought to the market.
Construction has already started on more than 650 homes as the programme continues to build momentum, with up to 1,000 homes expected to be started by the end of this financial year. The majority of schemes are expected to start in 2020/21.
‘Small Sites, Small Builders’ is a £13.4m initiative of the London Economic Action Partnership and the Mayor of London. Last June, the Mayor announced an extra £3.8m of funding for the programme, and further investment over the next four years.
TfL will continue to bring forward small sites on a rolling basis, with Boroughs and other public landholders encouraged to take part.
