Housing association buys site in Brent from developer R55 for undisclosed sum

Minavil, Clarion Housing Group

Clarion Housing Group intends to build more than 250 homes on a former commercial site it has acquired in the London borough of Brent, 36 of which will be affordable.

The housing association has bought the Minavil House site from developer R55, where it plans to build 251 homes, including 215 for shared ownership.

Construction work is expected to be finished in 2022.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although the scheme’s gross development value is £109m. Clarion said the development includes approximately £8m of grant funding from GLA.

The site is in the Alperton housing zone, where construction work is already under way on separate scheme by Clarion to build 135 shared-ownership and affordable rented homes on a nearby disused industrial site in Abbey Wharf.

Jointly with R55, Clarion has also submitted plans to build 258 homes on a 0.93ha brownfield site on Dudden Hill Lane, also in Brent. The development will eventually house 54 affordable homes, with 114 for shared ownership and 90 for sale.

The housing association, which has 125,000 homes on its books, said it plans to build 50,000 new homes over the next 10 years, including 5,600 in London through its strategic partnership with the mayor’s office by 2021.

James Murray, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “We welcome Clarion’s commitment to building more affordable housing in Brent, and we will continue to work together to tackle London’s housing crisis.”