The ambitious seven-year regeneration of Apple Grove – the estate in Harrow, north-west London formerly known as Strongbridge Close – has been completed by housing association Metropolitan.
Originally comprising 108 flats, the estate, which is five minutes’ walk from Rayners Lane underground station, was completely rebuilt in two phases. The expanded 254-home development now provides a mix of flats and houses for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership – and includes features such as new children’s play areas and landscaped communal gardens.
The original Strongbridge Close estate was built using a form of panel construction called 'Resiform' which had not lasted well. Following an unsuccessful major repair initiative in the early 1990s, and a fire in 2002 which damaged a number of blocks, it was decided that the buildings had come to the end of their useful life and the only option was to demolish them and redevelop the scheme.
The scheme is built to Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards, and is designated ‘Very Good’ on the EcoHomes environmental rating scheme.
The project was undertaken by Metropolitan in close consultation with Harrow Council and local residents – who formed a steering group to inform decision-making on a range of issues including property design, building materials and security.
Community employment opportunities were provided during the regeneration, with an average local labour rate of 15 per cent achieved by Metropolitan’s building contractor.
Pauline Stanley, 53, rents a new one-bedroom, ground-floor flat at Apple Grove. She said: “My new flat is beautiful. It’s big and bright, and has a lovely sunny garden that I can sit out in – which is nice when my granddaughters come around to visit. I got the chance to move because the block I used to live in was going to be knocked down – it’s been good to get a fresh start.”
Hardeep Chagger, 35, bought a 50% share in her one-bedroom flat at Apple Grove through shared ownership: “Before I started exploring shared ownership in the last couple of years, buying by myself felt out of reach. I lived at home – and although it was great to have that support from my parents, it was a bit stifling. So it’s a massive step forward to have my own place; I feel a lot more independent.”
Richard Vining, Executive Director of Development at Metropolitan, said: “The completion of the final phase of regeneration at Apple Grove represents the culmination of years of hard work by Metropolitan, its partners and the estate’s residents. As well as creating local employment opportunities, this mixed tenure, sustainable regeneration has delivered high quality new homes and an attractive living environment for the community here.”
Councillor Glen Hearnden, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Harrow Council, said: “This is a prime example of what can be achieved when we work together with our partners. We have been able to provide new, high quality homes for residents in greater numbers to meet a range of housing needs that will stand the test of time. This is an exciting period for the people of Harrow as we ramp up our ambitious regeneration plans, which will transform the borough over the next few years. ”
Bhupinder Singh Chawla, Director at PRP Architects, the firm responsible for designing the regenerated estate, said: “Apple Grove stands as a proud example of how design quality and materials can be used to deliver an urban regeneration scheme of the highest quality within a challenging budget. Carefully selected materials work together with the bold built forms and their metal butterfly roofs to produce a development that integrates with the surrounding environment whilst projecting its own unique contemporary identity.”