The latest phase of a major Harrow housing development has been given the go ahead, with more than 200 ‘co-living units’ to be built at the site of a former Kodak office, but with no affordable housing. The plans have been approved by Harrow Council despite concerns about a loss of light and overlooking into nearby flats, as well as its impact on already crowded trains.
Harrow Council has approved plans by developers Dandi Living for the redevelopment of the site near Harrow and Wealdstone Station, which will see the demolition of the vacant administration building to make way for 223 co-living units – where occupants typically have their own bedrooms and bathrooms but with shared kitchen and living areas. The new building would be a part-six, part-seven, and part-eight storeys, with a maximum height of 30 metres.
At a recent meeting of the council’s Planning Committee (March 12), the director of Saviles – who was speaking on behalf of the developers – said the redevelopment will ‘transform a long-term vacant brownfield site that is underutilised’. They claimed the co-living units ‘offer residents more choice’ and help to ‘address a housing crisis we are all facing’.
The building will comprise two taller structures joined together by a central single-storey section. Plans show the ground floor of the six-storey ‘western tower’ will include cycle parking, communal space, and a laundry room, with a communal kitchen and dining area, a games room, and access to a roof terrace on the first floor. The co-living rooms would be located on the remaining floors, with an additional kitchen and dining area on the fourth floor.
The ‘eastern tower’ will reach up to eight storeys in part, with the ground floor made up of employment space, as well as a communal laundry room and bin storage. The first floor will comprise a gym, yoga studio, and toilet facilities, with co-living rooms again found on the upper floors alongside lounge and dining areas on the second, third, and fifth floors. A library, toilets and roof terrace will be located on the seventh floor.
A Financial Viability Assessment concluded that the scheme would ‘return a deficit’, meaning it will not provide any contributions towards the borough’s affordable housing target. A council officer suggested co-living is ‘affordable in a different way’ and, if the scheme provides a surplus in terms of profit, there is a mechanism by which funds can be provided to support affordable housing contributions in the borough.
A resident of nearby Goodstone Court raised ‘serious concerns’ about the development, specifically regarding a loss of sunlight, a loss of privacy and the impact on local public transport. They said: “If this new tower block is built that will block the sunlight, it will cause a shadow and seriously limit the amount of sunlight we get in our flats – which means a lack of vitamin D.”
On potential issues at Harrow and Wealdstone train station, they added: “It’s at full capacity, passengers cannot get on trains as it is. Every morning passengers who can’t squeeze on have to wait for the next train – sometimes the second train. These extra apartments are going to make that even worse.”
In response to the objections, the Saviles Director said: “We have taken steps to make sure the development does not encroach or impact in any way on our neighbours and the development will contribute towards local infrastructure, highway improvements, street tree planning, and supporting training and employment opportunities.”
The council officer added that, whilst there were ‘some shortfalls’ regarding sunlight loss, it ‘was not substantial enough to refuse the scheme in an Opportunity Area’ – key locations identified in the Mayor’s London Plan as being suitable for new homes. The scheme, which had been recommended by officers, was ultimately approved with five members voting for and two abstaining.
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
