Related Argent and Barnet Council celebrated the topping out of the first affordable block in Brent Cross Town development.

The first building currently known as Plot 12 North will deliver 120 affordable homes, a mix of predominantly social rented homes for existing secure tenants of the Whitefield Estate, along with shared equity homes for existing Leaseholders, and additional shared ownership homes.

The topping out ceremony was also held at The Delamarre, the adjoining south facing block of Plot 12 on Claremont Way.

Once completed, the building on the High Street will be managed by the housing association L&Q. The first residents are expected to move in towards the end of 2024.

The ceremony was attended by Whitefield Estate Resident Steering Group, key members of the Related Argent, Barnet Council and L&Q teams, alongside Invesco and NatWest as investors, and Midgard as the main contractor responsible for the construction of both buildings.

The 180-acre Brent Cross Town site will deliver a new town with 6,700 new homes in total, with a GDV of £8bn. The new Brent Cross West station is opening at the end of the year, which will connect to King’s Cross in as little as 12 minutes.

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader of Barnet Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, commented: “At the heart of Brent Cross Town is our commitment to provide a range of much-needed quality housing for the people of Barnet. I am pleased to see the progress on site as the first new homes move closer to completion. We look forward to welcoming the first residents to Brent Cross Town next year with social housing the first to be completed across the new development.”

Vicky Savage, Executive Group Director, Development & Sales at L&Q, added: “We are delighted to mark more and more milestones as part of the growth of Brent Cross Town. We are committed to seeing the local community thrive, with access to all the right facilities and amenities, and significant investment in infrastructure. Related Argent are known for their excellency in placemaking, so we are proud to share their values and vision and we look forward to soon welcoming residents into their new affordable homes.”

Eileen Douglas, of the Whitefield Estate Resident Steering Group, said: “I have lived on the Whitefield Estate for over 40 years and have been involved all the way along as the plans for Brent Cross Town have evolved. The Brent Cross Town team have been fantastic in keeping me and other residents up to date as our new homes are built. I feel the development has so much to offer for the future. It's long-awaited and long overdue, so it is more than welcome to see the progress that is now being made and the quality of the design and construction. I am looking forward to moving in!”

Photo: Barnet Council Related Argent, Midgard, L&Q, Whitefield Estate Resident Steering Group and Cast Consultancy by John Sturrock