Planning consent for landmark Build to Rent scheme in Walthamstow
Plans by Legal & General to redevelop the Ferry Lane Industrial Site in Walthamstow into a landmark Build to Rent PRS scheme have been granted planning consent by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Designed by Assael Architecture, the scheme marks the first Build to Rent scheme to receive planning consent in the area and will deliver 440 new homes.
The mixed-use, residential-led development faces onto the High Maynard Reservoir and features five buildings in varying height that are connected by pedestrian walkways to improve connectivity through the internal and external spaces and create a sense of community. The scheme, which has been designed with the flexibility to be built using traditional methods or a modular system, comprises a mix of 440 homes, including studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments each with secure, long-term tenancies managed by Legal & General.
Affordable homes will be built ‘tenure blind’ and pepper-potted throughout the buildings to ensure integration with the wider community. Legal & General will work with Waltham Forest Council to provide these using the ‘Discount Market Rental’ system, which means homes will be offered at 20% discount and prioritised for key workers.
Assael’s concept for the scheme uses best practice design principles from the Build to Rent sector, with all apartments having a distinct set of design features that set them apart from traditional ‘for sale’ units. This means equally sized bedrooms, an emphasis on shared spaces that create a sense of social cohesion and offer a range of uses to suit residents’ needs and interests. Potential uses include a lobby, high-quality gym, business hub for those who work from home and private event areas that can be hired for occasions.
There will also be approximately 2,000 sq m of flexible commercial space throughout the development, which will be suitable for shops, offices and other business uses, as well as a local food shop that will support the creation of new local jobs. Attractive landscaped spaces will feature walkways, green spaces and podiums, as well as an integrated external carpark with spaces for over 650 bicycles.
Russell Pedley, Director and co-founder of Assael Architecture:
“This is a landmark Build to Rent development and marks the first ever to receive planning consent in Walthamstow. A successful Build to Rent development seeks not only to provide residential apartments for private rent, but the opportunity to adopt a new lifestyle where the whole development is your home, and you’re part of a community that thrives on its communal space and amenities. We have designed an environmentally sensitive and high-quality development that sits perfectly in its surroundings and will benefit those who live there, as well as the wider community.”