Housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) has appointed award-winning developer the Hill Group to deliver the regeneration of Westhorpe Gardens and Mills Grove Estate in Hendon. Working in partnership over the next five years, Hill and MTVH will build over 250 new homes to replace the current housing built during the 1960s.

The new development will offer a mix of affordable housing, including rented homes for existing tenants together with additional homes for rent and shared ownership and private sale homes for over-55s. Work has already commenced to clear the site and demolish the current housing, and the first phase of 79 homes is due for completion in Summer 2023. All residents of the former estate have been offered homes in the new development, representing a significant upgrade in accommodation, and those located in phase one of the new development have been provided with alternative accommodation during the build.

The new homes will comprise a mix of three and four-bedroom terraced townhouses and a series of buildings of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. They are designed and built to high standards of sustainability with green roofs and energy-efficient air source heat pumps. Landscaping is at the heart of the design, with green spaces, play areas and garden areas that incorporate the existing mature trees.

MTVH worked closely with Barnet Council to consult with the local community and residents prior to development, and its proposals were strongly supported. As a result, over three-quarters of residents voted in favour of the redevelopment in a ballot.

Geeta Nanda OBE, Chief Executive of MTVH, said: “MTVH is delighted to have appointed Hill to deliver the regeneration of Westhorpe Gardens and Mills Grove Estate in Hendon. We have worked closely with residents during the planning phase and are excited to give local people the homes to match their aspirations. Furthermore, with the environment a key concern to so many people, we are pleased that innovative energy-efficient features will be incorporated into all the new homes. Of course, regeneration is about more than housing, and so this scheme will upgrade the entire area, with green spaces, gardens and areas of play as a vital part of this exciting development improving the health and facilities of the local community.”

Simon Trice, Regional Managing Director at Hill, said: “We are pleased to be working with MTVH to deliver these much-needed new homes and create a place that will bring residents renewed pride in their community. Hill has a strong track record in estate renewal – we understand it is about protecting the existing community and reflecting their needs while being forward-thinking in establishing a neighbourhood that will thrive for generations to come. We are pleased to be on-site and moving ahead with the project.”