Westminster approves partner for first phase of Church Street regeneration

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Picture: Darcstudio and Bell Phillips 

The brand-new joint venture will see the redevelopment of the first of three sites (Site A), that will deliver the regeneration of the Church Street estate.

• Mount Anvil has been confirmed as the joint venture partner to deliver the first phase of the council’s flagship Church Street build programme, known as Site A following a Cabinet decision on 29 February.
• This first phase of the redevelopment is valued at around £275m and will see the beginning of the long-term regeneration of the neighbourhood.
• Redevelopment of Site A will provide 429 new homes, at least 50% of which will be affordable for families and individuals to move into well designed, high quality, sustainable and energy efficient homes.
• Mount Anvil has made clear its ambitions to deliver more council homes for social rent than detailed in the current planning consent, without increasing the height of blocks.
• The scheme will see the delivery a new and enhanced Church Street Library and community facilities that will support and mentor young people, men and women.  
• Across the whole development, Sites A, B, and C, up to 1,120 new homes will be delivered with new public realm, new market infrastructure such as van parking and storage and public amenity and community facilities.

Westminster City Council has confirmed Mount Anvil as the preferred joint venture partner at a meeting this evening, kickstarting the borough’s largest regeneration scheme.

The partnership will deliver more than 400 new homes near Edgware Road on Site A, transforming the area with a new library and library garden, high quality public realm and improved market infrastructure.

Mount Anvil has committed £1m from day one of the partnership to ensure lasting legacy through employment and skills initiatives, as well as wider social value opportunities. The developer has also outlined its ambitions to deliver more council homes for social rent than are currently detailed in the planning consent, without increasing the height of the blocks.

Church Street residents have taken an active part in ongoing engagement and the assessment of bids.

Significant investment will be made in to Church Street’s historic market, library, retail and commercial spaces, providing an opportunity for Church Street to meet the needs of all residents today and in the future.

Mount Anvil has also shared its own targets to reduce 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent from the scheme through material and construction efficiencies, while also delivering biodiversity net gain in the area.

Planning for the three sites was awarded in June 2023, following 73% of residents voting in favour of the proposals in a residents’ ballot.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, Matt Noble from Westminster City Council, said: “Confirmation of this new partnership is the latest step in our pledge to deliver a Fairer Westminster. Church Street and surrounding neighbourhoods deserve enhanced provision, a wonderful new library and more opportunities for local people and we will start to see that with the progression of Site A.

“Residents are at the heart of these planned improvements. The City desperately needs more high quality affordable homes public spaces and services which that our communities and residents can be proud of.”

Worth £275m, the partnership will deliver the first phase of redevelopment at Church Street. A total of 429 new homes will be built at Site A, 171 of which will be for social rent including the reprovision of 98 that were existing at social rent levels.

A total of 214 will be classed as affordable and 63 of these will be new 3+ bed family sized homes. 

The plans are part of the council’s vision to improve, grow and preserve the area for the long term.

The redevelopment of Church Street Sites A, B and C will see up to 1,120 new homes developed, new public realm and improved accessibility and pedestrianised routes, improved market infrastructure, new jobs and training opportunities - as well as new retail and commercial space for the local community, and community infrastructure.

Under a Fairer Westminster, the City Council has been committed to a programme of creating new affordable homes and homes for social rent. 

This scheme is part of building on the Council’s Fairer Westminster vision to make sure the housing needs of everyone are met. 

Read details of the scheme here: Cabinet Papers