Berkeley Group has exchanged contracts with Sovereign Network Group (SNG) to deliver 555 new socially rented homes across two major London developments.
Berkeley has agreed the forward sale of these homes to SNG, one of England’s largest housing associations, strengthening the provision of genuinely affordable housing in the capital.
The deal includes 269 homes at Grand Union in Wembley, London Borough of Brent, with new homes ranging from one to four-bedroom apartments, spread across two buildings.
They form part of the wider 3,350-home Grand Union development, which is being built at the site of the former Northfields Industrial Estate. Alongside the new homes, there is already a thriving neighbourhoood which includes shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and new open spaces. Around 590 electric car-charging points will be installed across the development, alongside improved walking and cycling routes to and from Stonebridge Park tube and rail station.
The first SNG residents are likely to move in from May 2029.
The deal also sees SNG deliver 286 social homes at Berkeley’s Silkstream development in Hendon, London Borough of Barnet. These apartments form part of a wider scheme that will bring 1,337 new homes to the area, and includes a range of amenities for residents and the wider community, including a flagship Sainsbury’s superstore, café and a 1.5 acre public park.
Residents are expected to move into the SNG homes from April 2028.
SNG’s social rented homes are being part funded by the Mayor of London through the Greater London Authority’s (GLA’s) Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026. The home will be available to those on Brent Council and Barnet Council’s housing registers, respectively.
Joe Marshall, SNG’s Chief Investment and Development Director, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Berkeley to deliver much needed social homes for local people in the London Boroughs of Brent and Barnet. With the support of the GLA and strong collaborations with developers like Berkeley, we’re able to accelerate the delivery of genuinely affordable homes and help meet the housing needs of communities across the capital.”
Marcus Blake, Managing Director at Berkeley Group, comments: “Grand Union and Silkstream are fantastic examples of successful regeneration and placemaking, showing how sustained collaboration between developers, local authorities, housing associations and the GLA can bring forward much-needed homes in complex delivery environments – something that is not always easy to replicate, particularly in London. This agreement with SNG will deliver more than 550 additional social rent homes, helping ensure these neighbourhoods support a broad range of local housing needs.”
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said: “I’m delighted 555 new homes for social rent will be delivered at two major sites in the capital in the coming years, supported with funding from the Mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme. These homes will help families and those most in need into secure and affordable housing. Sadiq and I will continue to work closely with developers, housing associations, local authorities, councils and government to boost the delivery of homes of all tenures as we build a better, fairer London for everyone.”