17 Sep Cricklewood B&Q revamp gets green light

Outline planning permission has been given to a developer’s plans to build more than 1,000 homes in place of the B&Q in Cricklewood.

Montreaux’s plans to build 1,049 home in blocks of up to 18 storeys high have been approved on the site, in Broadway Retail Park, in principle, and will be referred to the Mayor of London.

Initial plans for the site were submitted last year for 1,100 homes in blocks up to 25 storeys, but the plans were amended, reducing the maximum height of the screen and the affordable housing allocation – 35% of the homes – has also been changed to also include London Affordable Rent units.

Officers told the committee the purpose of outline permission was to set the parameters of the scheme, as well as access arrangements. Further details will be considered at a future meeting of the committee.

Matt Walton, development director at Montreaux, said the development would provide “significant benefits” for Cricklewood and the borough as a whole.

He said the scheme would reduce HGV and car movements in Cricklewood Lane, now included London Affordable Rent units, and would contribute £15million towards infrastructure.

Mr Walton added water and drainage issues would need to be addressed and “appropriately tested and approved” by Thames Water before the finer details of the plan were considered by the committee.