The new owners of the site, which already has outline planning permission, have submitted a detailed application to Barnet Council, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The plans for the Cricklewood B&Q site (credit Urban Cricklewood Developments Ltd)

Work on a high-rise scheme on the site of B&Q in Cricklewood is scheduled to begin next year, it’s been confirmed.

Developer Urban Cricklewood Developments Ltd confirmed that, subject to approval, work is expected to start on the 1,049-home development in mid-2026.

The development was originally brought forward by Montreaux Cricklewood Developments Ltd and received outline planning approval following a public inquiry prompted by a ‘call in’ by then-housing secretary Michael Gove in 2022.

This followed earlier consideration by Barnet Council’s planning committee in which it resolved to grant permission in 2021, but councillors then decided in 2022 not to support the application at the public inquiry.

At the time, the plan had received more than 2,000 objections from residents calling for it to be refused, and the council was directed by the committee to oppose it on the basis of its height and massing. However, it finally received permission from the government in December 2023.

Since the development’s approval 18 months ago, the site has been acquired by Urban Cricklewood Developments Ltd, which is now leading the next phase of detailed planning before work begins next year.

Speaking on the government’s decision to grant permission, a spokesperson for Urban Cricklewood Developments said: “While we cannot speak on behalf of the Planning Inspectorate, the approval at appeal confirmed the principle of residential-led regeneration on the site, including the scale and layout of development, as being in line with planning policy and local need.”

Homes will be built across four blocks, with buildings ranging from three to 18 storeys in height. There will be 1,200 square metres of flexible commercial floorspace as well as associated landscaping, car and cycle parking and infrastructure improvements.

In terms of affordable housing, 35% of the new homes will be affordable, with 30% of these available under the London Affordable Rent scheme and the remaining 70% being sold as shared ownership homes.

Two rounds of public consultation on the detailed plans have been completed, alongside ongoing engagement with community groups. Notable updates include a reduction to the massing, more landscaping designed to allow for a range of events in the new public realm, segregated pedestrian and cycle routes through the site, and changes to the chosen brick tones.

The developer submitted a reserved matters application for the full scheme this month, which addresses design elements such as architecture, landscaping, access, and commercial delivery, as well as an amendment application to update the outline consent to use the existing car park access on Depot Approach.

A decision is expected in autumn and, subject to approval, a start on site is anticipated to begin in mid-2026.

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