Published: Friday 1 November 2024
More new Council homes in Kensington and Chelsea are underway as we celebrate reaching the halfway mark of Barlby Road new homes scheme in North Kensington this week.
The Council development will offer 83 new homes – 38 at social rent for our housing tenants and 10 for key workers with eight of the social rent homes accessible. The remaining are for market rent.
Cllr Sof McVeigh, lead member for new homes, visited the site along with Matthew Phillip, Notting Hill Carnival Trust CEO, to look at progress on the 83 new homes. She also got the chance to cement in place the automatic opening vent (AOV) – a key fire safety feature – at the highest point of the one of the buildings on the sixth-floor terrace. AOVs serve to improve ventilation and, most importantly, enhance safety by providing smoke and heat extraction in the event of a fire.
We also prioritise green and sustainable credentials. The windows at Barlby will be triple glazed and the building will be powered by heat source pumps, making this a gas free development. These environmentally-friendly features will pay dividends for residents who will benefit from cheaper bills.
The scheme includes much needed balconies and outdoor space. These areas provide opportunities for residents to socialise, connect and build relationships in outdoor settings.
This site is different from our other three new homes schemes which have been completed in the last year and will offer a new multi-use sports hall and flexible studio for the local community to hire. The sports hall will give priority to Barlby school pupils but will also be open to the community after school hours.
Barlby Road comprises four buildings all of which will be named to celebrate and mark the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. We have worked with the Notting Hill Carnival Trust to shortlist the building names which will be unveiled soon.
Cllr Sof McVeigh said:
“We all know that London is facing a housing crisis and that affordable homes are in short supply. While we have limited land in Kensington and Chelsea we have worked hard to identify where we can build safe, modern and affordable homes.
“These are for residents on the housing register as well as our key workers who play a vital role in serving our local communities. We are also keen to prioritise residents who wish to downsize. This development delivers a range of community benefits.”
“It was fabulous to see the progress on these high quality and energy efficient homes at Barlby Road and to play a small part in celebrating reaching the highest point of what will be known as Calypso Court. I look forward to coming back when the homes are nearer to completion and to ultimately seeing them occupied by our residents.”
The development should be completed by spring 2026.
Michael Turner, Regional Director at The Hill Group, said:
“This milestone at Barlby Road showcases the remarkable progress we’ve made since securing planning permission. Developed in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this project is about more than new buildings; it’s about creating energy-efficient homes that honour North Kensington’s character and serve the community for generations.
“With the first block now structurally complete and the rest of the works progressing swiftly, we’re one step closer to realising this vision. My thanks go to our partners and our dedicated team, whose commitment has been vital in bringing this project to life.”