GRAND DESIGNS IN EALING » Communities » 24dash.com

A former headquarters site of a national developer is being transformed into a flagship new urban village helped by London housing associations and partners.

ASRA Greater London Housing Association, part of the LHA-ASRA group, is developing new homes at Grand Union Village in Ealing, the former headquarters site of Taylor Woodrow plc, at a cost of over £3m.

This latest phase 9 features 44 homes built using timber frames.  ASRA is building 11 houses which consist of two, six bedroom homes and nine, three bedroom homes.  The three bedroom houses will be ready for handover in October with the six bedroom houses available in December 2006.

The development cost is being part-funded through the Housing Corporation’s social housing grant.

The Grand Union Village straddles the boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon and comprises over 700 homes. 

Muktar Latif, LHA-ASRA group development director, said:” A sense of place has been created through a new canal basin which forms the bustling heart of the village, with mooring facilities and places to shop, eat and drink.

“Ranging from one bedroom apartments to six bedroom houses, the accommodation supports a strategy ensuring that more than 25% of Grand Union Village is made up of affordable homes, presenting potential residents with a choice of living arrangements.

“All ASRA-managed properties are available for rent, whilst 10% of the build is dedicated to key-worker housing, with additional homes developed for low cost ownership.  ASRA was the first landlord on site to complete and let new rented housing.

“These new homes utilise timber-framing, a modern method of construction, and will offer an excellent eco-home rating.

“The Grand Union Village site is quite literally groundbreaking, thanks to the extremely wide range of housing available – there are very few opportunities for example, where we can build six bedroom homes.”

Overall developers are former site owners Taylor Woodrow plc and the lead registered social landlord (RSL) is Paddington Churches Housing Association, part of the Genesis Group.

Also located at Grand Union Village are retail units and a community trust which runs various events for residents. There is also a car share facility available for residents who do not own a vehicle.

Grand Union Village main features:

·        High environmental standards: efficient heating boilers to reduce local pollution levels, high levels of insulation, and low water usage apparatus

·        Regeneration of a stretch of the historic Grand Union Canal

·        Strong sense of community: integration of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities

·        400 trees planted and 20 acres of new green space introduced

·        Employment and enterprise generation via new commercial centre

·        Introduction of a green travel plan (including car share club enhancements to cycle ways and footways, and support for a local bus route through the village)

ENDS

Press release issued: September 29, 2006