Smiths Farm, Northolt

Howarth Homes are delighted to share new draft proposals for an exceptional new development of flats and houses, providing new homes at the Smiths Farm site on Kensington Road, Northolt.

Background

The existing site has been used for commercial purposes for the last 30 years, with current uses including a lorry park, workshops, storage and plant yards. This produces an unattractive brownfield site which over the last ten years has been viewed as a natural location for much-needed new homes.

Residential proposals were welcomed in principle by Ealing Council in the past but were not brought forward, as they proved to be financially unviable.

The most recent proposals for the site for some 189 new homes and conversion of the existing farmhouse and barns to provide a café/commercial unit were submitted in June 2022 and prior to submission were the subject of local community consultation. In November 2022, Ealing Council decided that the plans were not acceptable on various grounds.

A new approach

Since the Council’s decision, Howarth Homes and its design team have been considering a new approach to the site which can address the concerns that have been previously expressed by Ealing Council.

Discussions have taken place between Howarth and the Council to try and find a mutually acceptable way forward and sufficient progress has been made to allow for further consultation with the local community.

With the high costs of private sale and rented housing in the area and local people struggling to find decent homes, there is an excellent opportunity to make a vital contribution of low cost housing. This could be either for part ownership or at rents below market rates.

Howarth Homes have a strong record of working in partnership with housing associations to deliver quality new homes that are affordable for local people. They are already doing this elsewhere in the London Borough of Ealing.

Local community benefits

Howarth Homes believe that their revised proposals offer a number of benefits which include:

• Removal of the current unattractive uses at the site;
• Delivery of high quality, much-needed homes within a highly attractive living environment;
• All homes to be offered as affordable with a good proportion of family-sized accommodation;
• Dramatically improved public realm and open space including a large green central area with playspace;
• Re-use of the locally listed buildings for commercial uses including the possibility of a café with its own terrace overlooking the open space
• Significant local ecological enhancements;
• Sustainable drainage systems and improved permeable landscaping;
• A substantial increase in biodiversity from the existing site in its current form;
• New and improved pedestrian and cycle links between the highly valued Northala Fields, Marnham Fields and the Grand Union Canal;
• Repair/replacement of the canal bridge;
• Enhanced landscaping along Kensington Road;
• Increased car parking at Northala Fields; and
• Improvements to highway infrastructure including the introduction of electronic information panels at bus stops showing when buses are expected to arrive.

About the developer, Howarth Homes PLC

We are a local family owned business established for over 30 years, with an outstanding reputation for our construction standards and delivery of exceptional homes. We have upheld an enviable NHBC rating and are proud to preserve our exemplary recognition as a considerate contractor.

At every stage during the construction process we work with our neighbours to ensure any disruptions are minimised.

Attention to detail is paramount in each and every Howarth home, this being recognised by the industry awards we have received.