Asserson Planning Team helps kick start UK's largest regeneration scheme

18 Jun 2018

Three major landmark developments, which form part of the UK’s largest regeneration scheme and London’s biggest Opportunity Area, have received planning permission to become the first major private sector schemes to come forward in the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).

The pioneering residential developments at North Kensington Gate and Mitre Yard, will deliver approximately 550 units in total, including a 200 unit build-to-rent offering for the private rented sector and affordable housing. The buildings will range from 5 to 22 storeys high.

As only the second Mayoral Development Corporation to be created in London, following the Olympic site, the OPDC regeneration programme estimates delivery targets of 25,500 new homes and 65,000 jobs, with a gross development value of £26bn and an estimated boost to the UK economy of £7 billion per year.

Asserson’s award winning planning and regeneration legal team, which navigated the planning application process for all three schemes, welcomed the news.

Daniel Drukarz, Asserson’s Head of Planning, said:

“We are very proud to have been involved in these ground-breaking projects. As the first market developments within this area, these are the benchmarks against which all future schemes will be judged. It is no exaggeration to say that we, and the rest of the professional team, have set the precedent for this important regeneration area.” 

Marianne Barker, Asserson Partner who negotiated the section 106 agreements, said:

“These agreements, in particular the complex affordable housing viability review mechanisms, are likely to form the basis of the OPDC’s section 106 documents going forward for the next decade – it was crucial that they were robust and accurate. We were able to work well with the OPDC’s legal team to reach agreement, and we are very pleased to have helped gain these consents,”

Nebojsa Crnobrnja, Director of Aurora Developments Limited, the owners of North Kensington Gate said:

“I’m delighted that we have obtained planning permission for these two very exciting schemes. This has been a long process, and Asserson have been helping us from the start.”

Gary Sacks, Managing Director of City and Docklands, the owners of Mitre Yard said:

“I am very pleased that we have received consent for this innovative development. Asserson have really driven this project forwards and have been instrumental in all aspects. The team has worked tirelessly to ensure that permission was granted.”

Asserson’s planning team is one of the UK’s leading planning law practices, acknowledged industry-wide as a specialist in major development and regeneration schemes and for its strategic and long-term input into its client’s projects.

As only the second Mayoral Development Corporation to be created in London, following the Olympic site, the OPDC regeneration programme estimates delivery targets of 25,500 new homes and 65,000 jobs, with a gross development value of £26bn and an estimated boost to the UK economy of £7 billion per year.

The three milestone developments at North Kensington Gate and Mitre Yard are the first major private sector schemes to come forward within the OPDC area, launching the Old Oak Common regeneration vision.

Two schemes at North Kensington Gate, designed by acclaimed architects Allies & Morrison, will form the “gateway” to the new Opportunity Area, comprising a combined total of 350 units in buildings ranging from 5 to 22 storeys high.  The third scheme at Mitre Yard, designed by leading architects MAKE, provides approximately 200 build-to-rent residential-unit offering for the private rented sector in a series of buildings ranging from 8 to 19 storeys.