Meeting the housing needs of Barnet
Waiting lists for housing in the Borough of Barnet are at an all time high, as in many other areas in the country, and recent statistics show that it will take approximately 33 years – or until 2042, before Barnet council’s housing waiting lists are cleared.
In spite of this gloomy prediction, work is being done to shorten the waiting time, and developers like Countryside Properties and their joint venture partners, Annington Developments, are not only building much needed affordable properties for housing associations through their combined development activities, but they are producing them to an exceptionally high standard and delivering them on time.
The first phase, of a total of 90 affordable homes, has just been handed over to the Notting Hill Housing Trust. The 25 houses and five apartments in this first phase will all be rented to local authority candidates, and the high quality materials and ecological credentials demonstrate that they have been designed and built to just as high a standard as the housing for sale around them.
Chris Crook, Director of Countryside Annington Mill Hill Limited, comments: “All of our new developments have to include a viable proportion of affordable housing these days, and a test of their success in design terms is our ability to integrate private and public housing tenures in such a way as to ensure that it is difficult to determine any difference between the two. The high level of design and the quality of materials make this phase at Ridgemont one the best examples of a tenure blind development I have ever seen.
“Furthermore, taking into account the environmental technology in each dwelling, we anticipate tenants could make substantial savings on their fuel and electricity bills. We are very proud to be providing such excellent housing to the Notting Hill Housing Trust and we look forward to working together to reduce the housing shortage. We have further plans to work with the London Borough of Barnet in delivering their housing ambitions for the Borough in the years ahead.”
Liz Sargent, Senior Project Manager, Notting Hill Housing Trust, comments: “Ridgemont is a fantastic example of how housebuilders and housing associations are working together to produce much needed, well designed, family housing. It is obvious that great care and pride have gone into these properties and the feedback we have had from prospective tenants has been very positive.”
Ridgemont is located off Frith Lane in Mill Hill and comprises a selection of cosmopolitan apartments and houses. The new houses were built by Countryside Properties and joint venture partner, Annington Homes.
In spite of its green surroundings, Ridgemont is just two miles from Mill Hill Broadway’s wide range of high street shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. There are many amenities in the local area, including leisure centres and facilities such as tennis courts, a cricket ground and playing fields. Residents also have easy access to scenic rural and riverside walks that feel a long way from busy London life.
Mill Hill East underground station, on the Northern Line, is just over half a mile away while the M1, A1 and the A41 are close by. Mill Hill is also well served by buses, which run regular services into London and the surrounding area.
For private residential enquires, the marketing suite is open from Thursday to Monday from 10am-5pm. For further information visit ridgemont-millhill.com.
* According to a survey from Shelter, December 2009
