Developer SRH Estates Limited has submitted an application to redevelop the Greenhill site at 368-372 Station Road.
Currently a single storey commercial building – formerly occupied by an Iceland store and now a banquet hall catering company – and car park, the scheme proposes a mix of shops and flats.
The redevelopment of the site would involve the construction of three new blocks, ranging from three to nine storeys, providing 63 flats and more than 1,200sq m of commercial floor space – for businesses including shops, gyms, and medical services.
The nine-storey ‘Block A’ building would be entirely for residential use, comprising a total of 56 flats. ‘Block B’ would be a mixed commercial and residential three-storey building, containing the remaining seven flats on the first and second floors, whilst ‘Block C’ would be for commercial use only.
The total 63 flats would be made up of 26 one-bedroom, 31 two-bedroom, and six three-bedroom units. However, none of these would contribute to affordable housing numbers “either on-site or via off-site financial contribution” following the results of a viability assessment.
Harrow Council officers confirmed this, stating: “The viability appraisal has been independently assessed and officers have no reason to doubt the conclusion the development cannot provide affordable housing.”
The plan has received objections from some residents, citing concerns over the “excessive height” of the building in relation to the rest of the neighbourhood, the potential “strain on infrastructure”, and increased traffic congestion.
These concerns have been dismissed by officers, who have recommended that the plan be approved. They claim that the height of the development is considered “appropriate for this site”, while adding that 63 units “would not diminish the transport capacity locally” and that, as the development is car free, increased car use is “not considered a factor”.
Officers said: “The proposed development makes a welcome boost to local housing stock in the borough. The development is considered of an appropriate scale for the site and area; providing appropriate quality of living space for future occupiers; and would not result in unreasonable impacts upon neighbouring amenity levels, local transport network or local biodiversity.”
The application will be reviewed by Harrow Council’s planning committee tonight (December 17), when a decision on whether to give the plan the go ahead will be made.
