Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
WORK UNDERWAY AT FORMER NESTLE SITE
1,386 HOMES ARE TO BE BUILT AT HAYES DEVELOPMENT
WITH the first apartment block now topped-out at 10 storeys and three more under construction, the Nestle Factory development in Hayes is well under way.
The development, which will provide 1,386 homes when finished, launched its Help to Buy scheme on Saturday September 28.
However, plans to include an extra three apartments within the existing building plans failed to pass Hillingdon Council’s planning committee meeting earlier in the month.
The committee considered changes to the development on September 18, but deferred any decision until the impact on amenity space was fully understood.
The factory, in Nestles Avenue, near Hayes & Harlington station, closed in 2014 when production of freeze-dried coffee was moved to Derbyshire.
SEGRO Plc purchased the 30-acre site for an undisclosed sum in early 2015 and has partnered with Barratt to deliver the development.
The build currently has four blocks under way – blocks D,E, G and F1.
Blocks D and G are anticipated to be completed in June 2020 and Blocks E and F1 will be finished around June 2021.
Block D, which will house 136 units, will be the first block to be completed and will be 100% affordable housing.
Currently the tallest tower on the skyline, Block D is now at its full height, sitting at 10 storeys.
Block E is currently at four storeys high, but will eventually reach 11 floors.
Residents are also able to see the start of Block G, which will eventually stand five storeys and is currently up to the first floor.
Block F1 will be five storeys and construction on the foundations have just begun. These are only the initial builds however, with a total of 24 blocks planned over six phases. There are still many more to go up.
A spokeswoman for Barratt said apartments started at £325,000. She said: “There is a small collection of one, two and three bedroom homes available with London Help To Buy in Thornton Apartments (Block G).”
The original Sandow building, opened in 1913 and was modified by Nestle over the past 60 years, but its original facade will now be restored.
The canteen building will also be restored, offering a gym and community space, such as a children’s day nursery.
The 1960s Art Deco-style entrance will be brought back to its former glory, while the memorial to local factory workers who fought in both world wars will be retained.
According to documents from the council’s planning committee, there would be an additional two units in Block E, one more in Block G and minor facade changes with more balconies added.
The changes were deemed to be minor, with minimal additional impact on local residents or heritage assets. However, the committee deferred a decision on granting the changes because it was unclear how they would affect the overall amenity space for residents.
At the meeting, councillor John Morse said the site was still deficient in amenities space, with the new plans having less balcony space on three of the blocks. He said: “It’s clearly the case that a lot of amenities space is provided by these balconies that we’re cutting.”
However, council officers pointed out that while some balconies were reduced in size, overall amenities space was increased by 90 square metres, largely from additional balconies being added.
The level of parking would remain unchanged, despite the additional three units.