Property developer Wates Residential has been appointed by the London Borough of Brent for the construction of 149 new homes by December 2021. The £23.4 million project will see the construction of two new buildings, which will offer 92 homes for temporary accommodation and 57 for independent living for local, vulnerable residents.
The Knowles House redevelopment in Harlesden is part of the council’s Temporary Accommodation Reform Plan, which will invest, in total, £130 million on up to 600 new homes over three years.
“Wates Residential is proud to have been chosen as the London Borough of Brent’s trusted partner for the Knowles House redevelopment. We are excited to start work on the project, which will provide much-needed high-quality housing for some of the people who need it most,” said Wates Residential South managing director Paul Nicholls.
“We will be giving back to the community throughout the process, whether that be through our pledge to improve employment opportunities for local people or our passion to teach the next generation about construction. At Wates Residential, our focus is always on not only creating great homes but also delivering lasting legacies for the community through our investment in employment, training and skills,” he added.
As part of this project, Wates Residential and Brent Council have jointly pledged to offer employment and training opportunities for local residents, including apprenticeships in trade and management roles. The Wates-managed ‘Building Futures’ programme will offer support to long-term unemployed adults. Moreover, ex-offenders may also receive help to get back into employment as part of their rehabilitation.
Construction on the residential scheme is expected to start later on this year.
