A 1930s housing development for single women in Acton has been given the go ahead for redevelopment which will see 102 modern new homes built to replace the existing flats.
Owned by Women’s Pioneer Housing Association (WPH), Brook House in Gunnersbury Lane was established in the 1930s and will be replaced and rebuilt as a new 15 storey building.
According to GRID Architects who are behind the new design, the existing homes fail to meet minimum space standards set out in the National Described Space Standards – and none of them are wheelchair accessible. The new design will see 100 one-bedroom homes and 2 two-bedroom homes.
Ten of the new homes have been allocated for people with disabilities and all the flats at Brook House will be 100% affordable homes.
According to GRID, existing residents have been part of the process of consultations over what is needed. The architect firm also said the new homes will be nearly double the size of the current bedsit sized flats and also designed to meet the needs of existing residents as they get older.
Among other new features will be lifts as well as a mobility scooter store.
Colin Veitch, director at GRID Architects said: “This planning success is the result of extended discussions with stakeholders and a client who had the vision to support a creative architectural solution to the site constraints. Ultimately, this has delivered a development that provides critical housing to women in need, with safe access to outdoor amenity space, while positively contributing to the local area, both now and in the years to come.”
