Proposed view of the public park, image credit, Clarion Housing Group
Developers Redington Capital and Clarion Housing Group, have jointly submitted plans for the restoration, of Grade II Listed Twyford Abbey, and the construction of 326 new homes on the long-derelict site in Park Royal.
Plans were drawn up by project architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and landscape architects BBUK Studio Limited.
The site has had a manor on the site for around 1,000 years, this was purchased in the early 1800s by a stagecoach owner Thomas Willan.
Mr. Wilan, tasked architect William Atkinson to re-model the house in the gothic style.
As was the style at the time, Mr. Wilian gave the house a romantic name, calling it Twyford Abbey, although it had never been a religious site in the past.
In the early 20th century the site was sold for use as a care home, the site has since been vacant since 1987 when the Alexian brotherhood 1987.
Since then, the original interiors have been lost as a result of the collapse caused by water ingress.
The interiors were cleared in 2017 and the Abbey is now a shell with exposed brickwork.
Twyford Abbey currently has a Grade II listed status with Historic England as being at “immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric”. The building is on the “At-Risk” register.
The site is subject to the following site-specific designations as defined by the London Borough of Ealing and the Greater London Authority; Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), Heritage London, Area of Archaeological Intrest, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), and an area of local, district and metropolitan open space deficiency.
The proposed development includes the demolition, alteration, restoration, and conversion of Grade II listed Twyford Abbey into 30 residential units.
This is in addition to another 296 ranging from 2-6 floors on the surrounding MOL and SINC.
The proposed development could deliver 326 new homes of which 110 are set to be provided as affordable tenures, alongside 216 homes for private sale.
Based on habitable rooms rather than affordable whole units, the site delivers just over the affordable housing threshold at 36% with the minimum being 35%.
In terms of the tenure mix within the affordable homes, this would equate to 215 hr (66%).
London Affordable Rent (LAR) at 109 habitable at 109 hr (34%) will be for Shared Ownership.
Proposals if approved by Ealing Council and the Greater London Authority, would also see new walking and cycling routes throughout the site.
Although it remains to be seen if this is subject to change in subsequent planning amendments as well as the build quality of the restored and new build properties, such as which Clarion Housing Group has been the focus of prolonged criticism.
