Lidl is to be the latest supermarket to join the demand-fueled race to build homes above its stores.
Last week Brent Council approved plans for Minavil House, a 110m residential-led mixed-use tower intended to be the central landmark for the mayor of London’s Alperton Housing Zone in north-west London.
The FAL Architects-designed scheme is to be developed by R55, which acquired the site from Lidl on a conditional basis, subject to planning, and by R55’s joint venture partner, Genesis Housing Association.
A new 17,000 sq ft Lidl supermarket will occupy the ground floor, with 251 homes above including a 26-storey tower. Just 25 of the homes will be for the private rental market. The rest (92%) will be affordable, split between 32 affordable rent and 194 shared ownership homes.
The plans replace a now-lapsed 2010 proposal from Lidl for 55 new homes and a new supermarket.
Peter Mahoney, chief executive of R55 Group, said: “Our firm specialises in regeneration, unlocking complex sites and facilitating the delivery of developments. Construction is due to commence in November 2017.”
Jonathan Manns, director of planning at Colliers International, which was planning consultant on the scheme, said: “While claiming the mantle of ‘tallest building in Brent’, this is more than simply another tower. Despite accommodating a supermarket, café, office space and new homes on a site of only 0.47ha, it gives space back to pedestrians and creates access to the Grand Union Canal.”
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