The Verdean

The Aster, the second phase of The Verdean development by Mount Anvil and Catalyst, has just launched.

The Aster comprises 170 new homes, including 42 studios, 91 one-beds and 37 two-bedroom apartments. The building designed by Chapman Taylor is expected to complete by Q1 2026.

Prices start from £375,000 for a studio, £481,000 for a one-bed, and £629,000 for a two-bedroom home.

The first phase of the development, The Oak, was 90% reserved three days after the launch in June 2020.

Ealing Council’s Planning Committee has approved the updated plans for the 1,228-home Friary Park estate regeneration.

The proposals will deliver more new affordable homes in London than the previously permitted scheme, which was given planning approval in 2019. Friary Park regeneration is the first partnership between Mount Anvil and Catalyst.

The updated development will deliver 238 additional homes, increasing the overall total from 990 to 1,228 homes. Of the additional homes, 50% will be affordable (by habitable rooms).

Across the whole scheme, 455 homes (46% by habitable rooms) will be affordable with 315 of these homes will be social rent and London affordable rent, 140 will be intermediate tenure, a split of 74% low-cost rent and 26% intermediate.

The first affordable homes in the masterplan are due to complete in early 2023 with private for sale homes will be delivered in Spring 2024.

Richard Smith, Regional Managing Director for London at Catalyst, commented: “Ealing Council’s endorsement of our plans is great news for Acton. Like many areas of the country, demand for new homes is high and our plans for Friary Park will provide affordable solutions for many local people while also supporting local businesses. With our partners at Mount Anvil, we’ve listened to the community, and have made changes to our proposals to deliver more homes and enhance the neighbourhood for everybody to enjoy. We’re pleased that this superbly located scheme, just a short walk from the Elizabeth Line, will connect people both within the neighbourhood and beyond”

Marcus Bate, Partnerships and Community director at Mount Anvil, said: “We are truly excited to bring forward this scheme with our partners at Catalyst. We have worked very hard to listen to Friary Park residents to create a place that will be a huge asset for the local area. Whether you are looking for a fantastic place to call home, a green space to socialise with friends in, or a creative affordable space to work from, our proposals will provide something special as part of an outstanding healthy working community at Friary Park.”

Get ready for the launch of The Aster, the second phase of The Verdean development by Mount Anvil and Catalyst, this October.

The Aster comprises 170 new homes, including 42 studios, 91 one-beds and 37 two-bedroom apartments. The building designed by Chapman Taylor is expected to complete by Q1 2026.

Prices will start from £375,000.

The first phase of the development, The Oak, was 90% reserved three days after the launch in June 2020.

Creative Land Trust is taking up to c. 4,600 sq ft of space on the ground and mezzanine levels at The Verdean in Acton, London W3.

The trust has signed a 999-year lease with Mount Anvil and Catalyst to ensure a long-term, affordable workspace for artists and creatives.

The space will fit up to 30 individual occupants and the studios will open their doors to artists in early 2026.

A full tender process will be run to identify the most suitable studio operator for the space.

The transformation of the Friary Park estate will offer existing residents larger, better-quality homes, and create over 1,000m2 of new retail and commercial space. There are 990 homes in the regeneration scheme that is just a minute’s walk from the new Acton Mainline Elizabeth Line Station.

The residents first will be moving into their homes in 2024. If you are interested in the new homes at this development, the studios, one and two-bedroom homes are launching soon at The Aster building.

Creative Land Trust's space will be adaptable and spread out over two levels to allow for a range of functions, giving creatives vital chances to meet, present exhibitions, and organise events to benefit the larger community.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London commented: "Our city is bursting with innovative talent and this expansion of the Creative Land Trust in The Verdean, Ealing, is a big step in the right direction."

Catherine Webster, Co-Chairs of the Creative Land Trust Board said: “CLT is proud to be able to provide long-term affordable studio space in the vibrant design district of Ealing. This work with Mount Anvil and Peabody bridges the gap between the property and creativity sectors. It demonstrates how cultural infrastructure can be embedded in London developments at an early stage, benefiting artists and the local community.”

Richard Smith, Regional Managing Director London NW, at Peabody, of which Catalyst is a subsidiary, said: “We are delighted to secure this long-term home for the Creative Land Trust. We are always keen to support the creative industry and bring arts and culture right to the heart of our developments and communities. Our partnership with Mount Anvil will do just that while providing much-needed, high-quality homes where residents can flourish. We look forward to seeing the plans come to fruition."

Marcus Bate, Partnerships and Communities Director at Mount Anvil, commented: “At The Verdean, we have been working hard with our friends at Catalyst to create a vibrant community for both existing and new residents. We’re committed to partnering with organisations that deliver for the local community, and so we’re delighted to be working together with Creative Land Trust to bring guaranteed affordable artistic spaces back into the heart of the Borough. As our plans for the site evolve, we’re excited about the long-term opportunities for residents we are creating together with our JV partners Catalyst.”

Gemma Dean, Development Manager at Creative Land Trust commented: “With one of London’s most active design districts and Creative Enterprise Zones less than a 10-minute cycle away, this is an exciting location to be establishing new, long-term, affordable creative workspace. We’re delighted to see these plans come to life and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Mount Anvil, Catalyst and the local community to offer affordable space for local artists and makers to thrive.”

Work at The Verdean is currently running to schedule, reports developer Mount Anvil.

The team are now working on a particularly complicated part of the concrete frame for The Oak, the sold-out building at the heart of the Verdean. The coming weeks will then see the frame quickly rise to level three and up.

Two other buildings containing affordable housing provided by Catalyst, are taking shape, with Block G’s concrete frame already complete, its steel frame up to the fifth-floor level, and external brickwork underway.

Block A’s concrete frame build is ongoing, with the roof currently being cast and due for completion imminently. Both blocks are also due to start installing windows soon.

Mount Anvil has also been busy meeting with businesses interested in moving into the development’s commercial units.

Mount Anvil and Catalyst have changed their planning proposals for the regeneration scheme at Friary Park. The revised proposals see no increase to the height of the tallest buildings while still delivering improvements for a healthy, working community and more affordable homes.

In response to the pandemic, Mount Anvil and Catalyst are seeking to enhance the planning application to deliver an additional 106 affordable homes as part of phase one with the additional private homes being deferred to a later construction phase.

The Friary Park regeneration first received planning permission for 990 homes, of which 45% would be genuinely affordable, in 2019.

The plans would also provide improved commercial spaces, of which 40% will be affordable workspace and 6% dedicated to local independent businesses, more sustainable green spaces, a new children’s play space, cycle hub and an improved community facility, all just a few minutes’ walk from the Acton Mainline Crossrail station.

The revised design will retain all of the outside space and amenity improvements, whilst maximising affordable housing delivery and not compromising on the design quality of the new buildings. The joint venture aims to deliver an additional 106 affordable homes in phase one as part of these proposals.

Marcus Bate, Partnerships and Communities Director at Mount Anvil, commented: “Our business is built on collaboration and listening. We’ve listened to concerns about the proposed increase in height to the four tallest buildings at Friary Park and we are collaborating closely with Ealing’s planners to find a better solution that achieves the same community benefits. We will ensure the revised design will retain all of the outside space and amenity improvements that we’d promised to residents, whilst maximising affordable housing delivery and not compromising on the design quality of the new buildings. Our new proposals will help deliver an outstanding healthy working community at Friary Park.”

Richard Smith, Managing Director of New Homes London at Catalyst added: “I’m delighted that we are able to further revise the plans to keep our promises to residents and mean new affordable homes are coming to Ealing sooner than originally planned. Those community-oriented communal outdoor spaces and enlarged balconies for all homes are going to really enhance the lives of Friary Park’s residents.”