Landmark Development Projects Limited - Mixed-Use Development - Willesden, London

Date: 10 Apr 2008

Joint developers Landmark Development Projects (2000) Ltd and Leeds & Regional Properties have completed the industrial element of the mixed used Willesden Business Park. All nine of the industrial starter units were sold at practical completion by the end of January 2008 and new local occupiers such as DJW Engineering, Airedale Cooling Services Ltd and Ellison Construction Ltd are already trading from their new premises. It is expected that upwards of 60 people in the local area could be employed at Willesden Business Park over the course of the next twelve months.

Meanwhile the new build residential area of the site, which is situated just off Shay Lane, has recently been handed over to Persimmon Homes and Landmark Development Projects has also commenced work on the refurbishment of nine existing stone cottages and barns. It is anticipated that residents could be moving into the new homes as early as June this year.

Richard Morton, Director at Landmark Development Projects (2000) Ltd comments: "We are extremely pleased with the success of the commercial element of this development and believe that the overall scheme demonstrates how mixed used development and a constructive dialogue with the local Planning Authority can work for the benefit of all. At the Birched Mill development in Willesden there was a genuine belief, from both ourselves and the local Planning Authority, that there was sufficient employment demand in the area for starter units but the cost of construction of these units meant that it could not have progressed without cross-subsidy from the residential land value.

"It was agreed at the start, by both ourselves and the local Planning Authority, that the key function of the development was to preserve and enhance employment opportunities for the local centre and we are delighted this has been achieved. Cross-subsidy is not always viewed as a prime aim of the planning process and I believe that it should be considered more by the authorities. Much greater thought needs to be taken in balancing out wider benefits that a development can achieve and in each instance, which benefits are most appropriate to the local area."

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