Cundy Street Quarter
Some people raised questions around specific areas and we have provided answers below to the most frequently asked questions
We are happy to answer any additional questions by contacting the team at cundystreet@grosvenor.com.
Information on this page relates to plans submitted by Grosvenor and approved by Westminster City Council in June 2021.
Lodha have acquired the first phase of the Cundy Street Quarter, which includes Building A (on the corner of Ebury St and Cundy St) and the affordable housing building (Building C on Ebury St). Read more here.
How are you supporting existing residents?
We recognise the impact our proposals have on existing residents and we have engaged openly to help them plan for the future. We have kept them up to date through personal calls, tailored briefings and a dedicated team on hand to handle enquiries quickly.
All Westminster residents in Walden House have the option of moving once into the new social rented homes, prioritised for delivery in the first phase. If they prefer, they also have the option of moving twice to a suitable alternative within WCC’s portfolio elsewhere in the borough, with an option to return once the development is complete.
Private rental tenants at Cundy Street flats have been given assistance tailored to their needs, with those on protected leases or who are considered vulnerable offered suitable alternative homes nearby.
Grosvenor has a long-term interest in Belgravia’s success and know that local input is crucial to this. To ensure that the conversation continues we will set up a resident’s group for new and existing neighbours. We know that young people are often excluded from conversations about their neighbourhood, and so we will launch a Belgravia Youth Forum later this year to hold us to account to the needs of young adults.
What will happen to Walden House residents?
Westminster City Council, working with us, committed to giving Walden House residents a Right to Return to the new Social Rent accommodation. We were able to design the new Social Rent homes to match the existing household need of all 38 Walden House households.
In March 2020 we went further by re-phasing the scheme to deliver the new Social Rent building in the first phase to enable Walden House residents the option to move just once into their new homes
Alternatively, they can move elsewhere in Westminster’s portfolio before moving back to the Cundy Street Quarter site.
How have you supported Cundy Street residents?
We first notified the Cundy Street tenants of the possibility of the redevelopment in 2012, which we confirmed in early 2019. Since then, we have given individual tailored support to help residents carefully for the future. This has included assistance in finding alternative accommodation alongside financial support to cover the costs of moving.
Priority has been given to vulnerable people – working with family members where necessary – and those for whom Cundy Street is their permanent home. In early 2019 this was around 55% of the 111 flats.
Some of the tenants are on protected tenancies; where any of our residents have a right to continued tenancy, we are offering them suitable alternative accommodation nearby in Belgravia and have employed specialist help to assist us with this.
We have also helped other leaseholds who are most in need of support, and have been pleased to provide 5 tenants with a new 10-year lease on similar terms.
How would you minimise anti-social behaviour?
We want to ensure a safe and attractive environment for all residents and visitors and are aware of the current anti-social behaviour issues in the area. The design and security measures proposed have been recommended by the police and a specialist security consultant; these include CCTV, improved lighting, on-site management and restricted hours of access for Elizabeth Place Gardens (expected to be between the hours of 10pm and 6am).
How long would construction take?
The anticipated demolition and construction programme is about seven years including:
- June 2021: Plans approved by Westminster City Council
- Late 2021: Demolition works start (Phase 1 – Cundy Street Flats)
- 2022: Construction works start
- 2026: The first homes are complete, including social rent homes for Walden House residents. Demolition and construction works start (Phase 2 – Walden House)
- 2028/2029: The Cundy Street Quarter is complete and open to everyone
How much affordable housing would there be, and would it be genuinely affordable?
The scheme will provide 88 new affordable homes. 44 will be Social Rent and 44 would be Intermediate Rent, helping some of the 7,000 households on Westminster’s waiting list.
38 of the 44 Social Rent homes are being provided for existing Walden House residents and will be delivered in the first phase to facilitate residents to move just once.
The 44 Intermediate Rent homes will be people who are not eligible or prioritised for social housing but are still unable to afford a home on the open market, these homes will be available for households who meet WCC’s criteria with a household income of up to £60,000 p.a.
Community Liaison Group
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