Grahame Park
Encyclopedia
Grahame Park, located on the site of the old Hendon Aerodrome
in North West London, is a north London housing estate in the London Borough of Barnet
, including 1,777 homes built in the 1970s.
The building of the estate was a joint project between the Greater London Council
and Barnet Council. The plan was approved by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 1964, and the first family moved in on 23 October 1971.
A typical characteristic of the estate is the plain, square, brick-style terraced houses, also known as "block" style, and long winding low-rise flats, with flat roofs. Most building names, walkways and roads on the estate have names linked to the aviation history of the site.
Not all of the old aerodrome was sold off for development; the Royal Air Force Museum is situated immediately to the south-east of the estate (with free entrance).
It lies on the eastern side of 'Grahame Park Way', a typical 1970s-planning-style collector road
(for traffic) which runs down the eastern side of the estate, parallel to the Midland Main Line
(Thameslink
) railway, and beyond that, the M1 Motorway
.
The estate became the site of St. James Catholic High School in 1996.
Colindale station
, on the Northern Line
Edgware branch, is within comfortable walking distance of at least the south-east corner of the estate. The next tube station north, Burnt Oak
is also accessible. Mill Hill Broadway Thameslink station
lies to the north, a bus ride away. Several bus routes run into, or near the estate.
In the late 1980s, the estate went through its first regeneration process, which split the blocks of flats into smaller blocks and added arched roofs to many of the buildings.
In 2003, residents voted in favour of a full regeneration of the estate. The Housing Corporation
earmarked £15 million for the redevelopment.
The redevelopment is managed by Choices For Grahame Park, a subsidiary of Genesis Housing Association, with new houses being built by Countryside Properties
.
In 2007 a web-site was launched by Countryside Properties, renaming part of the redevelopment as "New Hendon Village".
Colindale, including Grahame Park, has been designated by the Mayor of London
in his London Plan
as a 'proposed area of intensification'. As a result, Barnet Council designated a 'Colindale Area Action Plan
' (AAP) and carried out public consulation events. The Council has finalised its preferred plan in mid-2009, and it will be examined at a public hearing by the Planning Inspectorate
, for anticipated approval by the Council in 2010.
, through or near to Grahame Park.
Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...
in North West London, is a north London housing estate in the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
, including 1,777 homes built in the 1970s.
History
The estate is named in honour of Claude Grahame-White, the pioneer of aviation who established the original aerodrome and aviation school on the site.The building of the estate was a joint project between the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
and Barnet Council. The plan was approved by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 1964, and the first family moved in on 23 October 1971.
A typical characteristic of the estate is the plain, square, brick-style terraced houses, also known as "block" style, and long winding low-rise flats, with flat roofs. Most building names, walkways and roads on the estate have names linked to the aviation history of the site.
Not all of the old aerodrome was sold off for development; the Royal Air Force Museum is situated immediately to the south-east of the estate (with free entrance).
It lies on the eastern side of 'Grahame Park Way', a typical 1970s-planning-style collector road
Collector road
A collector road or distributor road is a low to moderate-capacity road which serve to move traffic from local streets to arterial roads. Unlike arterials, collectors are also designed to provide access to residential properties...
(for traffic) which runs down the eastern side of the estate, parallel to the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
(Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
) railway, and beyond that, the M1 Motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
.
The estate became the site of St. James Catholic High School in 1996.
Geography
Transport
London UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
Colindale station
Colindale tube station
Colindale tube station is a London Underground station in Colindale, a suburb of north London. The station is on the north-south Edgware branch of the Northern Line, between Burnt Oak and Hendon Central stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
, on the Northern Line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
Edgware branch, is within comfortable walking distance of at least the south-east corner of the estate. The next tube station north, Burnt Oak
Burnt Oak tube station
Burnt Oak tube station is a London Underground station in Burnt Oak, north London, on Watling Avenue, off the A5...
is also accessible. Mill Hill Broadway Thameslink station
Mill Hill Broadway railway station
Mill Hill Broadway railway station is in the London Borough of Barnet in North London.The station lies on the Midland Main Line and is served by First Capital Connect trains as part of the Thameslink Line service. It is in Travelcard Zone 4...
lies to the north, a bus ride away. Several bus routes run into, or near the estate.
Development
In the late 1980s, the estate went through its first regeneration process, which split the blocks of flats into smaller blocks and added arched roofs to many of the buildings.
In 2003, residents voted in favour of a full regeneration of the estate. The Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
earmarked £15 million for the redevelopment.
The redevelopment is managed by Choices For Grahame Park, a subsidiary of Genesis Housing Association, with new houses being built by Countryside Properties
Countryside Properties
Countryside Properties Ltd is a property development company based in the United Kingdom. It is active in urban regeneration and creation of sustainable communities. It also carries out Design and Build contracts for housing associations....
.
In 2007 a web-site was launched by Countryside Properties, renaming part of the redevelopment as "New Hendon Village".
Colindale, including Grahame Park, has been designated by the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
in his London Plan
London Plan
The London Plan is a planning document written by the Mayor of London, England in the United Kingdom and published by the Greater London Authority. The plan was first published in final form on 10 February 2004 and has since been amended. The current version was published in February 2008...
as a 'proposed area of intensification'. As a result, Barnet Council designated a 'Colindale Area Action Plan
Area Action Plan
An area action plan is an optional development plan document specified in United Kingdom planning law forming part of a local development framework...
' (AAP) and carried out public consulation events. The Council has finalised its preferred plan in mid-2009, and it will be examined at a public hearing by the Planning Inspectorate
Planning Inspectorate
The Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales is an executive agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom Government. It is responsible for determining final outcomes of planning and enforcement appeals and public examination of local development plans...
, for anticipated approval by the Council in 2010.
Transport development
In early 2008, the London Group of the Campaign for Better Transport published a plan for an (unfunded) orbital light-rail service, the North and West London Light railwayNorth and West London Light Railway
The North and West London Light Railway , formerly proposed-named as Brent Cross Railway, is a potential light rail service proposed by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport, intended to serve parts of north, northwest and west London, being similar to the Docklands Light Railway...
, through or near to Grahame Park.